As a tech expert, I review a lot of phones. I’m constantly moving from one device to another, but I always go back to my ‘home’ phone – and for the last 12 months, that’s been the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
There are two major reasons why: the first is that I love getting the latest Android software first. No other brand comes close to updating as quickly as Google, so I’ve been running Android 16 for over a month, and not many other phones can say that.
The second reason is a little more obvious, and that’s the camera. While there are lots of phones with decent cameras, for me, nothing comes close to the experience of the Pixel camera. I want to point, shoot and get a great shot, no matter conditions, day or night.
Google has long used AI to boost the performance of its camera, and it’s that processing that makes this camera better than its rivals. Although the more recent AI editing skills are also fun.
That’s why the discount on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is exciting. Users can now snap-up this great phone for £799, down from the £1099 launch price.
That’s the discount on Amazon, but shoppers can also get it for the same price at Currys if you prefer.
I think the 6.8-inch display is a great way to consume content and play games, but if you want a smaller phone, then the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro is down to £679 on Amazon, again a great deal.
The reason that there are discounted deals on the Pixel 9 devices is that Google is going to be launching the Pixel 10 on 20 August.
But looking at the Pixel 10 (Google has released an image, which is below), you’ll see that it looks exactly the same as the Pixel 9. It seems that there isn’t going to be a huge change in the design, and I’m expecting these phones to all be the same size, with the same displays.
That similarity is expected to run into the cameras too, with the Pixel 10 Pro sticking the cameras that it already uses – only the entry-level Pixel 10 phone will get an upgrade, adding a zoom lens where the Pixel 9 doesn’t have one.
Apart from that, the only other major change is expected to be a move to new hardware powering the phone, which happens every year. This tends to lead to small performance improvements, but nothing substantial.
With all that in mind, the Pixel 10 doesn’t look like it’s going to do anything earth shattering – and the discounted Pixel 9 Pro XL remains a great deal.
If there’s a problem with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, then it’s that the battery life isn’t great and the charging speeds are average too. I’ve been using the phone for a year and I still get through the day, but it’s not has good as the latest Samsung Galaxy phone or the OnePlus 13, for example.
Those who’d prefer to split the cost, Sky Mobile is offering it from £37 a month with £12 upfront – but note that this is just the price of the handset and shoppers have to pay for the data on top. It’s also a 36-month contract.
Meanwhile, GiffGaff is offering the Pixel 9 Pro XL with £25 upfront for £41.23 a month with 25GB data.