Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL outperform the competition in terms of thermal management, but have significantly shorter battery life

In a test by the YouTube channel TechDroider, the new Google flagships Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL were put through their paces. Although Google has improved the battery capacity of both models, the test results were disappointing compared to other top models. While the Pixel 9 (4,700 mAh) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (5,060 mAh) achieved a runtime of around 10 hours and 25 minutes, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was clearly ahead with 11 hours and 44 minutes. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also outperformed the Pixel models with 10 hours and 47 minutes.

However, the thermal efficiency of the new Pixel smartphones is remarkable. A maximum value of just 40.9°C was measured for both devices, setting new standards in this area. By comparison, temperatures of 44.6°C were measured for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra even reached 50.4°C. The low temperatures could be due to the optimized heat dissipation of the new Tensor G4 chip. What is striking here, however, is that the base Pixel 9 does not have a vapor chamber, which normally contributes to better cooling, but still reaches the same maximum values as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

In earlier tests, the Pixel 9 Pro XL was highly praised for its exceptional camera quality. It even secured second place among top camera smartphones in the DxOMark rankings. However, when it comes to gaming performance, the Google smartphone falls short of matching the capabilities of flagship models from other manufacturers. As early benchmarks had hinted, the Tensor G4's performance in gaming tests, particularly with Genshin Impact, was disappointing. It lagged 15% behind the two-year-old Tensor G2, highlighting a significant regression in gaming capabilities despite being a newer processor.