Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL - How Google's Pro phones compare

The Google Pixel 9 series has just been announced, and if you’re trying to decide which of the four new phones to buy, you’ll first need to narrow down the options by picking the phone that’s the right size for you.

Need a phone with a tablet-sized screen that can fit in your pockets? Go with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Need a more compact phone? Pick between the Pixel 9 vs the Pixel 9 Pro. What if features are more important to you than screen size, though? Should you spend $100 more to upgrade from the Pixel 9 Pro to the Pixel 9 Pro XL? If you do, are you missing out on anything?

Fortunately, the answer is no.

Apart from the obvious difference in screen size and the slight differences in resolution, density, battery capacity, and charging speeds, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are basically identical. This means you don't have to pick and choose between a compact phone and a "pro" phone—the Pixel 9 Pro is a compact "pro" phone without any compromises.

Pre-order links (affiliate links that support me!):

• Google Pixel 9 Pro (128GB)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (256GB)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (128GB)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (256GB)

How do the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL compare?

If you’re curious about what exactly the differences are between the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL, here’s a quick breakdown:

1. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a larger 6.8-inch display. The 6.3-inch display in the Pixel 9 Pro is otherwise basically identical in terms of brightness, refresh rate, contrast ratio, etc. There’s only a small difference in resolution (2992 x 1344 in the Pro XL versus 2856 x 1280 in the Pro) that’s likely due to the minute difference in form factor.
2. The Pixel 9 Pro has a slightly smaller battery than the Pixel 9 Pro XL (4700mAh and 5060mAh respectively). The XL is larger so it obviously has room for a bigger battery. Google says the two devices should provide about the same battery life, though.
3. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has faster charging than the Pixel 9 Pro. The XL model charges at up to 37W via the Google 45W USB-C Charger whereas the non-XL model charges at up to 27W via the same wired charger. The Pro XL also charges at up to 23W via the Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) compared to up to 21W on the Pro.
4. Given the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a larger display and battery, it’s obviously larger and heavier overall. Specifically, it measures 162.8 by 76.6 by 8.5mm and weighs 221g. In comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro measures 152.8 by 72.0 by 8.5mm and weighs 199g.

And that’s it. When making the Pixel 9 Pro, Google made sure not to compromise on anything, so you don’t have to buy the larger device just to get their new Pixel Camera and Google AI features. Both phones even come with the same perks, such as 1 year of the Google One AI Premium Plan, which means picking up either device will give you the chance to try out the new Gemini Live experience.

Is the Pixel 9 Pro XL at $1,099 worth it over the Pixel 9 Pro at $999? That’s up to you, but personally, I generally opt for larger phones due to the added screen real estate they offer. 

If you’re still struggling to decide between the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, leave a comment below and we’ll try to answer any questions you might have. I'll leave you with a table that compares the specs of the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL:

Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL spec comparison