Pixel 9 Pro XL 2 Weeks Later: Truth After Hype

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks for checking this one out! Feel like we're finding our feet with the format of these phone videos now. Loving using more photos, videos and music to show off what these phones are capable of. Kinda feel like we're at a stage now with these flagship phones where they are just as good as each other for 'most people'. Comes down to personal preference over whether you like the Pixel / Samsung / Xiaomi skin of android. P.S - Writing this on the Pixel Fold! Awesome phone, disappointed with the cameras so far, but loving the foldable format. Thanks dudes!

[@alexanderamundson4034]

Great video! Keep it up! Can't wait for your Fold video! Also so far my Pixel Pro Fold I have been enjoying it as well! I really like the useability of the front screen much better than the Z Fold series that I tried and didn't really like.

[@PeteMatheson]

@@alexanderamundson4034 Thanks man! Probably going to do a long term review on the fold vs a shorter term 2-weeks later type video. I feel like the fold needs a proper long term review since most people just buy and return for reviews

[@alexanderamundson4034]

@@PeteMatheson I appreciate that you are willing to stick it out to make a long term video of it! So far what is your favorite thing about the fold?

[@PeteMatheson]

@@alexanderamundson4034I just love that it’s a pixel that folds. Good software, mostly good hardware. A few let downs. And I love that it’s comfortable to use both on the cover and inside screen.

[@tspirate]

​@@PeteMathesoneventually they go back to apple

[@jayteebae]

Finally a real review that doesn't feel sponsored. We can tell you've actually lived with the devices. Great job listing the pros and cons!

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks man! Appreciate you watching!

[@LaurentiArnault]

@@PeteMatheson Exactlyy! Thanks, Pete

[@miroslavhavlas1443]

agree, perfect review standing out of the crowd - this review was just different and it made me watch it until the end without skipping, amazing job! @PeteMatheson

[@anthony2558]

@@jayteebae I was thinking the same thing watching the video, especially with android auto.

[@jinvid]

Bro is a real one. I subbed a little while back.

[@marksquickvids]

I'm glad you mentioned the nfc and other small features. I've seen so many reviews that spend most of the video talking about the A.I stuff and most people don't even use them. for me, the small quality of life stuff is a lot more meaningful in my life than image generation lol.

[@PeteMatheson]

You and me both! Barely use most of the AI features. Like, who wants to generate images Vs who just wants to just be able to take photos and reply to messages 😁

[@marksquickvids]

@PeteMatheson exactly. I feel like the old tech videos used to explore every nook and cranny of an android phone, but now they just talk about them like iphones, giving us the bullet points. you should do a deep dive video on the pixel and show users the quality of life features, gestures, customised settings, widgets, compatibility, quick share, torch quality, mic quality, etc.

[@tspirate]

@@marksquickvids would you agree the iphone is best for the small quality of life stuff ?

[@marksquickvids]

@tspirate nope, iphone probably has the best overall hardware, and although they do release a great software features on occasion, I personally find ios quite tiresome to use. but maybe that's because I'm mainly an android user.

[@PeteMatheson]

I'm not sure I have the attention span for that video 🤣

[@JohnDoe-or3hc]

Not sure who you are or why KZbin put you in my algorithm but am I glad! Finally an honest opinion and not PR hype!

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks to the KZbin algorithm gods! Glad you enjoyed it, and huge thank you for watching and commenting! 🙌🏼

[@tonybowen455]

I can't believe android auto doesn't support gemini yet. This is the first review I've seen showing that, and I've seen/read a ton of pixel 9 reviews.

[@tonybowen455]

Oh and subbed after watching that. Great video so far!

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you! Yeah I’m a little confused as to why they don’t mention it. It’s almost an every day thing with my use! And thanks for subbing! Glad you enjoyed the video 😊

[@attomicchicken]

@@PeteMatheson Think we all know the answer to that. They don't really live with the phone and / or are sponsored so they won't really explore the negatives.

[@guyramsay246]

is this a uk thing because here in australia it does?

[@midnight_yota]

Also yes! The way my iPhone would just subtly slide off seemingly flat surfaces would drive me nuts.

[@PeteMatheson]

😂 happened so many times to me.

[@tonkerdog1]

Why they can’t have a Blackberry type of rear material is beyond me.

[@majikp24]

Who needs a level when you have an iphone?!

[@hammershott630]

By far the most honest review on KZbin I've watched for this phone. No one discussed these problems they just said how great the phone was. Thank you for giving us buyers a realistic picture (current pixel owner here)!

[@gerrysmith5597]

got the Pixel Pro XL - no problems so far, nice phone (buy it)

[@TheFLGators17]

@@gerrysmith5597 did you also notice the battery dying a lot in the first few days like Pete mentioned?

[@gerrysmith5597]

@@TheFLGators17 hi thanks for the reply - no I have not noticed any battery drain and just looked now after charging yesterday morning and its now 10.00 the next day and battery says 2 days & 15 hrs left - ok I'm not a HEAVY user but even so this is great.

[@mackmccord3743]

My P9P lasted 71 hours with 13 hours screen on time about 3 weeks ago. This 9 series is the truth! Don't listen to these reviewers

[@TheFLGators17]

@@mackmccord3743 you do anything special to achieve that?

[@marianob4991]

The 48Mpx mode is a special mode meant to be used in specific situations like when you want to take a photo and zoom in a lot on the picture and do pixel piping, it is not meant to be used for daily use because it takes a lot longer to process due to the size of the image, if you had done a little bit of research you would have found that phones combine the 48Mpxs into a 12Mpx photo because its faster and gets better quality across all light conditions, if you use the 48Mpx mode on any phone you will see the same happens, it takes time to process, you should pin this comment so people don't get confused and think the pixel takes time to take photos.

[@greghuang117]

@@marianob4991 agreed. Seems pretty biased and ignorant on his end.

[@greghuang117]

Sent from my iPhone.

[@StefanTmuc]

There is no real improvement in quality unless you want to do large prints according to almost all reviewers

[@NathanaelNaused]

​@@greghuang117Nice joke lol

[@NathanaelNaused]

​@@StefanTmucMaybe people want their phone to do what was advertised? I don't see Google explaining anywhere that the photos will not work at all or take significantly longer in their marketing.

[@chrisgutierrez4030]

Very informative and honest review. So hard to come by these days. Thank you so much for putting in the hard work and effort. Creators like you are the rare gems of KZbin.

[@PeteMatheson]

Damn, thank you! Working hard to make these better each time! 🙏🏼

[@lespetitesmouettes8996]

I don't want them to rely on AI so heavily that they fall behind too much hardware-wise

[@PeteMatheson]

I think that's always been the case with Pixels. Software first with lacking hardware. I think they've definitely improved things this year though. But agree, most AI features I just don't use

[@jevonsims900]

Too late they've already falling behind. Vivo and Xiaomi both have phones that can take still shots repeatedly at a fraction of a second feels like the subject is frozen in time.

[@gelade]

next gen will be by tsmc. maybe just maybe it will be better

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Right although frankly they're going in the right direction hardware-wise as they're moving to a TSMC fabricated chip 2025. 16 GB of RAM etc and that's all positive. Problem is 30% of the launch event was promoting AI events that are will eventually be behind a $20 a month paywall. That should be a separate event because you should not have to pay $240 a year to have feature parity the device I bought at launch. Not to mention that price increase 2 years a row with no storage pump is ridiculous.. All of that said I still prefer to have my SIM card in a pixel to anything else especially now that LG is on the business. But but the real value is buying an older pixel like the Pixel 7 pro is 360 bucks brand new at woot. I'm sure within 12 months the pixel 8 pro will be comparably priced. I don't see any reason to buy a brand new pixel at launch. Frankly I don't see many reason to buy a brand new phone from any company at launch. The year to year benefits are pretty marginal, and you can get functionally identical phones for $0.40 on the dollar or less if you wait 12 to 18 months. And you still get four or five years of software support.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Yeah TSMC has not disappointed in a while. The last three generations of Qualcomm chipsets were great after two terrible ones from Samsung with the 8g1 and the 888. TSMC's contracted by Apple to make their m chips. They know how to fabricate a thermally efficient chipset.. That said I don't know what solution they're going to use for a modem. Usually Qualcomm chips have a Qualcomm modem and so on. Likewise with Samsung/exynos. I don't know if they're going to have their own modem or what

[@mickebrunkvist]

I’m fascinated with how much tech youtubers seem to type on their devices laying flat on a table without a case. 😅 wobbling aside, great video!

[@PeteMatheson]

😂 if I don't mention it, some else will. Gotta cover the bases!

[@mickebrunkvist]

@@PeteMatheson yeah I know, I’m just messing with you 😉

[@davidbrown6137]

Why type? Just say "hey...."

[@andyH_England]

I was willing to overlook the performance limitations of the Pixel 7 and 8 when the price reflected those shortcomings. However, now that it's more expensive than an iPhone, I've decided to hold off on buying it for now (I typically pre-order). The subpar GPU, inferior CPU, and slower UFS 3.1 are disappointing considering the £1200 price tag for the 256GB model. As Pete mentioned, many people may not be aware of these issues or may not care about them. I am pleased that the modem and battery life have been improved. I will wait for the inevitable discounts. Already on eBay, you can easily get £300 off a new, unopened XL. Thanks!

[@PeteMatheson]

Ah yes, the inevitable crash of prices after launch!

[@GhosT396]

If you buy through a carrier, the 256GB XL monthly payments come to ~£850, far lower than the MSRP. The same for a year old 15 pro max and you have to pay msrp.

[@Salman-v6c]

only 128gb has ufs 3.1 all higher variants got ufs4.0

[@theorgazoid4918]

Just be careful on eBay some chancers on there who get the upgrade. Sell it. Wait 90 days until eBay’s safeguard policy or whatever ends, Then report it lost or stolen and claim back on insurance while your phone gets blocked.

[@Methylglyoxal]

​​@@andyH_England what? The iPhone 16 is 100-300 €/$/£more expensive.

[@RMoore-yq2cu]

I’ve never had the idea Pete’s video’s were sponsored by the items reviewed. Love the open en honest approach. You can see he really makes all his videos with passion. Out of all reviewers, he’s the best in my opinion.

[@PeteMatheson]

Man, thanks for this! Really trying to improve each of these videos! Yeah I rarely have the video sponsored by the same brand as the product I'm reviewing. Exception to that recently has been monitor reviews where I'm basically testing them to make sure they do what they say they can do, and report various performance stats in games. So it's less opinion and more facts. 👍🏼

[@Deltanova93]

Nice review. Apple user here, switching to Pixel 9 Pro. Bothers me that using 50mp on the Pixel is so laggy. Considering canceling my order... And also the Gemini does not work really well. (But this is just a software issue, which will be fixed soon hopefully)

[@ravster2]

Great review. I love that you emphasize the practical aspects of it, such as android auto. The photo lag is also something I didn’t see other viewers comment on, so thank you.

[@PeteMatheson]

Appreciate you watching! Yep, kinda frustrating but still overall positive experience with the pixel. So much so I'm using the fold now!

[@ThomasNowicki-m5s]

but the lags in simply scroll tasks not shown here, open youtube or any social app and scroll = lags all the time and freezings... never seen the last years a phone that not can scroll smooth. google pixel is the only phone that can not handle such simply task.

[@sawrl]

@@ThomasNowicki-m5s last year pixel 8 series did that also... but there was rummours that this will be fixed on andoird 15 so in beta till now no changes (positives) ... now it seems that series 9 also facing the same... so i'm guessing that's about tensor chip... sadly though

[@ChloeC664]

Finally a review that the majority of people want! Great video 😊 Now got to wait for your review of the IPhone 16 line up then make my mind up on which to get!

[@PeteMatheson]

❤️ Thanks for this! Yep, we have one scheduled for this one also! Just gotta get my hands on one when it's released

[@Justin_House]

ABSOLUTELY SUPERB review sir. SO refreshing to see REAL use. I'm in Dorset & the whole video felt very IRL. I'm running a 15ProMax (16ProMax next month) an S23Ultra, my beloved S24Ultra, but I DO miss Pixel's AWESOME HAPTICS. (Also got an "old" S21Ultra in the kitchen + my Nest Hub does EXACTLY what yours did!) Considering the 9ProXL. Gotta admit my S24Ultra is literally flawless. THANKS for a wicked video.

[@PeteMatheson]

Man! Thank you so much 🙌🏼 So glad you enjoyed this! Appreciate you watching and commenting man!

[@ahmadchoudhry2277]

just discovered your channel and loved the reviews. they’re so real and helpful. Thanks pete ❤

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you man! Love to hear it - hope you enjoy the rest of the content as well! 🤘🏼

[@OptionTradeTalks_BN]

Till now… most honest review I have seen on youtube. Love from India…

[@Lansky1213]

I agree. Google Gemini is cool but not really ready yet. I disconnect it until a couple updates. But I'm still in love with my pixel 9 and Galaxy fold 6.

[@ianrobertson2276]

Finally a KZbin channel that seems honest and down to earth. Everything you said is so relatable. 😊

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you so much! Appreciate you!

[@majestyblur3668]

We need a video on your Porsche 😀🩵✅

[@PeteMatheson]

😄 Nahhh, I'm not sure people wanna see that. Do they??

[@shehzadimtiaz18]

@@PeteMatheson We do❗

[@blanco4787]

Tech and cars are a great combination

[@DariuszTech]

Absolutely agree ❤

[@davidbrown6137]

Techies are so very much auto enthusiasts. I've encountered this a lot. 🎉

[@M3GRSD]

I enjoyed your honest talk, and I think you're right about the performance being "probably" fine for the average user. I just think it's strange that a phone with 16GB of RAM and a "capable" processor struggles so much when trying to take those 50 MP photos. We probably don't need to take photos at such a high resolution, but then again, why am I paying this much, $999+ in the US, for a phone that has these features that it struggles at? This is why I passed on the Pixel 9 Pro.

[@NathanaelNaused]

What did you get instead? There are no high end phones that are "small" unfortunately

[@M3GRSD]

@@NathanaelNaused That's the problem. Right now the Pixel 9 Pro is the only game in town (unless you count the Xperia 5 Mk. V that no one likes, lol) I'll keep rocking this "giant" Moto Edge+ until next year. Hopefully, Google develops a better SoC by then.

[@NathanaelNaused]

@@M3GRSD Believe it or not I've been rocking a Pixel 5 until now. Bought a pixel 9 Pro before seeing reviews like this one. Hopefully it's not a downgrade in any way other than size (bigger) and the Pixel 5 having a great fingerprint sensor and location.

[@M3GRSD]

@@NathanaelNaused I feel like every review of the 9's are placating to Google because they recently got accused of threatening tech influencers unless they ‘preferred’ the Pixel, so I can't trust any review. If you remember to come back, I'm interested in your opinions after a few months to see if you still like the phone, especially the performance.

[@NathanaelNaused]

@@M3GRSD Not surprised in the slightest to hear that. Instead of just making a solid phone they're trying to alter the media. Wonderful. I'll update you because I really like the pixel 5 despite its flaws and it was a much better value when it came out than these phones imo.

[@ZombieOfun]

There are official mag safe cases for the pixel lineup, thankfully

[@kririu]

Nice review 👏 What was the name on the S24U magsafe case you showed in the video?

[@PeteMatheson]

That'll be the MagBak case!

[@MegaDrumnut]

Great review!! Are you also a drummer? I noticed the drumsticks on your newly acquired tat, lol

[@stevemarruk]

Pete! you know what love most about your videos you tell us what we really need to know, I don't care about bench marks or all that high end stuff... Thing like Google Pay where the sensor is perfect example, how google wallet works compared to Apple... things like that makes the video and why I watch you over the others... just saying mate :-)

[@PeteMatheson]

Ah man, thank you bud! Appreciated :)

[@neilmcguinness4422]

The inability to shoot rapid 50Mp images one after the other without chronic lag or even failure, is the kind of real world issue that other reviewers are not mentioning for whatever reason. This is a simple issue of the Pixel 9 series not having the processing power for this task. Other reviewers also miss the fact that the Pixel's battery life drops markedly when the device's processor has to work harder, like when shooting video and taking pictures. Other channels make the Pixel's battery life sound miraculous. Period. Honesty is so hard to find nowadays, but it is here in bucket loads on this channel. Respect. 👍

[@jevonsims900]

Notice how on this videos comment section there's not people/bots commenting "That doesn't happen to me". He covered so many common Pixel issues that commenters can't dispute the facts.

[@PeteMatheson]

Oh man, thanks for this guys! I was ready for the comments to be all like 'you got a defective phone' 😬 On another note, I've started using my pixel fold in power saving mode Whilst in Berlin and it's killing it on battery. 6hrs screen on with 11% left. I don't understand how people are getting more than that unless they're using the extreme battery saving mode.

[@mjjones1045]

​@@PeteMathesonsounds the same sot as my pixel 8 pro. Definitely not worth the upgrade.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

@@jevonsims900 So true. 👌

[@richardcerritelli9657]

@@neilmcguinness4422 That's why I skipped the upgrade and waiting for next year's Google pixel 10 that phone's going to be an absolute Beast.

[@af4396]

Glad you mentioned the shutter lag, that's a deal breaker for me. It's great that Google improved the hardware massively, but why can't they just release a complete experience? For a photo based smartphone, the least I expect is that the camera experience (all around) is top notch. My S21 Ultra also has a slow shutter speed, and it makes taking pet pics or any motion pictures impossible, and it's my main consideration for my next upgrade.

[@aph1555]

@@af4396 the shutter lag is only in 50mp mode. No lag in normal node

[@jakewilliams91]

That tap to pay segment made me realise how iPhones may be the boring phone but they nail the day to day quality of life stuff

[@thatdudedez6751]

10000% correct. well said.

[@francisburlaud6954]

Great job man. I have a pixel 6 and thinking about changing. So pixel 9 or s24 ? Thanks

[@PeteMatheson]

Oh man, tough choice this year! It comes down to which software you prefer.

[@NizarNoor]

Honestly looks like a lemon. Never had problems with Google Assistant like those or the camera not saving images. That's so bizarre.

[@NathanaelNaused]

Did you have your camera set to 50mp?

[@andig72]

Thanks for the review. The only point I noticed: no voice assistant likes a fast speech like „ericamastersen“ instead of, you know two words wirh a pause. Remembers me on the first days of Siri when a scottish friend tried to communicate 😂

[@PeteMatheson]

Yeah but, it works just fine if you dictate and use speech recognition, and it literally reads out the words it detects on screen. It hears the right thing then fails to do anything with it! And yep, I talk fast I know 😬 lol

[@NathanaelNaused]

​@@PeteMathesonCorrect. I've had the same issue

[@jaydanielstech]

Very interesting results! With the camera, did you have the iPhone in its RAW setting? My experience is in RAW it will stutter like the Pixel was when in that higher mode.

[@PauL-tr1mn]

The Google AI fragmentation is very strange. I mean, you can still choose whether to use Google Assistant or Gemini(zamsung)-and Assistant seems to do a better job managing device functions while Gemini is somewhat restricted. Maybe testing in a safe mode for now, and Android 15 will be a more polished(ish) release. We'll see. Great video! 👑

[@REHANALI-rb5pz]

We need more reviews like this from tech reviewers❤

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks!

[@olastixx9390]

Knew you were a drummer, first the necklace pendant then the tattoo. Nice review tho

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks man! 🤘🏼

[@leesmith7127]

Love your honest review, but most cell phones have their problems when they are first launched. If these same problems still exist in let's say December. Now we may have a problem. But I'm sure Google will be on top of most of the problems and will be corrected in monthly updates. I would love to see you post another review. Let's say in December to see if any or all of these situations have been addressed.

[@PeteMatheson]

Oh for sure! Nothing is ever perfect, it's actually another reason why I steer clear of spec for spec comparisons. Stuff changed, software updates happen. For most people they won't notice anything different, so I'm enjoying just focusing on what I think most people care for. And looks like I may keep the pixel fold for a while so I can do a long term review of that!

[@Vachan_M26]

Thank you so much for the review bro! Really loved your style of review a phone. I really loved when you said this statement about the camera tests online 9:29 , I think almost no body cares about such level of detail in photos😅

[@griffithowen509]

Love the thorough and fair reviews👌🏻

[@vijaysinghchauhan25]

I am using Google Pixel 8 Pro, Gemini is working great in it. The more we use it, the better it gets with time. The problems that were there, in the beginning, are no longer there, because we also learn with time how to get better work done from Gemini Assistant. There is no problem with the camera either, all the photos are taken well in a single click. Google Maps are also working well. I have no complaints. All these features are also working well in my Pixel 2 (which is still working fine).

[@yanni2737]

Brilliant video. Only comments 1. in terms of Gemini/Apple Inteligence/ChatGPT I think main difference is integration with 3rd party software. As an example Gemini (and the reason I use it 24/7) is the integration with the rest of the Google Apps (KZbin, drive, gmail etc). it has saved me hours of searching files, emails, videos in the past 6 months. My other commnent is on the camera delay. I believe the problem is software related. I would probably recommend deleting and re-installing the app. Also if you really wanna get the right photo at the right time Pixel, allows you to take a video and then pick any frame you want and will generate a hdr photo for you. I use it all the time now and it's miles ahead than taking shots and trying to hit the right moment.

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you! Yeah I'm in the process of figuring out Gemini integrations. My dad is spread across 3 Google accounts, with 2 of them being workspace accounts so that adds some confusion to the mix. I wish I could search through my work email or personal emails when I ask it too, currently it's restricted to whichever account Gemini runs from. And good tips with the photos, I'll give it a try and compare! I always just default to double tap the power button and snap a photo as quickly as I can before my kid moves.. lol

[@Treborray]

Thanks for making sense out of the camera bump for me! I was wondering why that design. It makes perfect sense

[@brownboii305]

I am new here and just subscribed! Great video all around! Reviewing the small things was nice. I was surprised you didnt touch on the voice to type and how fast it is handfree

[@PeteMatheson]

Ah yep, sorry to miss that! I covered those features last year and kinda assumed nobody would care to hear me say the same thing again. Voice typing is one of the very best with the pixel.

[@daedelus8277]

Love the honest commentary

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you!

[@ndumisokumalo2769]

The S24 Ultra is in a class of its own when compared to other smartphones. While the 9 Pro XL and 15 Pro Max are both excellent devices, they do not quite match the level of sophistication and capability offered by the S24 Ultra. I appreciate your assistance in dispelling any misconceptions or hype surrounding this remarkable phone.

[@PeteMatheson]

S24U is probably the phone of the year for me. Which considering it came out almost a year ago is crazy!

[@KK-bd5dl]

One of your best videos till date!!

[@PeteMatheson]

Loooove this! Thank you 😃

[@TheFLGators17]

I'm looking at upgrading from my pixel 7 pro because the battery is totally shot & it gets insanely hot during normal use. The 9s look nice I'm just nervous I'll run into the same issues. Galaxy S24+ seems like a great option too

[@PeteMatheson]

You definitely can't go wrong with the S24+, just depends if you get on OK with OneUI - either isn't a bad choice tbh !

[@TheFLGators17]

@@PeteMatheson lol I ordered a pixel 9 pro XL later last night 😂 leap of faith!

[@MRBarton369]

Great video as always fella.

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you!

[@markkendall6144]

I never had any of the issues you are having with Gemini, I have done basically the same with it as you did in your testing and it worked 100% of the time.I have had no heat issues at all not like my wifes iphone 15 pro max but the iphone 15 line is known to be terrible among the tech community for over heating

[@PeteMatheson]

🤷🏼‍♂️ Glad it worked for you!

[@freezalo7521]

Amazing review, the thing is I really want a pixel but if the 10 which id always a landmark number in phones for something cool coming with it comes out next year I better wait. Even though this is a remarkable improvement over the 8 which I was honestly disappointed in reviews wise.

[@jawalczak]

I love this redesign of Pixels. Was considering switching from my iPhone 12, but will hold on for one more year so they can get that TSMC chip in there. Lots of potential, but not quite there yet.

[@PeteMatheson]

Yeah next year will / could be a big year!

[@karlvlawton]

Great review, did you use video boost on the videos in this review?

[@tropip1081]

as a pixel user (6 pro and now 8 pro), i can say that if u only want and care about the camera, go buy it, but other than that i think that it only suitable to be a second phone for most people, the phone is really slow compared to other flagship, everything will feel laggy if you come from iphone/samsung and trust me, a lot of process will be slower than usual flagship, i use it as a daily driver and my only phone but i love the camera so i just bear with it

[@WinterSoldier0315]

I've been using Gemini Live and it's been great. I will say you do speak very fast... might be part of it.

[@PeteMatheson]

Oh it 100% understands me. It shows me the words it picks up on screen and it's accurate. It just fails to do things, specifically the WhatsApp message!

[@Michael_M_P]

I do agree. This is the best review i‘ve seen so far and a true week in a life.. While the most reviews are marketing bla bla, you‘re talking about real world scenarios. Every time I see a Samsung event or a Pixel event I think the grass is greener on the other side. Then I buy these devices (eg s24u) and then I learn it‘s not. I thought the Gemini Pixel combo would make me switch to android, but after this video I don‘t think I will give it a try (again). Thank you Pete for the one and only real „real world / day in the life“ review. Greetings

[@PeteMatheson]

Thanks so much for this comment man! Very kind of you to say so. Yeah perhaps one day in the future these issues will be ironed out!

[@scarry776]

Excellent video! Google is definitely stepping in the right direction but really needs to build on the power of it's chips. Although 'sufficient', the lag on the picture taking, and the inefficiency when it comes to heat management is a deal-breaker. I'll be going for the S24/s25 ultra I think, but maybe the next upgrade will be a pixel...

[@moatazahmed5111]

great video mate

[@jeffreystevenjones]

I’ve said for years that Apple should sale an iPhone that runs Android! Take their great hardware and give it great software.

[@mystercraig]

@@jeffreystevenjones that's basically Samsung since they run android and iPhone uses much of their hardware. Software integration is more important tho

[@user975bg]

I agree, Gemini is stunning and lifelike, but in terms of usability it is miles away from doing anything helpful. They have tons of work to do before it becomes anything other than just a gimmick.

[@PatsonTek]

Great content Mr PETE 👍

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you sir! 🙌🏼

[@Cre8teQ]

Pete, I already have a Quadlock magsafe case with my Pixel 8 Pro so, I dare say there will be the same for the 9 Pro/XL

[@mackmccord3743]

They're both the same. Looking at both of them right now in front of me (P8P and P9P quadlock cases). It's just smaller which makes me so happy! Also looking at my beautiful Ringke Onyx magnetic case (green and black). Just waiting for the P9P to ship!

[@KirBear02]

Great video. Just wanted to say the Mous case on the Google Store website has a magsafe option. Im using it on my Pixel 9 Pro XL now

[@b3njamin602]

nice review as always!

[@PeteMatheson]

Appreciated! Thanks for watching and commenting 😊

[@waggermama]

This! This is why I prefer Siri right now, in the uk it just does stuff without arguing ( we use both Siri and Google Home’s AI at home)

[@PeteMatheson]

The navigation stuff was so poor with Siri though. It barely gets the right destination. Hopefully fixed by the time iOS 18 launches

[@kreigerbailey3550]

Portland, JAMAICA in the Building!!! 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@thatdudedez6751]

Charging this much money for a phone with a chip that's not as strong as the iPhone 13 is crazy. Google needs to get back to making affordable phones with amazing software.

[@steveng1577]

Great video. I did tried the Pixel 9 pro XL but I will stick to iPhone. And my impressions was the same as yours. The only bad point for me than you haven't mentionned is some inconsistancy with autofocus. While I had 2 persons side by side at the same distance from the device, one face was often a little blurred by the software. While I agree than benchmark numbers are useless and eyes are better to determine if the device is fast or not, I was seeing some struggle in fluidity comparated to my iPhone 15PM. Also, the Tensor G4 is produce by Samsung, who doesn't even use his own technology for their high end models. Maybe it's because they want to show great benchmark to sell more, I don't know.

[@TechOutAdam]

I love iOS more than Android but still, didn't think I see Siri beating the Google Assistant this time.

[@PeteMatheson]

I dunno, they're both kinda bad most of the time 😕

[@mi02ke11]

Worst mistake I ever made was buying a pixel 8. Horrable.

[@safeerhaider2794]

@@mi02ke11 why so?

[@AndrewHahaLee]

Using this alongside the Xiaomi 14U, I really wish Google will use 1-inch sensors soon. The quality in terms of cleanness of image is night and day esp in low light and zoom, either that or Google's computational algorithm is doing more than required making images (with processing) look like a toy camera next to the XM14U's triple one-inch sensor camera array (with little to no processing).

[@inDepthReviewsMalayalam]

I loved it when you said it feels like an iPhone in Hand with Android on it. i have always sticked with iPhone just for its design. Would you be able to post a link to few original jpgs taken on this phone? and does the phone feels in hand just like 15 pro max? older pixels felt bulky due to high density of phones. and is there an option to set boleh blur intensity? i might be nitpicking, but there are a a few things i am worried abt pixel. Itdoesnt support heif, images are large. Ai search might not work offline. i would miss the face id. and then the displya brightness i feel as u said drops badly when phone heats up. i am still planning to go for pixel just for the Image processing it offers. i had used 3a before and my eyes find it still hard to adjust to iphone colors and sharpness lacking pics

[@simonraines763]

Great video! You might have persuaded me to buy a pixel 9 …..

[@PeteMatheson]

Glad to have helped! ☺️

[@Deehawkeye77]

A very honest and realistic review nicely done. I have a Pixel 8 Pro and wouldn't consider the 9. Its a great phone trying to wear the flag ship moniker. Its really a top mid level phone. The glaring issue is price. Paying over a grand for a phone lacking hardware punch selling itself on software that could easily run on "lesser" models is poor. When they cost as much as an iPhone or Samsung let alone being a fair whack dearer than a One Plus 12/Moto Edge 50 Ultra. If they could keep the price around about £800 then they would be a must buy. But If you want to play with the big boys, you've got to bring the tools.

[@mackmccord3743]

Just wondering if you looked at the photos (in the gallery) you took of your daughter jumping. Because although it seems like it stutters, Pixel cameras always get photos before and after the picture and you can usually look down at the bottom and select the best moment. So, in theory, you're not missing anything. You can still look now to see if the moment you wanted is there! Also! Yes! The nfc is amazing and you can pretty much aim it at the reader from about 6 inches away and it'll work. Great Video!

[@zachash1]

Thx Pete, you convinced me to wait for the next iPhone...Apriciate your review, always looking into the real-life scenarios

[@PeteMatheson]

Appreciate you watching! Glad it helped ☺️

[@tonkerdog1]

Me too and I’ve had Nexus and Pixel since the start.

[@konceited704]

Us iPhone users are looking to change to android now. 😂

[@lukecoe1]

How's the network connectivity been? My pixel 6 pro really struggled with that... Hoping they've fixed it.

[@adelaljammal]

"Looks so much like an iPhone" It seems a bit reductive to say that one phone looks like another, especially with the design convergence we see across the industry. While some might argue that a particular model resembles an iPhone, it’s more accurate to say that most smartphones today share similar design elements-rounded edges, camera bumps, minimal bezels, and a rectangular slab form factor. In fact, many phones, including the iPhone, have evolved by drawing inspiration from each other. So rather than any one brand copying another, it’s more that the entire market is converging on what is functional, sleek, and appealing. The iPhone looks like many other phones now, and many other phones look like the iPhone-it’s just the nature of innovation and refinement over time.

[@sharangagnihotri1511]

As someone who switched to iPhone 13pro 3 years ago - there are lot of issues personally i feel android is just better at like sms and call spam (really miss sms organizer). iPhone still feels a bit better overall, weird to say but yes. Also i cant completely ditch android as the prices of almost all apps and subscription is 30% more on iOS ( using my mi pad 6 for it). With that being said, i believe android is a lot better at some things and ios is better at some. Currently sticking with 13 pro for another year atleast

[@PeteMatheson]

Nailed it in one comment!

[@ninadtande839]

Thank you for your detailed video. I am considering to make the ios to android switch so this video was helpful. I feel pixel is still not where iphone is to be easy replacement in terms of performance and reliability. Dont want a Samsung so kinda waiting for pixel series to get more stronger!

[@AaronParraz]

This is the rise of android🎉 We need phone stores to be exciting again! I remember going into to buy a new phone and having so much to choose from but now it's just Apple or Samsung.... Honestly the Google Pixel 9 Pro/ XL chargers really quick compared to iPhones and yes maybe not as fast as Samsung but still quite fast!

[@Hollywooddecember]

I got this phone after watching this.

[@PeteMatheson]

my man! 🙌🏼

[@tommccrum8318]

Hi Pete, what are your thoughts on the Enduro 3?

[@hanabishikai]

i use ROG phone 5s pro now and it start to aging... might change phone real soon and i was like wanna skip gaming phone and go for better camera phones. (you know gaming phone dont really care about camera) now im thinking on either iphone or pixel... keep seeing how "cool" the phone vs phone but never get one that daily use experience. thank you so much for pointing out so much about stuff that other never mentioned!!

[@ravens7222]

so should i purchase an s24+ or a google pixel xl ??? im buying a phone on thursday and switching from iphone

[@adrevice7260]

That was indeed a great review and inaight about pixel, i am a P7P user and olannign to switch, Inwould be happy to receive your input should I go for P9P or P9PXL. I really don't wanna compromise with Camera's and performance ( Screen size i am olay with any ). Can you please help me on the same.

[@steeltwistercoaster]

So glad you mentioned the lagginess with taking photos, I've been seeing that issue with pixel 6 & 7 and wondered if they had finally fixed it

[@kindofanmol]

Gemini is coming to Android Auto very soon. Even Gemini Live will be integrated!

[@PeteMatheson]

Seriously hope so!!

[@AbdullahBarasheed]

Thanks for this video review .. i

[@PeteMatheson]

Very welcome!

[@gioriv]

By far the best review about the Pixel 9. I’m really in the road for f trying to switch from Apple. Honestly, I g think I’ll have to wait for the next Pixel and see better improvements. Thanks for the amazing HONEST review.

[@carlosm9111]

In my work with LLMs, full scale Gemini is complete trash. No matter, I'm still getting a Pixel Fold lol I expect Google to throw massive resources behind it and the company I work for has a relationship with their Gemini team

[@carlosm9111]

I should add that Apple's close integration with what is probably the best LLM on the market still is very wise, and it looks like they went all the way with integration. I just prefer android personally, so I actually just sold my iPhone 15 ...

[@mkygod]

Magsafe cases aren't that hard to find the for the Pixel 9 and pro xl. Nearly every major case manufacturer makes one, including Ringke, Spigen, Torras, Casemate, etc...

[@PeteMatheson]

Yeah so this is why I script my videos 🤣 What I meant to say was that my favourite cases brand I use doesn't make one for the 9 series. But yep, plenty of other options available!

[@paoj]

Apple Intelligence feels like the right implementation where the features are device dependent and not account dependent. In my case I have Gemini on my personal Google account but not on my Workspace account which are both on the same Pixel phone. On the iPhone I can use the AI features on anything I do on my iphone regardless of account.

[@osoifamf]

@@paoj yeah ok

[@DerikTran]

Interesting you left the number row key hidden on your keyboards. Is it because you are used to iOS keyboards or just like it that way? I went from Pixel 4 to iPhone and one of the things I missed most is the number row. Keyboard was another thing but they finally opened it up to 3rd party so I was able to use the gboard. iOS is finally giving us T-9 typing and a few other features that android had for years/decades.

[@mackmccord3743]

Although it's only a little bit of time saved at a time. It's still so much easier to type or text with the numbers already showing. It's little quality of phone use or things like that make pixels such a great choice and experience!

[@PeteMatheson]

I don't find myself using them that often, and when I need to enter numbers, the keyboard usually auto switches to the numpad. But great that you can customise it the way you like either way! I may even have the numbers showing on my S24 Ultra, can't actually remember. I'll have to check when I'm back from Berlin, currently on the pixel fold and no numbers showing here!

[@prajjwalchaulagai998]

I use SwiftKey keyboard and have been using it for 7 years now. Any new phone I back up my old keyboard setting and just download it on now device and viola its the same keyboard everytime.

[@mohitmor7917]

Great video!! Wallpaper link?

[@PeteMatheson]

Should be linked in the description already!

[@selw0nk]

8:25 Why does it look like CarPlay?

[@tonkerdog1]

I’ve been Nexus and then Pixel since the start, but there’s no way I’m spending £1200 on this. iPhone 16 this year.

[@pyrosdestiny]

Brilliant review

[@PeteMatheson]

Thank you!

[@harrydrake4173]

Were those photos taken in Chichester? 😊