Google’s flagship Pixel 9 series will be unveiled at a “Made by Google” Pixel launch event on August 13, and Google has already 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 launched in October last year, but it looks like Google wants to release its phones before Apple announces its iPhone 16 lineup. Google’s phones all offer solid performance, generous software support, and innovative AI-based features, while the newer $499 Pixel 8A cuts back on some of the specs to allow for its cheaper price.
We were able to learn some important information about the upcoming lineup from both Google’s own official social media channels and from the usual leaksters and informants who have been showing off renders and leaked specs for months.
We’ll update this story as the Pixel 9 launch gets closer, so keep checking back.
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Start on August 13, 2024
Google usually releases its new Pixel devices in October (as it did with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 series), but the company has officially sent out invites to a Pixel hardware event on August 13 and teased some of its products for the same date. It’s not clear why Google decided to change its launch dates, but it could well be that it wants to get its phones out to the public before Apple unveils its iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected in September.
The teaser above, posted on the company’s Made by Google YouTube channel, focuses on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, showing off the new design and camera layout before confirming the August 13 release date.
Even with an earlier announcement, there’s no guarantee the phones will be available then. There’s a chance Google will show off its new phones at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, but they won’t hit stores until later in the year. Either way, we won’t have to wait long to find out.
Three (or four) Pixel 9 models
A rumor that has persisted since being published by Android Authority in late 2022 says there will be three models of the Pixel 9 phone, instead of the usual two. We’re still expected to see a base Pixel 9, but there could now be two versions of the flagship Pro lineup: a large model and a smaller one.
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The smaller version is said to be similar in size to the base model, but will include the more powerful cameras normally only found on the larger size. The 9 Pro XL (as it is rumored to be called) is said to have the same high-end specs, but a larger display.
This is more in line with Apple’s strategy, which usually includes two Pro phones in different sizes with improved cameras alongside the base iPhone models.
The fourth model is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, an update to the original Pixel Fold that launched in June 2023. We expected to hear more about Google’s new foldable device at I/O, but the company only talked about AI updates while new foldable hardware was conspicuous by its absence. While we had hoped for a hint of the phone in early June, Google’s latest teaser video confirmed that we’ll have to wait a little longer for the August unveiling.
iPhone-like design
Speaking of the iPhone, the Pixel 9 lineup could see design changes that mirror 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 an updated camera bar as we’ve seen in previous leaks. Previous renders, apparently acquired by well-known informant OnLeaks and published by MySmartPrice, showed the same features, with a Pixel 9 sporting a similar look to the latest iPhones.
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The other big physical change shown in Google’s video is to the camera bar on the back. Previously, this was a continuous bar that ran the entire width of the phone and connected to the edges on either side. The video instead confirms that the camera bar will instead become an oval island that stands alone in the middle, with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold featuring two camera “pills” within a raised island.
Supposedly a rendering of the Pixel 9.
While rumors haven’t been specific enough about what display sizes we might see, most signs suggest that the base model of the Pixel 9 will stay at around 6.1 inches, while the 9 Pro will be a similar size. The 9 Pro XL would be larger, measuring around 6.8 inches, which is the same size as the current Pixel 8 Pro.
Similar cameras
The full camera specs haven’t leaked yet, so there’s not much for photographers like me to get excited about yet. The rumors of a third size for the Pixel 9 family suggest that this will allow Google to bring the same triple-camera setup (including telephoto zoom) to the smaller Pixel 9 Pro. Currently, this is only available on the larger Pixel 8 Pro handset.
That’s good news for those of you who prefer a smaller phone but still want the best features. Whether Google will take a leaf out of Apple’s book and add exclusive features to its biggest phone remains to be seen. (The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for example, has a 5x optical zoom option, which isn’t available on the smaller iPhone 15 Pro.)
Pixel 8 and 8 Pro offer decent, but not top performance.
New tensor processor
It’s almost certain that Google will unveil the latest generation of its homegrown processor, likely called the Tensor G4. Google’s Tensor processors aren’t the best in class in terms of raw performance, but the company prides itself on being particularly tuned for on-device AI, and we expect that to be the case with Google’s next Tensor chip, too.
Android 15 at launch
Google always uses the Pixel lineup to showcase the latest Android features, so it’s safe to assume that the Pixel 9 series will launch with the latest Android 15 on board. Android 15 was unveiled for the second time at Google I/O in May. The early developer previews showed new settings for improved privacy and camera controls.
According to Android Authority, the addition of satellite messaging could be a major new feature that would allow the Pixel line to compete with Apple’s Emergency SOS features, which also use satellite messaging.
The Pixel 8 series launched with Android 14 on board. The Pixel 9 will almost certainly launch with Android 15.
Additionally, expect to see an increased focus on generative AI features, with Google’s Gemini expected to be standard on all new Pixel models. We also hope that Google continues to offer at least seven years of software support, as it did with the Pixel 8. If that’s the case, the Pixel 9 series will still be safe to use in 2031.
Higher prices
There are no rumors yet about potential pricing for the Pixel 9 series, but a slight price increase could be in the pipeline. While the Pixel 8A didn’t see a price increase over the Pixel 7A in the US (both models started at $499), the price in the UK increased from £449 to £499. A higher price for the 8A doesn’t necessarily mean a more expensive Pixel 9 range, but it does suggest that Google isn’t afraid to increase its prices, at least for those of you shopping in the UK.
