GooglePixel 9 Pro XL - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, Triple Rear Camera System, 24-Hour Battery, and 6.8" Super Actua Display - Hazel - 128 GBECOLOGOECOLOGOECOLOGO

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 have been using Samsung phones since they first came out, with the S4 being one of my most memorable experiences. I appreciated some of the more rugged, active-style Samsung models I could take to work with me, especially during my younger years working on the pipeline. However, as I grew older and focused on my education, my phone became essential for assisting me with schoolwork, alongside my laptop, throughout most of my college career. Now that I am finishing my education and starting my career, I rely on my phone to help me accomplish various goals throughout the day. Before switching to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, my last phone was the Samsung Galaxy S21.Simply put, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is exceptional. It receives regular and helpful updates from Google and tends to get updated Android versions faster than other phone variants. This is great if you prioritize updating your software efficiently and promptly.This phone charges relatively quickly. It also has a feature that allows it to charge slowly overnight, which helps extend battery life.Speaking of the battery, it lasts all day long. I can often get close to three-quarters of a second day if necessary, even with regular work and personal use. I have never had to enable power saver mode, and when the phone drops to 20%, it automatically shifts to a lower power mode, extending battery life significantly.The screen is clear and highly functional; I have experienced no sensitivity issues. The picture quality and resolution are excellent, and the videos play smoothly without any problems.The camera is user-friendly and takes stunning photos. You can see the attached pictures in my review. Although I'm not a professional photographer, the images have great detail, with a good balance of shadows, contrast, highlights, and other important elements. The "Add Me" function on the camera is fairly easy to use. When you take the first picture and then add yourself to a second one, if you position yourself correctly, it can be tough to tell that the picture wasn't taken in one shot.Overall, I highly recommend making the switch if you're considering it. I've heard positive feedback from others who transitioned from iPhones to this phone, and it does include some features that could facilitate the change. While I'm not an iPhone user myself, I suggest talking to someone who is to explore that perspective further.Lastly, if you get it, get a case. With a screen protector, fingerprint functionality will be subpar. But I want an unblemished screen, so I suffer the effects.