Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Hazel 128GB

The Pixel 9 Pro XL's display and camera are best-in-class, and the clean software with seven years of updates is a huge win. It gets warm under pressure and charges slower than rivals, but the overall experience is fantastic. If you find a good deal on a refurb, it's an absolute steal.

The Tensor G4 chip with 16GB of RAM handles daily tasks and AI tricks like Circle to Search without breaking a sweat. Our gaming benchmark landed at a strong 96.6, so it chews through Genshin Impact just fine. But it's not the absolute fastest silicon on the market, landing in the 89th percentile for raw performance. The real story is the heat. Push it hard with gaming or extended 4K video recording and you'll feel it warm up in your hand, which is a bit of a buzzkill for a flagship.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Pixel trades blows on camera but gives up the S Pen and some raw processing grunt. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is its natural enemy, with Apple winning on video and ecosystem lock-in while Google takes the crown for still photography and AI smarts. The OnePlus 13 will tempt you with insanely fast charging that makes the Pixel look sluggish, but it can't match Google's update promise or camera consistency. If you want a flip phone, the Motorola Razr is a completely different beast, but it's not competing on camera prowess.

Pricing is all over the map depending on where you look, with a wild spread from $440 for a refurbished unit to $1245 for a new one. If you're hunting for a deal, a Grade A refurbished model from a reputable seller is the sweet spot, giving you a like-new phone for hundreds less. At full retail, it's a premium purchase that stings a bit, especially when you consider the charging speeds aren't class-leading. But for the camera and display quality alone, it earns its keep.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is Google firing on all cylinders. You get a massive, gorgeous 6.8-inch display that hits a retina-searing 3000 nits peak brightness, a camera system that basically cheats with AI, and the cleanest Android experience money can buy. It's the phone for people who want their tech to just work, look great, and take photos that make people ask what camera you used. And with seven years of promised updates, this thing is built for the long haul.

If you're a hardcore mobile gamer who plays for hours on end, look elsewhere because the thermal management just isn't there and the phone gets toasty. Also, if you need the absolute fastest charging speeds, the OnePlus 13 will leave this Pixel in the dust with its 100W charging.

This is the Android phone to buy if you want a no-compromise camera, a brilliant screen, and software that stays fresh for years. It's perfect for photography nerds who don't want to lug around a dedicated camera and anyone tired of bloatware. Just know that if you're a mobile gamer who plays for hours on end, the heat buildup might annoy you.