Google’s Pixel 9 line is its biggest smartphone series yet, with four phones carrying the Pixel 9 name. These are the Google Pixel 9 itself, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
That said, the last of those is a foldable phone, so it’s a very different proposition to the prior three. As such, we won’t be looking at the Pixel 9 Pro Fold here, but we will be comparing the three non-foldable models.
These three phones have a lot of similarities but they’re not short on differences either, so read on to learn all about them and how they compare.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm |
| Weight | 198g | 199g | 221g |
| Materials | Glass and aluminium | Glass and aluminium | Glass and aluminium |
| Colours | Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, Obsidian | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian |
While there are various differences between the Pixel 9 models, their designs are quite similar. All three of these phones have the same basic shape, with a large camera block running horizontally across the back, a glass rear, and an aluminium frame.
They’re all protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, and they all have an IP68 rating, meaning they’re dust and water resistant.
However, their dimensions and weights do differ. The standard Pixel 9 is 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm and 198g, while the Pixel 9 Pro is the same size but negligibly heavier at 199g. The main difference comes with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is larger and heavier at 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm and 221g.
There’s also a difference in the available colours, with the Pixel 9 coming in a choice of Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, or Obsidian, while the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are both available in a choice of Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, and Obsidian.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.3 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2424 | 1280 x 2856 | 1344 x 2992 |
| Refresh rate | 60-120Hz | 1-120Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,700 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits |
Both the Google Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro have a 6.3-inch OLED display, but that’s where most of their screen similarities end. The Pixel 9’s screen has a resolution of 1080 x 2424 (for 422 pixels per inch), and it has a refresh rate that can vary from 60Hz to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 2,700 nits.
The Pixel 9 Pro on the other hand has a 1280 x 2856 display with 495 pixels per inch, a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and a refresh rate that can range from 1Hz to 120Hz. So it’s higher resolution, brighter, and can drop to a lower refresh rate, thereby conserving more battery when a high refresh rate isn’t needed.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a much bigger 6.8-inch OLED screen with a 1344 x 2992 resolution, 486 pixels per inch, a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
The main difference here compared to the Pixel 9 Pro is just the size though, because while the Pixel 9 Pro XL is also higher resolution, that larger size means its pixel density is actually marginally lower, and the other screen specs are much the same.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Chipset | Tensor G4 | Tensor G4 | Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB | 16GB |
The Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL all have a Tensor G4 chipset, so their power is similar. This chipset has been designed by Google to excel at AI tasks, though it won’t match the chipsets in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro for raw power.
However, where Google has got the edge over most other phones is in RAM, as the Pixel 9 has 12GB of it, and the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL each have 16GB. These are massive amounts, and as with the chipset this extra RAM is included to help boost the AI capabilities of these phones.
Still, while they all have a lot of RAM, the Pro models have a distinct edge over the standard Pixel 9 – which is probably why a few of the Pro models’ AI abilities aren’t included on the standard Pixel 9.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Main | 50MP f/1.68 | 50MP f/1.68 | 50MP f/1.68 |
| Ultra-wide | 48MP f/1.7 | 48MP f/1.7 | 48MP f/1.7 |
| Telephoto | N/A | 48MP f/2.8 (5x zoom) | 48MP f/2.8 (5x zoom) |
| Front-facing | 10.5MP f/2.2 | 42MP f/2.2 | 42MP f/2.2 |
These three Pixel 9 models all share two cameras, specifically they all have a 50MP f/1.68 main camera and a 48MP f/1.7 ultra-wide one, with a 123-degree field of view.
That ultra-wide camera also has a macro mode, and the main sensor is aided by optical image stabilisation (OIS), which helps keep your shots steady and free of blur.
However, the standard Pixel 9 only has these two cameras on the back, while the Pixel 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL additionally have a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto camera, offering 5x optical zoom. And this camera also has OIS.
The Pro models also have a different selfie camera to the standard Pixel 9. Specifically, with the Pixel 9 you get a 10.5MP f/2.2 camera with a 95-degree field of view, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL instead have a 42MP f/2.2 camera with a slightly wider 103-degree field of view.
So if you want to be able to take long-distance zoom shots or the best possible selfies, then a Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL would be a better choice than the standard Pixel 9.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Battery capacity | 4,700mAh | 4,700mAh | 5,060mAh |
| Charging speeds | 27W wired, 15W wireless | 27W wired, 21W wireless | 37W wired, 23W wireless |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
The Google Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro both have a 4,700mAh battery, which is unsurprising since they also both have 6.3-inch screens.
They also both support 27W wired charging, though the Pixel 9 Pro has slightly faster wireless charging, at 21W compared to the Pixel 9’s 15W.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL though has a larger 5,060mAh battery, along with faster 37W wired and 23W wireless charging.
All three phones should offer similar life though, with Google claiming you can get upwards of 24 hours from their batteries, or up to 100 hours if using Extreme Battery Saver mode.
For storage, the standard Pixel 9 comes with a choice of 128GB or 256GB, and the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are both available in a choice of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB.
| Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| SIM-free starting price | £799 | £999 | £1,099 |
| Contract starting price | £25 upfront, £20 per month | £40 upfront, £25 per month | £50 upfront, £27 per month |
If you’re buying them outright, the Google Pixel 9 starts at £799, which gets you 128GB of storage, rising to £899 for 256GB.
The Pixel 9 Pro starts at £999 for 128GB, going up to £1,099 for 256GB, then to £1,219 for 512GB, and finally £1,449 for 1TB.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL costs £1,099 for 128GB of storage, £1,199 for 256GB, £1,319 for 512GB, and £1,549 for 1TB.
So as you’d expect the Pro is pricier than the standard model and the Pro XL is pricier still. You’re looking at a £200 higher starting price for the Pro than the Pixel 9, and a further £100 higher for the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Prices will of course vary on contract, depending on the network and allowances, and the chart above shows the starting prices on Three at the time of writing. But these are all high-end phones and are priced accordingly, with the price being highest for the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The main differences between these phones then include their screen sizes, with the Pro XL standing out as larger than the other two, their RAM amounts, with both Pro models having 4GB more than the standard Pixel 9, and their cameras, with the Pro models having an extra rear snapper and a better selfie camera.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL additionally has a bigger battery than its siblings, but it’s also the most expensive, with the standard Pixel 9 being the lowest spec and therefore the cheapest of the three.
All three of these phones though should give you the same core Pixel experience, so you just have to balance how much you care about their differing specs with how much you’re prepared to pay.
