Pixel 9 Pro XL with GrapheneOS: Full Review

The largest, most powerful Pixel running GrapheneOS. We test it thoroughly.

Hardware

The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 6.8″ Super Actua LTPO OLED (1-120Hz, 3000 nits), Tensor G4 with 16GB RAM, and a triple camera headlined by a 50MP main sensor. Build quality is excellent — matte glass, polished aluminium.

Performance

The Tensor G4 handles everything without breaking a sweat. With GrapheneOS’s reduced background processing, more of the chip’s capacity goes to your actual tasks. We noticed no thermal throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Exceptional. The 5060mAh battery combined with the OS’s efficiency delivers 7-9 hours of screen-on time. Overnight standby drain of less than 2%.

Camera

The triple camera — 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5× telephoto — produces excellent results in all conditions. All camera functions work fully, including Night Sight and 4K video.

Security

The Titan M2 chip provides hardware-backed key storage. Verified boot runs on every start. The hardened kernel protects against memory exploitation. No other consumer device matches this posture.

Verdict

The best privacy smartphone available at any price. At £849 from PrivacyPixel, it’s a premium purchase — but for users for whom privacy is non-negotiable, it’s worth every penny.

Rating: 9.8/10