Just like Samsung or Xiaomi, Google is moving to a three-model strategy for its main range. Its next generation of smartphones will consist of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. A major design evolution is expected, but improvements in performance, photo, screen and battery life should also be added to the menu.
Although they are not the most successful smartphones on the mobile market, Pixels are still closely scrutinized by the industry, because they can initiate trends on devices in the Android ecosystem. Year after year, Google manages to improve the hardware of its Pixels to no longer rely only on software advances and offer truly complete and high-end products. One of the main novelties this year is the introduction of a third model to strengthen the offer and cover more user needs. We will therefore have a Pixel 9, a Pixel 9 Pro and a Pixel 9 Pro XL.
When is the Pixel 9 coming out?
Google is shaking up its usual schedule for this generation. Usually, the company presents its new models during the month of October. But, surprise, Google announced in June that its launch conference will take place on August 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. (Paris time). It is not known if this means that the Pixel 9 will be available earlier this year, or if only the presentation is brought forward and that marketing will begin as usual in October. Generally, Google opens pre-orders just after the official announcement of the devices, for availability a full week later.
This may be a way for Google to pull the rug out from under Apple, which will announce the iPhone 16 boosted to Apple Intelligence in September. According to the teaser published by the Mountain View firm, the Pixel 9 will also rely on AI to stand out, and bringing forward the release of the iPhone would be a solution to avoid having the spotlight stolen. For the mid-range model, the Pixel 9a, we will probably have to wait until spring 2025.
How much does the Pixel 9 cost?
It is still too early to have an idea of the prices of the Pixel 9. Google has obviously not yet communicated on this subject and the resellers, where the leaks generally come from, have not yet received this information. . To get an idea of the prices that will be charged, we can look at the cost of the previous generation when it was released.
The Pixel 8 was sold at 799 euros with 128 GB of storage and at 859 euros for 256 GB of internal memory. The Pixel 8 Pro was priced at 1,099 euros (128 GB), 1,159 euros (256 GB) and 1,299 euros (512 GB). With the Pixel 8, we saw a pretty dramatic price increase compared to the Pixel 7. So we can expect Google to calm down on price increases this generation.
So the Pixel 9 could start from 799 euros. The entry ticket for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is actually the successor to the Pixel 8 Pro, would then be 1,099 euros, unless Google decides to remove the version with 128 GB of storage to focus on more premium and more expensive configurations. The Pixel 9 Pro would be somewhere in between, but probably closer to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. A price around 999 euros seems likely to us.
Design: a thoroughly redesigned photo block
For several generations, Google has been moving away from the design standards followed by other smartphone brands to differentiate its Pixels. Their greatest originality is undoubtedly their photo block consisting of a horizontal bar, a unique design in the industry. With the Pixel 9, the Mountain View firm retains this particularity of horizontally positioned photo sensors, but in a completely new photo block. This one abandons the straight lines and angular corners to adopt a much more rounded shape. In addition, it no longer goes from one edge to the other of the device, leaving a small margin of space on each side. The optics always remain on the left of this element, when the LED Flash is positioned on the right.
Google had started a shift with the Pixel 8, whose corners are much more rounded than those of the Pixel 7, and this trend should become even more pronounced with the Pixel 9. On the other hand, the edges would not be curved at all, but completely flat. This is a popular trend on premium smartphones, which we have already seen on the iPhone and Galaxy S.
The dimensions of the Pixel 9 would reach 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5 mm, which is a little longer and wider than the Pixel 8, but also slightly thinner. Taking into account the photo block, however, the thickness would increase to 12 mm. The Pixel 9 Pro (which is, remember, the new addition to the range) could adopt exactly the same format, or a slightly larger size. For the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the leaks tend towards dimensions of 162.7 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm, which is barely more than the Pixel 8 Pro, with still a few mm gained here in terms of finesse .
For the rest, we find a front camera in a central punch, a fingerprint reader under the screen, IP68 certification for resistance to water and dust, an aluminum chassis, as well as a rear panel in glass. The Pixel 9 would be available in Jade (green), Obsidian (black), Peony (bright pink) and Porcelain (white). The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL would be offered in Hazel (grey-green), Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white) and Rose (salmon pink).
Screen: two or three different sizes?
The Pixel 9 would have a screen of the same size as that of the Pixel 8, namely a 6.2 inch diagonal. Regarding the Pixel 9 Pro, sources differ. Some claim that it would have a screen of the same size as the Pixel 9, as Apple can do with the iPhone Pro for example. Others believe it could be a little larger, with a 6.34-inch panel. The two smartphones could also be the same size, but with thinner bezels on the Pixel 9 Pro to save some space for the display. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s screen would measure 6.7 inches diagonallike the Pixel 8 Pro before it.
We can expect an OLED technology panel for all three models, with Full HD+ (1080p) definition for the Pixel 9 and QHD+ (1440p) for the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Doubt remains about the image quality of the Pixel 9 Pro. It is supposed to include most of the technical characteristics of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but Google could believe that such a compact smartphone does not need QHD+.
The refresh rate will go up to 120 Hz. We hope that it will become adaptive from 1 to 120 Hz based on the content displayed on the standard model, a feature reserved for the Pro configuration on the eighth generation. The Pixel 8’s display was extremely bright, allowing for comfortable use in direct sunlight, the Pixel 9 should do at least as well.
Performance: Google is betting everything on AI
Don’t expect a considerable gain in raw power. A new, faster modem is certainly integrated to improve connectivity performance, but the SoC of the Pixel 9 series is not experiencing a revolution. The Tensor G4 chip is once again engraved in 4nm by Samsung and customized by Google. The Pixel 8 was already behind the high-end competition, the Pixel 9 should not catch up, especially since most manufacturers will move to 3nm for their flagships. But Google has never been interested in performance measured by benchmarks, preferring software optimizations, and more recently the use of artificial intelligence to stand out from the crowd.
This is where Google should amaze us. Apple has hit hard with Apple Intelligence, which operates with a local language model to provide very useful AI functions within applications and the system. With Gemini, we know that Google is capable of developing a very effective application. But now we need small AI-based options to improve our experience in a more transparent way.
On the RAM side, Google should review its copy. Deep and machine learning functions are very resource intensive and the new Pixels will be equipped to meet these needs. The Pixel 9 would have 12 GB of RAM and the two Pro models 16 GB of RAM each.
Autonomy: no major changes?
The battery capacity of the Pixel 9 has not been leaked. It should be close to that of its predecessors (4,575 mAh for the Pixel 8 and 5,050 mAh for the Pixel 8 Pro). In our tests of both products, we judged that the autonomy was rather average, compared to what the competition offers. The Tensor G4 modem should consume less energy, but the AI can put the battery to work. Barring a big (and good) surprise, we should not expect significant improvements in the endurance of the Pixel 9.
Camera: finally a telephoto lens on a compact Pixel
The Pixel line has always been known for its excellent camera phones, not so much thanks to cutting-edge hardware but to software processing that is among, if not the best in the mobile industry. With the Pixel 8, Google added to software control an improvement in photo sensors, which partly explains the price increase observed on the different models. This year, the Mountain View firm should not make any major hardware changes. All three models should see the return of the 50 MP Samsung Isocell GNK main module, as well as the 48 MP ultra-wide-angle.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will benefit from a third lens: a 48 MP telephoto lens allowing a 5x optical zoom, if Google does not make any changes. The x30 digital zoom of the Pixel 8 Pro was rather convincing, we can hope that the AI will further improve this aspect. We do not yet know if the 10.5 MP front camera from previous generations will be carried over here.
Where Google has a shot at photography this year is with artificial intelligence. The Pixels are already ahead of the game in this regard, particularly via the Google Photos application, but this would be a good time to drive the point home. For example, we can hope that Gemini, which is to replace Google Assistant, will be able to edit a photo with a simple voice command, without the user having to dig into the editing settings themselves.
What’s new in Android 15
From now on, Google promises seven years of Android updates and security patches on its smartphones. The Pixel 8 generation was the first to benefit from it and the Pixel 9s will benefit from it as well. Such software support helps extend the lifespan of devices.
The Pixel 9 will ship with Android 15, the next major version of the mobile operating system. Several betas have already been deployed before the stable builds are released in a few weeks. Among the new features to come, the ability to display widgets on the lock screen, a Private Space folder to hide sensitive applications, a status bar with redesigned icons, better monitoring of the health of the battery, an adaptive screen standby, a new interface for managing Bluetooth connections, better management of regular notifications from the same app, the Find My Device function that works even when the smartphone is off, sending messages by satellite in case of emergency, and many others.
As always, all three smartphones will also receive exclusive features. This year, these will mainly be related to artificial intelligence.
