Google has officially revealed the Pixel 9 range, and it’s a doozy of an update compared to previous iterations of Pixel.
Not only does the Pixel 9 range sport a refreshed design, complete with a new camera housing, but there are new entries in the collection.
While previous Pixels have come in a regular and Pro format, the latest series is comprised of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and even the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold – though we cover the foldable in more depth separately.
To save you the hassle of scouring the web for all the latest details yourself, here’s everything there is to know about the Pixel 9 range right now, from release date and pricing to the design and specs.
Latest update: Updated on 13/08/2024 to include official information on the Pixel 9 range following its official reveal.
Google Pixel 9: At a glance
- Most of the Pixel 9 range will be released on 22 August 2024
- There are four models in the Pixel 9 collection, including a foldable
- The Pixel 9 range features the new Tensor G4 chipset
- New on-device AI capabilities, photo editing capabilities and more
Google Pixel 9 release date & pricing
- Announced on 13 August 2024
- Set for release on 22 August
- Price increases across the board
Google has ditched its regular October release for this year’s Pixel range, instead making its debut during Google’s August event.
But while the Pixel 9 range is now official, it’s not on sale quite yet. Google has confirmed that the Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL will all be released in the UK, US and other regions on 22 August 2024, while those interested in the 9 Pro Fold will have to wait until early September.
Pricing is a little different to usual with the introduction of a third regular candybar phone. The Pixel 9 starts at £799/$799, while the compact Pixel 9 Pro comes in at £999/$999, and the top-end Pixel 9 Pro XL features a £1099/$1099 price tag.
That’s pretty much a £100/$100 boost to the entire collection, bar the new more compact Pixel 9 Pro which has no previous point of comparison.
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Google Pixel 9: Design and screen
- Complete redesign of the Pixel range
- Flat sides and squared-off edges with a new camera housing
- Two 6.3-inch models, one 6.8-inch model
The Pixel 9 collection represents a departure from the design language we’ve seen from Team Google over the past few years, offering a completely refreshed design that looks cleaner and more modern.
More specifically, the rounded edges of the previous Pixel have been ditched for flat edges more akin to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15. As well as a new shape, Google has redesigned its camera bar, though it’s still instantly recognisable as a Pixel device.
As with previous generations, all three candybar phones are made from a combination of glass and aluminium, though the finish – either glossy or matte – depends on the variant you opt for. There’s also a range of colour options to choose from, including Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony, Hazel and Rose Quarts, though the latter two are exclusive to the Pro and Pro XL.
Alongside a redesigned chassis, Google has refreshed the screen sizes of its collection. The Pixel 9 measures in at the same 6.3 inches as its predecessor, but the Pixel 9 Pro is much smaller, matching the 6.3-inch screen of the regular variant for a more compact Pro-level Pixel. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is essentially an upgrade from last year’s 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro, with a slightly larger 6.8-inch screen.
There’s also a boost to the OLED screen tech on offer; all three sport Google’s Actua display tech, with an improved 2700nit peak brightness on the regular Pixel 9, while the Pro variants top out at 3000nits. All three also screens support 24-bit colour depth and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, though it’s only the Pro models that benefit from LTPO tech.
The Pro Pixels also benefit from a slightly higher 1.2K resolution compared to the FHD+ resolution of the regular Pixel 9.
Google Pixel 9: Camera
- Same main camera as the Pixel 8
- Pixel 9 features an upgraded ultrawide lens
- Pro models get upgraded ultrawide, telephoto and selfie cameras
Google is well known for its camera prowess, so all eyes are on the Pixel 9 range’s camera offering – and it is a big year, just not so much for the regular Pixel 9.
Before we go any further, it’s worth mentioning that all four phones feature the same 50MP primary snapper as last year’s Pixel 8 collection, with matching f/1.68 aperture and 1/1.31-inch sensor. Instead, the updates are focused on the auxiliary lenses.
With the Pixel 9, you’ll be getting an upgraded 48MP ultrawide with a new 1/2.55-inch sensor that should allow for more light to be captured, improving its low-light performance, along with the same 10.5MP autofocus-enabled selfie sensor.
The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, feature the same upgraded 48MP ultrawide as the regular Pixel 9 along with a boosted 48MP f/2.8 OIS-enabled 5x telephoto, sporting the same large 1/2.55-inch sensor as the ultrawide for similar boosts to light capture.
Flip the Pro phones over and you’ll also find upgraded 42MP autofocus-enabled selfie cameras with a wider field of view than the regular Pixel 9.
When it comes to Google’s video offering, it caps out at the same 4K@60fps as the Pixel 8 range, though the Pro models can once again rely on AI Video Boost to upscale 4K video to 8K in place of actually shooting in native 8K.
This is a flagship Pixel, so of course, there are a handful of new AI photo features to play with. Alongside returning favourites like Magic Editor and Best Take, the Pixel 9 collection can add people to group selfies with the new Add Me feature, and the Pro models can also take advantage of the improved Zoom Enhance feature first teased with the Pixel 8 range last year.
There are other AI features, of course, but we’ll get to those in a second.
Google Pixel 9: Performance and AI
- Tensor G4 and boosted RAM
- On-device Google Gemini
- New handy AI features like Pixel Screenshots
As a shock to absolutely nobody, the Pixel 9 range features Google’s next-gen Tensor G4 chipset, paired with a boosted 12GB of RAM. While Google has yet to confirm, it was rumoured prior to launch to be based on Samsung’s Exynos 2400 chipset, which again suggests that it won’t be quite as powerful as the flagship Snapdragon competition.
But, as with previous Tensor chipsets, it’s not focused purely on power output. Instead, the Pixel prides itself on powering impressive AI experiences, and in a year when other big mobile players have dabbled in AI, Google has gone all-in.
The headline feature is on-device support for Google Gemini, meaning that responses from the virtual assistant will not only be much faster, but it should be much more privacy-friendly too – though there will likely be some tasks or queries that will rely on an internet connection.
Per Google, Gemini will be able to help you find information from your Google apps, like pulling the date of your anniversary from Google Calendars and using Google Maps to suggest a nearby florist, as well as the ability to snap a photo and use Gemini to get answers. That means you’ll be able to, say, snap a photo of a dying houseplant and get Gemini to advise on how to bring it back to life.
You’ll also be able to generally chat with Gemini, and with a complementary year-long subscription to the Google One AI Premium Plan, you can get Gemini to summarise unread messages in Gmail and more.
Then there are key new AI-powered features, like Pixel Screenshots, that essentially lets you save important info – like payment confirmations – for later reference. The on-device AI will help you save, organise and recall things you want to remember in a conversational way. There are also enhancements to Google Magic Editor, now able to reframe your shots for you, alongside Google Clear Calling, Google Keep Magic Lists and more.
It’s worth noting that, for the first time, the Pixel 9 collection won’t launch with the latest version of Android, Android 15. Instead, the phones will come with Android 14 pre-installed and will be among the first to get the Android 15 update once it’s ready. Given that Pixel phones usually launch with new Android software in October, we could be waiting until then for the grand arrival of Android 15.
Other interesting specs include a boost to battery life across the range with 4700mAh cells on the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, and a 5060mAh battery in the 6.8-inch 9 Pro XL. There’s also a boost to charge speeds, now at 45W, which should see around 55% charge in half an hour according to Google.
Google’s also continuing its impressive long-term support for the Pixel 9, with a guaranteed seven OS upgrades. However, with the phone shipping with Android 14 initially, it’ll end up on the same Android 21 as last year’s Pixel 8 collection.
Trusted Take: What we think of the Google Pixel 9 collection so far
The Pixel 9 collection represents the refresh that the flagship Pixel range desperately needed, with a whole new design that brings it in line with the flagship competition in 2024, and although the camera bar was beloved by some, I think the vast majority of users will appreciate the less in-your-face camera housing of this year’s collection.
The introduction of a new, more compact Pixel 9 Pro is a welcome addition too, offering a nice middle ground for those who want the true flagship experience while also wanting something that’s easy to use one-handed, while the new XL goes all-in on its big screen with a slightly bigger 6.8-inch panel.
But, for us, the most exciting update is in the AI department. Google’s Pixel range has always been famed for its AI prowess, but in a year with much-increased competition from other smartphone manufacturers, Google had to really stand out – and with on-device Google Gemini and new unique features like Pixel Screenshots, it looks like it has succeeded.
