Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour Battery, and 6.8" Super Actua Display - Hazel - 256 GB

I've had the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a week, and after countless hours of testing, I am quite happy with my purchase. To be clear, I am a regular person (not a professional reviewer) and I paid for the phone with my own money. No handouts or compensation here.I would venture to say that the majority of complaints about this 9th gen Pixel are from people who don't have one (Verified Purchase?). This is a great phone. Everything just works, and works well. It is responsive and fast; while Samsung and Apple flagships may win benchmarks, in real world use, this phone is able to handle everything I've thrown at it.And real world use is where this phone shines. I come from Samsung and did not like their bloated UI and baked-in Samsung apps. This is the purest possible Android experience and it shows. Everything just works, intuitively, and works well.It's been a few years since I used an iPhone as my daily driver, but anyone who is stuck on iPhone as the "just works" phone, check this phone out. If you prefer the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, etc), the Pixel is the way to go. They are all deeply integrated without the bloat or workarounds on other phones.I've heard of problems attaining the fastest charging levels without buying the expensive Google charger, but I charge on a wireless charger at night while I sleep. Even using a third-party (and cheap) wireless charger, it charges decently. It seems this phone requires the charger to bump voltage to get the 37 watt charging, so if you care about squeezing in your charges at the fastest charging speeds, perhaps get the official Google wired charger or be very thorough in your charger research.But I dont think you'll need it. For me, charging speeds don't matter with this big battery. It has lasted me all day, every day, and I have intensely used it from sunup to sundown. Never once have I risked needing to charge it between 5am and 10pm. As long as the phone lasts all day and only needs to be charged at night, I don't think it matters if it takes 90 minutes to charge. But that's a personal decision for you to make for yourself.The camera is amazing. It takes some of the best photos I've seen come from a phone. And while there are plenty of choices out there for post-processing your photos, having features like Video Boost or Zoom Enhance baked right into the Photos app makes it a simple joy to take photos and edit them. I challenge anyone to find a simpler and easier workflow for taking the best possible photos. If you want to take amazing photos and be able to edit and enhance them in a few seconds without switching between an array of apps, this phone is for you. Of course third-party editing apps are a Play Store away, but you probably won't them them.I know Google hypes the AI, but generally that's not why I got the phone, so I'll leave the in-depth AI reviews to others. Some of it is fun -- Magic Editor is a fun toy and Zoom Enhance stretches the boundaries of what's possible on a phone camera, but things like Gemini Live feel a little half baked. Don't get me wrong; Gemini Live is a leap forward for Google, but the AI as a whole feels disjointed. Gemini Live doesn't communicate directly with regular Gemini, and while it's great for chatting, it can't do even basic tasks (which requires switching to the other Gemini).It's also quite perplexing that there are still basic Google Assistant functions that Gemini can't call up. It feels like it should be a basic ask to relay all Assistant functions, but it's not that simple. These are minor annoyances that will hopefully improve in the future, but (to Google) if you're going to hype the AI so much, please have it more integrated and seemless than this. It feels like a miss that the feature you're hyping the most is the one with the most blemishes. But AI is quickly evolving. Maybe my comments will be moot in a week. And like I said, since I didn't get the phone for the AI, this isn't a ding for me.I'll update if any issues arise, but so far I'm very satisfied with my purchase. This is my first Pixel, and I can see why there are Pixel fans. This phone might not be everything to everyone, but it's not supposed to be. If you want a premium phone that feels great, looks great, and does what it does very well, give this newest Pixel a shot. If you're using an iPhone but not yet too deeply invested in their closed box, or if you're a Samsung owner who's tired of the bloat, I recommend checking out the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It's great to have so much choice in the smartphone world, and I believe this is a choice worthy of your attention.

I’ve been on a mission to reclaim my digital privacy, and the Pixel 9 XL has been a perfect fit for going fully Google-free. I installed a custom OS (GrapheneOS) , and it transformed the device into a fast, clean, and secure smartphone without all the bloat and surveillance. No more constant background tracking, data mining, or unwanted app permissions.Performance is still top-tier thanks to the Pixel 9 XL’s powerful hardware, and with FOSS apps and privacy-focused alternatives, I’m not missing anything. Battery life improved too, likely because fewer background services are running. It feels amazing to use a smartphone on my terms again. If you're serious about digital freedom, this is the way to go.

Have had this phone about 4 months now and I am loving it. It is basically an Android with a souped-up camera! It is definitely heavier than some phones and hard to find a decent case that is actually protective and not just for looks. I especially loved the option to make payments on this product as I have never spent $1,000 on a phone before. If you love Android phones, you will love this Google pixel!

a great sophisticated phone very fast and only a little over $900 I have had no problems with it. Pairs with any blue tooth device easily including car systems.

The single most invasive and intrusive device I have ever witnessed. Google knocked it out of the park for the military industrial complex security apparatus. The most powerful intelligence gathering device ever unleashed onto the general publc to date. Not very usable for much more than that.But if you disable and remove most of the AI, at least all of it you can, and add something like Nova Launcher it becomes slightly more user friendly. Still, a dismal and frightening look into the heart of darkness that google has become.

Upgraded from a Pixel 6 Pro. Setup and transfer were great! The new display is a lot more rounded than my old phone, but I guess this is the trend. Seems faster and more polished in general. Unit arrived today and was fully usable within a couple hours. Fingerprint sensor seems better, too. No regrets. I expect this kind of improvement after 3 generations.

I have been a Pixel user for years and was so excited to get this phone. I fired it up, transferred all my stuff and began using it. Let me say that the camera is awesome, but that's about where it ends.The Pixel 9 XL Pro has two issues. It will not consistently hook to bluetooth and the fingerprint reader doesn't work consistently. Both of these are known issues and had I "known" about them I would have waited until these issues were resolved.I just spent three frustrating days trying to get it hooked up to my 2019 CRV, to my Fenix watch, to my wireless speaker to my ear buds and to my photo printer. It would occasionally work and I would think that the problem was solved (I did a lot of research to figure out a resolution) then the next day everything had stopped working.The fingerprint reader was an issue in my current phone, but an update took care of it. I updated the pixel 9 as soon as I turned it on. Reader didn't work. I added, deleted, added multiple of the same thumb and it would work a bit, but then nothing and I would have to type in my pass code. I finally just had had enough and returned the thing.I'm in tech and I can usually find a work around, but not this time. I can't tell you what to do, but as of now, I'm back to my Pixel 6 Pro and looking for something else. I'm so sad to be leaving the google environment.