Google announced four new Pixel smartphones quite recently. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the new large flagship from the company, and we’re here to compare it to its predecessor. In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Google did change things up in the design department a bit, while the internals are different too. Some things did stay the same.
This article will hopefully help you make a purchasing decision. The Pixel 8 Pro may be worth keeping around for some of you. We will first list the specifications of both of these smartphones. Following that, we’ll compare their designs, display, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. So, let’s see what’s what, shall we?
Specs
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, respectively
– Screen size:
6.7-inch Super Actua AMOLED display (flat, 120Hz LTPO, HDR10+, 2,400 nits)
6.8-inch QHD+ OLED (120Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
2992 x 1344
– SoC:
Google Tensor G3
Google Tensor G4
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5)
16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1.2um pixel size, OIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.95 aperture, 125.5-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size), 48MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, OIS, EIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree FoV), 48MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
42MP (f/2.2 aperture)
– Battery:
5,050mAh
5,060mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
37W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
– Dimensions:
162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm
– Weight:
213 grams
221 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) & facial scanning
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14
– Price:
$999+
$1,099+
– Buy:
Google Pixel 8 Pro (Best Buy)
Pixel 9 Pro XL (Best Buy, Google Store)
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Design
Both of these smartphones are made out of metal and glass. Google once again used aluminum for the frame, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. The two phones also have similarly rounded corners. The thing is, the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a flat frame all around, unlike the Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 8 Pro’s frame is rounded a bit. Both devices include physical keys on the right-hand side, with the power/lock key being positioned above the volume rocker buttons.
Both smartphones include a flat display. That display on both devices also has a centered display camera hole up top, though with a slightly different placement. The one on the Pixel 8 Pro is positioned a bit higher. The bezels are thin on both smartphones, and they’re also uniform. When we flip them around we’ll notice two different-looking camera bars. The one on the Pixel 8 Pro connects to the frame on the left and right sides. The one on the Pixel 9 Pro XL stands on its own and it’s pill-shaped. Both protrude on the back quite a bit.
The in-hand feel here is considerably different. The Pixel 8 Pro has more curves than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That flat frame on the Pixel 9 Pro XL definitely feels completely different to use. It does curve slightly toward the edges, though. Both smartphones are also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. They’re also quite slippery. The size is almost identical between them, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly heavier (an 8-gram difference).
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Display
The Google Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display. That panel has an adaptive refresh rate which goes from 1 to 120Hz, and it’s flat. It also supports HDR10 content, and its brightness goes up to 2,400 nits. The display aspect ratio on the Pixel 8 Pro’s display is 20:9. This panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro, on the flip side, includes a 6.8-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display. This panel is also flat, and it also has an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. It is brighter, though, as its brightness goes up to 3,000 nits, technically. The display aspect ratio here is 20:9, while the protection is the same, Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is here.
Based on our initial usage of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, we can say that its display does get a bit brighter. Both displays are quite vivid and offer great viewing angles. They also offer good touch response, so you won’t spot any issues there. The blacks are also quite deep, as you’d expect them to be on OLED displays. The two displays are quite similar, just keep in mind that the new one gets a bit brighter, that’s it. You can’t really go wrong with either one.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Performance
The Pixel 8 Pro is fueled by Google’s Tensor G3 processor. This is a 4nm chip, and it comes with the Titan M2 coprocessor. Google also included 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and is using UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the flip side, is fueled by the new Tensor G4 processor, which is also a 4nm chip. It also comes with the Titan M2 coprocessor. This phone includes 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL does include a more powerful chip, though the sheer power difference is not that jarring. More importantly, Google has included a vapor chamber inside the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That’s something the Pixel 8 Pro does not have. Still, during regular performance, both smartphones do a great job. Both are quite snappy and responsive, so there are no issues there.
When it comes to gaming, the Pixel 8 Pro has shown that it can run games, but it’s definitely not the best phone for that purpose. That is especially true when it comes to more demanding games. The Tensor G4 inside the Pixel 9 Pro XL is not made for gaming either. We still didn’t get a chance to test out the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s gaming, prowess, though, so we’ll have to hold our judgment until the full review. So stay tuned for that.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battery
The Google Pixel 8 Pro includes a 5,050mAh battery. Its successor ships with a 5,060mAh battery. So, just a tiny difference between them. Do note that the Pixel 9 Pro XL also has a slightly larger display, but also more power-efficient RAM. Do note that the Pixel 8 Pro usually offered between 6 and 7 hours of screen-on-time for us. Depending on what update it was on, that did change throughout the last year, but on average that’s what we were getting.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL looks promising as far as battery life is concerned. The initial couple of days offered better battery life than the Pixel 8 Pro was able to provide, noticeably more. Still, we’re not ready to make any conclusions just yet. We’re continuing to test out the device and will report back the findings in our full review. By the looks of it, however, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will outgun the Pixel 8 Pro in terms of battery life, as expected.
When charging is concerned, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a slight advantage. The Pixel 8 Pro supports 30W wired, 23W wireless (Pixel Stand), 15W Qi wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers faster wired charging, up to 37W, but the rest is basically the same. Do note that neither phone ships with a charger in the box. Google does recommend you use the company’s 45W charger, however, even though that’s not a must. Both smartphones support PD3.0 and PPS charging.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Cameras
These two smartphones have the same main camera, but the other two cameras are different. You will find a 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.7 aperture, 25mm lens, 1/1.31-inch sensor size, 1.2um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, EIS) on both phones. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit too (f/2.0 aperture, 126-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (f/2.8 aperture, 113mm lens, 0.7um pixel size, 5x optical zoom, OIS).
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, has a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, dual pixel PDAF). On top of that, it also includes a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (f/2.8 aperture, 113mm lens, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, EIS, 5x optical zoom). Google did rebuild the entire HDR pipeline with the Pixel 9 series, while Real Tone should work even better now too. Night Sight has allegedly been improved too, and so on.
The initial shots we were able to capture with the Pixel 9 Pro XL do look promising. The device was able to provide detailed photos that still look quite Pixel-like. They are contrasty with emphasized colors. You’ll have to wait for our full review to get more information, but the photos, in some scenes, do trump what the Pixel 8 Pro has to offer. The difference is not monumental, but it’s noticeable.
Audio
You will find a set of stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. Both sets provide a nice output, though we’ll be able to say more about the Pixel 9 Pro XL speakers once we properly test them.
Neither phone has an audio jack, unfortunately. They both have a Type-C port at the bottom, however. You can easily hook up your wired headphones that way and enjoy some music. If you’d prefer to go wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 is on offer.
