Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review: Gemini finally finds its voice on Pixel

Google has repeatedly pitched each new generation of Pixel phone as a smart assistant in your pocket, a futuristic virtual buddy that takes the pain out of everyday tasks. The Pixel 8 came close to living up to that vision, but the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro feel like we’re finally approaching the shimmering reality that Google’s been promising for years.

That’s because it’s the first Pixel phone to have been entirely developed with Gemini in mind. Google’s AI model is at the core of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, a powerful chatbot and virtual assistant that plugs into your Google apps to not only bring you personalised and human-like responses but to carry out tasks on your behalf.

You’d be forgiven for feeling jaded about these kinds of wild AI promises. Investment in AI is off the charts, but practical applications for the technology have yet to materialise for the average person. The sum total of Microsoft’s efforts in the space basically amounted to a fancier version of MS Paint in its newest laptops.

So temper your expectations. The Pixel 9 is a truly brilliant phone, the best phone Google has made. Gemini is truly impressive when it works, effortlessly pulling information from your emails and documents, summarising videos and PDFs, writing entire emails and holding natural back-and-forth conversations on topics you’re interested in learning more about. But it’s still an imperfect assistant at launch, and it’s easy to quickly run into limitations, like its inability to “see” or interact with the non-Google apps you might use the most, such as WhatsApp.

As heavily tied to the Pixel 9 as it is, Gemini is its own product which will develop and improve over time. The phone itself offers a raft of hardware and design improvements over previous devices, alongside a bunch of exclusive software features enabled by Google’s broader artificial intelligence tech, like powerful photo editing tools and improved photography.

How we tested

We’ve been testing the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL since it was announced on 13 August, putting it through its paces as our daily driver. We paid close attention to the new Gemini features, build quality and improved camera and video capabilities in a range of lighting conditions. Here’s what we thought.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Performance

Design

The best Pixel 9 Pro XL contract deals

• Pixel 9 Pro XL with 500GB data: £36.99 per month with £99 up front, Carphonewarehouse.com
• Pixel 9 Pro XL with 500GB data: £34.99 per month with £149 up front, Mobiles.co.uk

The verdict: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL