The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL’s chipset faces performance challenges.

Testing the Power of Tensor
The performance of Google’s Pixel phones has often been criticized for lagging behind top competitors in raw power, and it seems that the Pixel 9 series continues this trend. There are concerns that the new phones could struggle under stress.

User @callmeshazzam (via NotebookCheck) conducted a CPU throttling test on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The results were alarming, showing that after about four minutes, the phone’s performance dropped by nearly 60%. Although the performance recovered slightly, it only reached around 65% of its peak for the rest of the test. While this particular test focused on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, it’s worth noting that the same chipset is used across the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, indicating that these models might also face challenges when under heavy load.

Pixel 9 Pro XL .. Better Luck Next Year pic.twitter.com/cgFzM86oie
— Shazzam (@callmeshazzam) August 17, 2024

Different Use Cases and a Different Focus
In everyday use, you probably won’t push the Pixel 9 Pro XL and its siblings as hard as this test did, so the actual performance might be better. However, it’s concerning that a chipset, which already doesn’t match the best in terms of power, can show such significant drops.
These phones are primarily designed with AI in mind. Instead of a top-tier chipset, they boast substantial RAM, with 16GB in the top models, to support AI functionalities. So, while they might excel as AI-centric devices, those looking to play high-end games might prefer a more powerful Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or an iPhone 15 Pro.
Before making any decisions, we recommend waiting for our comprehensive reviews of the Google Pixel 9 series, as benchmarks alone don’t tell the full story.