A win for fans of smaller phones

We usually only get two new Pixel flagships each year, a standard model that’s around 6 inches and a much larger Pro model that’s usually closer to 7 inches. The Pixel 9 series does things a little differently by throwing a smaller Pro model into the mix.

Rumours say that the Pixel 9 Pro about the size of the Pixel 9but with all the hardware and features people expect from the larger Pro models. So you don’t have to choose between a smaller screen and Pro features like the telephoto lens and faster charging.

Of course, there should also be the Pixel 9 Pro XL for those of you who want the big screen. The difference between the two Pro models will be pretty fundamental, though. It sounds like it will have a larger display and presumably a bigger battery, but not much else.

Today’s Made by Google event is actually Google’s second product launch in as many weeks. If you recall, last week Google unveiled new smart home products, most notably the Google TV streamer and the latest Google Nest Learning Thermostat. Google also announced improvements to its Home app that focus on using AI for its security cameras.

These announcements are significant in their own right, but they also allow Google to spend more time on its phones and smartwatches today.

About the new Pixel Buds

Of all the products likely to be released today, we’ve heard the least about the Pixel Buds Pro 2. That’s understandable—accessories don’t get as much attention as the devices they support, so most people are probably paying attention to the Pixel 9 phones.

Still, we’ve heard a few things about the Pixel Buds Pro 2 – namely, that they’ll retain a stemless design and offer color-coded options, as you can see in the leaked image above. More importantly, we’re expecting improved battery life on the new wireless earbuds.

Is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold worth it?

Buying a foldable phone is not for the faint of heart or those on a tight budget, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold seems to be no exception. We haven’t heard many pricing rumors for the new foldable, but we’d consider it a success if Google’s new foldable maintains the price of the original, considering Samsung just increased the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip by $100 each over their predecessors.

But when you have to shell out $1,799 for a phone, you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Our colleague Tom Pritchard isn’t sure that will be the case with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, given the rumors about the phone’s features.

Pixel 9 vs Pixel 8

Thanks to all the rumors floating around out there about the Pixel 9, we already have a pretty good idea of ​​how a comparison between the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 8 might play out. We’re obviously waiting for Google to confirm what we’ve heard about its new phones, but in the hours leading up to the Made by Google event, feel free to check out our preview to see how the new phone might change things up.

What’s new with the Pixel Watch

The Pixel 9 phones won’t be the only devices unveiled at Made by Google today. Google is also expected to unveil new watches, just like it did last October when the Pixel Watch 2 joined the Pixel 8 phones at Google’s launch party.

Our smartwatch expert Dan Bracaglia says he wants to achieve three things with the Pixel Watch 3: larger sizes, better battery life and a brighter display. We’ll find out later today whether Google can deliver on that.

Colour design

A few months ago, the list of possible Pixel 9 colors leaked, and since then, nothing has surfaced to make us believe that the leak was baseless. In fact, the rumored renders that surfaced seem to be pretty accurate about the color choices for Google’s upcoming phones.

That is what we expect.

• Pixels9: Porcelain, obsidian, peony and jade
• Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL: Porcelain, obsidian, rose and hazelnut
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Porcelain and obsidian

Where is Android 15?

Normally, a new Pixel flagship would mean a new version of the Android operating system debuting on Google’s latest phones. But a rumor suggests that when we see the Pixel 9 models later today, they’ll be running Android 14 rather than the update currently in development.

This new version is Android 15 and will surely run on the Pixel 9 at some point, if not immediately. Android 15 features include faster web page loading, the return of lock screen widgets, and more.

It doesn’t sound like Android 15 is behind schedule. Rather, the reason for Android 15’s absence seems to be Google’s decision to bring forward the launch of its new phones from October to now. While we may not see Android 15 today, we hope Google provides clarity on when the update will arrive – not just for the Pixel 9 models, but for all Pixel devices.

Changes in business

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is shaping up to be a radical departure from the original Pixel Fold. And we’re not just talking about the name. The main display is said to be a whopping 8 inches, which would be the largest display on a foldable device. And the cover display is set to grow from 5.8 to 6.3 inches.

According to Google’s own teaser, the bezels are also narrower, which is good to see. The Tensor G4 chip will be in charge, and we’ve already heard about some AI features it will support, like “Add Me” for group photos and a screenshot feature that will hopefully be far less creepy than Microsoft’s recall. Let’s just hope Google doesn’t give this phone a price hike like it did with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Storage upgrades in the works?

It’s always worth keeping an eye out for pre-order deals when a new flagship phone is announced, and at least one rumor suggests Google is preparing a pretty good deal. In fact, it sounds like Google is copying one of the better pre-order deals Samsung usually does when a new phone comes out.

For example, when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 came out last month, Samsung offered a free storage upgrade to anyone who pre-ordered the device — meaning you could get a 512GB Fold for the same price as the base 256GB model.

A UK retailer has released details of Google’s Pixel pre-order offer ahead of the launch of these phones, and it’s the same thing Samsung did – upgrade to the next storage tier at no extra cost. Yes, the base models of Pixel phones are expected to have 128GB of storage, so you can upgrade to 256GB for free. But that also means the 512GB and 1TB versions of some Pixel phones can be had for less.

Although this comes from a UK retailer, it could be a global pre-order offer as a French source had the same offer in a previous leak.

Open questions

On the one hand, it’s not too difficult to figure out what Google will announce at one of its hardware events. Between things the company confirms outright—there are already teaser videos for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, for example—and rumors that provide the most important details, you usually have a pretty good idea of ​​what to expect when Google makes a product announcement.

Still, there are still some known unknowns, and senior mobile editor Philip Michaels lists the big questions about the new Pixel phones and smartwatches ahead of today’s event.

Price leaks before the event

We are close to our first official look at Google’s upcoming phones, but a leak ahead of the event sheds light on the prices of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Since it would technically be the direct successor to the Pixel 8 Pro, it might shock people that the big version of the Pixel 9 Pro could cost $100 more, with a starting price of $1,099. Given that cheaper pricing is often a key feature of Pixel phones, this increase could reduce the device’s appeal against rival phones.