We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Intro
Google is resurrecting the Pixel XL model! When the new Pixel 9 series dropped on August 13, the lineup featured a surprise - the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It seems that Google has decided to emulate what Apple and Samsung have been doing for the past couple of years offering more models to choose from. The Pixel 9 portfolio now consists of four devices, the vanilla Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and a foldable, nested under the Pixel 9 family - the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
So, back to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. What kind of beast is it, and where does it stand. It sits at the top of Google's non-folding lineup and it could be the iPhone 15 Pro Max alternative Pixel fans have been waiting for.
So, let's see how the new Pixel 9 Pro XL performs against a behemoth such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Get at Amazon
Want more screen real estate to play with? The Pixel 9 Pro XL might be right for you, and it's now available for purchase.
This offer is not available in your area.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Get yours at Amazon
The Pixel 9 Pro can be yours at Amazon. The sleek smartphone with advanced Gemini AI features and 16GB of RAM arrives without discounts.
This offer is not available in your area.
Pixel 9 Pro XL vs iPhone 15 Pro Max differences explained:
Pixel 9 Pro XL
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Similar size, 6.8-inch screen but with different design (camera bar), 1344 x 2992 pixels
Similar size, 6.7-inch screen, camera isle is different on the back, 1290 x 2796 pixels
Google Tensor G4 in-house Google chipset
Apple A17 Pro (3nm) chip
Triple camera, including 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto
Same triple camera system, only with 48/12/12MP configuration
RAM starting at 12GB (potentially getting a 16 GB version)
Less memory in the base version (8GB)
Base storage only 128GB
256GB base storage, twice as much as the Pixel 9 Pro XL
Larger 5,060mAh battery that will potentially deliver better battery life
A smaller 4,422mAh battery
Slightly faster wired charging by not by much (45W)
Can you tell which is which? (Image credit - PhoneArena)
It's obvious what Google is trying to do with the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And that is to offer a compact Pro model in the face of the regular Pixel 9 Pro, while the XL takes the place previously occupied by the Pixel 8 Pro. Confused? There is nothing to worry about. Think of the Pixel 9 Pro XL as Google's answer to the Pro Max.
The size of these two phones is very similar, as are the weight and materials used. We're talking about your typical glass and metal sandwich, and even though we're getting titanium with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the overall feel is very similar. We can't help ourselves but to include some numbers to illustrate that. The Pixel 9 Pro XL measures 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm and weighs 227 grams. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, measures 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm and weighs 221 grams. See!
The main design difference lies in the shape of the camera system on the back. Apple uses the same square design pioneered with the iPhone 12 series, while Google follows the design language first started with the Pixel 6—the Camera Bar, albeit in a refreshed, more modern form.
In terms of colors, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is available in:
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance(balance between red,green and blue)across different levels of grey(from dark to bright).The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones,the better.
The display panels of both phones are quite similar, both in size and specs. We're talking about flat AMOLED panels with 6.7-inch diagonals and 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rates. There could be a difference when it comes to brightness. Google lists the brightness figures for the Pixel 9 Pro XL at 2000 nits (HDR) and up to 3000 nits (peak), which is very impressive indeed.
In our display tests we were able to confirm those claims as the Pixel 9 Pro XL exceeded the 2,000-nit threshold and is officially the brightest phone we've ever tested (for now). The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, manages only half that brightness and it's also apparent in bright sunshine. Other metrics such as color accuracy, minimum brightness, and color temperature are very similar between these two phones.
When it comes to resolution, these two are again very similar. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 1290 x 2796 pixels panel, resulting in around 460PPI pixel density, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels and a pixel density of 487PPI. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the Pixel phone, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max relies on the proprietary Ceramic Shield for protection.
Performance and Software
Where's that AI coming from?
The new Tensor G4 is no match for Apple silicon (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The world is AI, and even though we're stretching this abbreviation a bit too much, it's true that modern smartphones constantly add new AI features to the table. Apple is a bit late to the party and will get AI things going with the iPhone 16 series and iOS 18, while Google has a head start with its AI-oriented approach.
Hardware-wise, the Pixel 9 Pro XL rocks the fourth generation of Google's in-house Tensor chip, the G4. It's designed with AI in mind, as on-device AI is becoming something of a buzz word. You can learn about all the new Pixel 9 series AI features if you jump to this article, but long story short, there are a lot of new things, including multi-modal Gemini Nano with Gemini Advanced subscription model (sad face), and Gemini Live - a conversational powerful language model that can do a lot of things for you.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with the A17 Pro chipset, which doesn't have any dedicated AI portions of silicon, but we expect it to still be faster than the G4, especially in synthetic benchmarks. Speaking of which, you'll find the benchmark scores below, and there are no surprises here.
The Tensor G4 apparently managed to score 1967 in single core performance and 4775 in multicore. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max scored 2958 and 7288 respectively in the same Geekbench 6 test, massively outperforming the Tensor G4. But, as we all know, synthetic benchmarks don't paint the full picture, and in normal day-to-day tasks both phones run smoothly.
The RAM situation is not that relevant when we compare Android and iOS devices but still, the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with more RAM (16GB) than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (8GB). The base storage of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, is more, starting at 256GB. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a lot of storage options available, all the way up to 1TB, which is good, as the microSD card slot is almost extinct on smartphones nowadays.
Camera
Algorithms or lenses?
The triclops versus the stormtrooper (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The Pixel 9 Pro XL sports a very similar camera system to its predecessor, the Pixel 8 Pro. Namely, a triple camera system that consists of a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide snapper, and a 48MP telephoto zoom camera with 5x optical zoom. There are some clever AI tricks up the phone's sleeve and they reveal themselves in the samples below.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, is a known variable with its triple camera system, sporting a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto. Apple never chased megapixels with its iPhone devices, but the results have been more than decent through the years.
It will be very interesting to see how Google's AI prowess will manifest itself in this camera section. Here come the samples!
Main Camera
< Pixel 9 Pro XLiPhone 15 Pro Max >
Now, let's start by saying that both of these phones produce great images, and in the end, it will be down to personal preference which one you like best for a camera phone. What we saw during our daylight shots is that the Pixel 9 Pro XL produces warmer images, and they look softer, too, especially in comparison to the photos from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which look sharper. We always thought the iPhones lean toward warm and yellow-ish tonality, but this side-by-side comparison shows how relative this notion can really be.
< Pixel 9 Pro XLiPhone 15 Pro Max >
Night samples continue the trend we saw with photos taken in bright daylight. Here the Pixel 9 Pro XL does a better job with the lanterns, revealing more details, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max slightly overexposes the artificial lights. There's the same softness in the Pixel photos, they also look a bit more natural, as the iPhone images again look a bit too sharp.
Zoom Quality
< Pixel 9 3xiPhone 15 3x >
Both of these have periscope telephoto camera systems, offering the equivalent of 5x optical zoom. The other zoom ranges are digital but both phones manage to preserve the overall feel and quality of the photos. At 3x magnification, the Pixel 9 Pro XL does a better job at producing a clearer image with less artifacts and less noise.
< Pixel 9 5xiPhone 15 5x >
5x is the native optical zoom level of both phones, and images taken at this magnification should yield the best results. The Pixel 9 Pro XL images look a bit more natural, albeit softer and not that sharp. The iPhone 15 Pro Max zoom shots, on the other hand, display a tad more aggressive noise reduction and sharpening algorithms. We leave it to you to decide which one you like best.
< Pixel 9 10xiPhone 15 10x >
10x is digital and here the processing matters the most. Strangely enough, these two are very close at this level of magnification, and the samples look very similar. If we pixel-peep we can see that there's a little less noise in the Pixel sample.
Ultra-wide Camera
< Pixel 9 Pro XLiPhone 15 Pro Max >
Well, the ultrawide samples are more of the same, the Pixel 9 Pro XL produces warmer, even red-ish photos, and compared to iPhone samples they look rather soft. The colors here are much closer between the two, though (take a look at the skies in the background). We prefer the Pixel 9 Pro XL photos, as they look more natural but the "pop" of the iPhone 15 Pro Max could also be desirable for some people out there.
Selfies
< Pixel 9 Pro XLiPhone 15 Pro Max >
Selfie shots are quite similar, but we thing the iPhone 15 Pro Max handles the exposure and white balance better. Both phones produce detailed and good-looking selfie images, but the difference in tonality is again apparent. The sky in the Pixel shot looks almost brown compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max sample.
Battery Life and Charging
Advantage Google, but not by much (Image credit PhoneArena)
The Pixel 9 Pro XL sports a beefy 5,060mAh battery, which, while not groundbreaking, is a substantial capacity. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is holding its own despite the small, by modern standards, 4,422mAh battery inside. The way iOS is built and apps optimized often translates into better battery life when compared to the same capacity on Android. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for example, currently occupies 14 place in our all-time battery ranking, outperforming many phones with larger batteries.
Looking at the battery test results, our predictions turned out to be true. The 600mAh capacity difference is offset by the different chipsets and app management. These two are almost identical when it comes to battery life. The 20-30 minutes difference we saw in all three tests is negligeable, but if we want to crown a winner here, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will last a bit longer if you're browsing or watching video, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL will let you game a little longer.
Well, when it comes to charging, neither of these phones will be breaking records. The iPhone 15 Pro Max tops at 27W, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with 45W wired charging support, and advertised charging times are up to 70% in about 30 minutes. Well we weren't able to totally replicate these claims, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL charges much faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Audio Quality and Haptics
When it comes to haptics, Pixel phones have always been on the weaker side, especially compared to the Taptic engine equipped iPhones. The same applies here. No that the vibration of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is bad, it's just not as tight and precise, and not as strong as what the iPhone 15 Pro Max can offer.
The audio quality is pretty similar, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max being a bit louder, but both phones output detailed and rich audio, without harmonic distortion even at max volume. Neither of these have the 3.5 mm headphone jack, so you will need to rely on wireless headphones or use a USB-C adapter.
Google has produced an ultra-premium flagship that deserves your attention (Image credit - PhoneArena)
As always, this question is multi-layered and not an easy one to be answered. On one hand, we have the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is the current iOS champion, but on the other hand, we're expecting the iPhone 16 series to drop soon, and catch up with all the AI stuff Apple has been lagging behind lately.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL shuffles a bit the naming scheme for Pixel phones and occupies the top spot as the ultra-premium Google flagship, and it's a great deal with the seven year support and all the AI stuff onboard (plus all the AI stuff that will inevitably come to the device with each and every feature drop). The base Pixel 9 Pro XL model is also $100 cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but also comes with half the storage.
These two phones not only look and feel the same (at least from the front), but they also have similar dimensions and identical weights. It almost feels like Google tried to replicate the Pro Max model in its own portfolio. We're not sure if it's a good thing or not, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL feels premium for sure—more premium than the last generation of Pixels we recon.
The Pixel also comes with a very bright screen (the brightest we've tested so far), and it offers a powerful camera system, backed by clever AI tricks. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max obliterates the Pixel when it comes to raw processing power, whether you need it or not. The decision here boils down to the ecosystem you're more inclined to get into. One thing is certain: Google has upped its game, and the current Pixel 9 lineup makes a serious claim for that third spot on the market.
Can’t get enough of mobile tech?
Subscribe to access new exclusive content and perks. You can still enjoy the standard PhoneArena experience for free.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: