Google’s flagship Pixel 9 series will be unveiled at the “Made by Google” Pixel event on August 13, and Google has confirmed the arrival of the Pixel 9 Pro and the bendable Pixel 9 Pro Fold on its social media channels. The company’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro were launched last October, but Google seems to want to launch the phones before Apple releases the iPhone 16 series. All of Google’s phones offer solid performance, generous software support, and innovative AI-based features, and its latest $499 Pixel 8A trims some specs for a more affordable price.
We’ve been able to glean some key tidbits about the upcoming lineup from Google’s own official social media channels, as well as from the usual leakers and tipsters who have been showing off renders and leaking specs for months.
We’ll update this story as the Pixel 9 launch gets closer, so stay tuned.
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Published on August 13, 2024
Google usually releases new Pixel devices in October (the same goes for the Pixel 8 series and Pixel 7 series), but the company has officially sent out invitations to its Pixel hardware event on August 13 and teased some of its product dates. It’s unclear why Google chose to change its launch date, but it’s likely to bring its phones into the public eye before Apple unveils its iPhone 16 series, expected in September.
The aforementioned teaser, posted on the company’s Made by Google YouTube channel, highlights the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, showing off a new design and camera layout ahead of a confirmed August 13 release date.
Even with the earlier announcement, there’s no guarantee when these phones will be available. Google is likely to show off its new phones at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, but they won’t hit store shelves until later this year. Either way, we’ll find out soon enough.
Three (or four) Pixel 9 models
Since being announced by Android Authority in late 2022, there have been rumors that the Pixel 9 phones will come in three models instead of the usual two. We’re still expected to see the base Pixel 9, but the flagship Pro series may now come in two versions: a large model and a small model.
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The smaller version will reportedly be similar in size to the base model but will include high-performance cameras usually only seen on the larger version. The 9 Pro XL (as it’s rumored to be named) will have the same high-end specs, but with a larger display.
That more closely reflects Apple’s strategy, which typically includes a base iPhone model, plus two different-sized Pro phones with enhanced cameras.
The fourth model is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is an updated version of the original Pixel Fold and will be launched in June 2023. The company has only talked about AI updates, and new folding hardware is conspicuous by its absence. While we were hoping to see some hints of the phone in early June, Google’s latest teaser video confirms that we’ll have to wait a little longer to see its launch in August.
iPhone-like design
Speaking of iPhones, the Pixel 9 series may feature design changes to echo some of the iPhone 15’s aesthetics. Google’s official X account posted a video that clearly shows the back of the Pixel 9 Pro, confirming the flat metal sides and updated camera bar we’ve seen in previous leaks. Apparently, early renders obtained by renowned tipster OnLeaks and published by MySmartPrice also show these same features, with the Pixel 9 looking similar to what’s seen on the latest iPhones.
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Another big physical change shown in Google Play is the camera bar on the back. Previously, this was a solid strip that stretched the entire width of the phone, connecting to the edges on either side. The video confirms that the camera bar will become an independent oval island in the middle, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has two camera “pills” on the raised island.
A purported rendering of the Pixel 9.
While the rumors don’t specify what display size we might see, most indications are that the base Pixel 9 will stay around 6.1 inches, with the 9 Pro being a similar size. The 9 Pro XL will be larger, measuring about 6.8 inches, in line with the size of the current Pixel 8 Pro.
similar to camera
The full camera specs haven’t been leaked yet, so photographers like me have nothing to get excited about yet. Rumors about a third size in the Pixel 9 series suggest it would allow Google to bring the same triple-camera setup (including telephoto zoom) to the smaller Pixel 9 Pro. Currently, this feature is only available on the larger Pixel 8 Pro phone.
This is great news for those who prefer a smaller phone but still want the best features. It remains to be seen whether Google will follow Apple’s lead and add exclusive features to its largest phone. (For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 5x optical zoom option, which is not available on the smaller iPhone 15 Pro.)
Performance on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is decent, but not top-notch.
New tensor processor
Google will almost certainly launch the latest generation of domestic processors, which will likely be called Tensor G4. Google’s Tensor processors aren’t best-in-class in terms of raw power, but the company claims they’re specifically tuned for on-device artificial intelligence. We expect this to be the case again with Google’s next-generation Tensor chips.
Android 15 released
Google always uses the Pixel series to showcase the latest features Android has to offer, so it’s safe to assume that the Pixel 9 series will ship with the latest Android 15. Android 15 was released in its second beta at the Google I/O conference in May, with an early developer preview showcasing new settings to improve privacy and camera controls.
According to Android Authority, one important new feature could be the addition of satellite communications, which could help the Pixel line compete with Apple’s Emergency SOS feature, which also uses satellite communications.
The Pixel 8 series launched with Android 14. The Pixel 9 will almost certainly ship with Android 15.
Beyond that, it’s a safe bet that there will be an increased focus on generative AI features, with Google’s Gemini expected to come standard on all new Pixel models. We’d also like to see Google continue to provide software support for at least seven years, just like it did with the Pixel 8.
higher price
There aren’t any rumors yet about the potential price of the Pixel 9 series, but prices may increase slightly. While the Pixel 8A doesn’t cost more than the Pixel 7A in the US (both models start at $499), it does jump in price from £449 to £499 in the UK. The 8A’s higher price doesn’t necessarily mean the Pixel 9 series is more expensive, but it does show that Google isn’t shy about raising prices, at least for those shopping in the UK.
