Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL Finally Convinced Me to Ditch My Samsung Phone

As a regular Samsung phone user since the Galaxy S7 Edge, I’ve considered ditching the company’s Galaxy phones several times over the years, but I’ve never really been able to stick with them. I’m always drawn to the premium feel of Samsung’s flagships and their sleek design.

However, after spending the last week exclusively using Google’s new Pixel 9 Pro XL as my daily device, I can honestly say that the switch was less of a challenge than I expected. In fact, there’s a good chance I’ll stick with it this time around.

So why the change of heart? It all comes down to how good Google’s devices are this year: With the Pixel 9 series, Google has finally caught up to the level I expect from a modern flagship smartphone. Here’s why the Pixel 9 Pro XL finally convinced me to ditch my Samsung phone.

It has a beautiful design

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Obsidian and Porcelain models face down on desk

(Photo credit: Tom’s Guide)

There’s no denying that Google’s Pixel smartphones have been beautiful for years. In fact, I’ve gone on record as saying that the Pixel 7 Pro was a very attractive device. That said, I think the Pixel 9 Pro XL completely outshines it.

When compared to each other, it’s easy to see why Google’s phone prices have increased over the past two generations.

While the Pixel 7 Pro launched at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299, the new Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, putting it in direct competition with the likes of Apple and Samsung.

It may be a bitter pill to swallow for those who appreciated the lower price of Pixels in the past, however, there’s no denying that the latest Pixel flagship feels as premium as its higher cost suggests – with its flat edges, rounded corners and the brightest display of any Pixel device to date, the 9 Pro XL now feels as premium as the iPhone 15 Pro.

I also like the redesigned camera bar, which now has rounded corners and leaves space on either side of the phone, meaning cases can now more effectively surround and protect the camera bump.

Is the 9 Pro XL’s design perfect? Not exactly: given Apple and Samsung’s pricing, I’d expect a titanium frame rather than aluminum, but it’s still a big step forward for the Pixel brand.

Gemini’s AI is very impressive

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL with Gemini Assistant

(Photo credit: Tom’s Guide)

We’ve seen some impressive generative AI features on phones before, including previous Pixel devices and Samsung’s most recent flagships, but it seems like the Pixel 9 series has taken these features to a whole new level.

Over the years, I’ve used countless voice assistants on smartphones, but Google’s Gemini voice assistant feels the most natural thanks to its ability to follow an ongoing conversation.

For example, I asked Gemini to suggest some of the best burger restaurants in Canberra (the capital of Australia). Within seconds, Gemini had compiled a bulleted list of a number of highly rated restaurants.

I followed up these results by asking “what about Newcastle?” (note that I didn’t ask the full question again—Gemini already knew the context), and it instantly generated a revised list of burger joints in Newcastle, England. Okay, easy mistake. “No, the one in Australia,” I replied. Sure enough, Gemini updated its list to show the best burger joints in good old Newcastle.

What makes Gemini so impressive is that you can connect it to your Gmail and Google Drive, allowing it to pull up specific emails and documents with a simple voice or text prompt. I asked Gemini to “show me my most recent Amazon order confirmations in Gmail,” and within moments it provided me with a list of my last five purchases, with links to those emails.

Of course, I’ve only had the device for a week, so I haven’t had a chance to use the live translation or call screening features, but I’m already pretty excited to do so.

Better photos with minimal effort

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL's 'Reimagine' Feature Used to Transform Ordinary Street Scene into a Raging Flood

(Photo credit: Tom’s Guide)

Having used Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra since its launch, I’ve often found that taking good photos requires a lot of after-the-fact tweaking, especially for indoor shots. I still find myself having to manually adjust brightness, contrast, and other settings after taking a photo, and the results usually don’t hold up to close inspection, often revealing noise and blur when zoomed in, as well as a saturated look that leans toward the warmer side of things.

However, all the photos I’ve taken with the Pixel 9 Pro XL have been exceptional so far. There’s definitely a lot of AI processing going on, but the photos I get are consistently bright and sharp, with natural colors and a high level of detail when zooming in. Plus, I love the 9 Pro XL’s 48MP ultra-wide lens, which makes fun of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 12MP version in terms of detail and clarity.

And what about the new (and controversial) “Reimagine” feature in Google Photos’ magical editor? I took a regular photo of my street, asked the phone to reimagine it as “raging floodwaters,” and within moments, I had a photo convincing enough to prank my coworkers. While this technology may make you wonder what a photo is in 2024, it’s undeniably impressive (and endlessly fun to tinker with).

Improved battery life

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL on a wooden desk

(Photo credit: Tom’s Guide)

In the past, most Pixel devices I’ve tested have left me a little disappointed when it comes to battery life. That’s not to say it was terrible, but it just couldn’t compete with the battery life I got from my Samsung phones.

Thankfully, battery life has improved significantly with the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. While I previously struggled to make it through the day with older Pixel models, I haven’t had that issue with the Pixel 9 Pro XL so far, often finding myself with over 40% battery left by evening.

In our in-depth review of the Pixel 9 Pro XL , we found that the device’s Tensor G4 chip delivers a significant boost in power efficiency. While the Pixel 8 Pro’s 5,050mAh battery only lasted about 10 hours and 3 minutes in Tom’s Guide’s battery benchmark test, the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s battery life extended to an impressive 14 hours and 37 minutes. That’s still a long way from the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 16 hours and 45 minutes of battery life, but it’s a big enough jump for me.

…one last reason

Truth be told, the main reason I want to upgrade to the Pixel is the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which looks fantastic. I’ve long been a fan of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series of devices, but it really seems like the South Korean electronics giant is resting on its laurels with its latest foldables.

Ever since the first iteration of the Galaxy Z Fold lineup, users have been wanting a shorter, wider, and easier-to-type front display, and I’m honestly tired of waiting for Samsung to make those changes.

While Google’s first Pixel Fold was far from perfect in its implementation, its direct successor has already seen massive design improvements, proving that Google is listening to its customers’ wishes. So, while we wait for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to arrive, the Pixel 9 Pro XL does a hell of a job of showing me what Pixel phones have to offer.