The Google Pixel 9 is coming, as Google has already teased the Pixel 9 Pro model, which is set to launch earlier than usual at an August Pixel-centric event.
Likely to be made up of three models (not counting the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold), rather than the usual two that's standard practice for Pixel phones, the Google Pixel 9 family is rumored to include a new XL model, and to bring in an evolution over the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Expect to see camera improvements, likely on the software side but there could be new sensor hardware, a new chipset, and potentially a refined chassis; maybe titanium will make an appearance. And expect a lot of AI, likely in the form of Google Gemini.
So read on for everything we've heard about the Google Pixel 9 phones so far.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next high-end phone from Google
- When is it out? August 13
- How much will it cost? Likely upwards of $699 / £699 / AU$1,199
- What upgrades could it have? Expect a new Tensor chip, improve camera performance, new AI features, and potentially a selection of design tweaks
Google Pixel 9: potential release date and price
- Set to be announced on August 13, likely with a release shortly after
- Will probably cost at least $699 / £699 / AU$1,199
Google has now confirmed that the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will land at its Made by Google event on Tuesday, August 13, so we'd expect the rest of the Pixel 9 line to land there too
This means we should get next-generation Google Pixel phones earlier than the normal launch window of October, meaning the phones could steal the march on the rumored iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.
As for the Google Pixel 9’s price, for reference the Pixel 8 starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,199, and the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. So pricing for Google's next phones might remain the same, or they might rise a bit.
The only Pixel 9 price leak so far suggests the latter, at least for the standard Pixel 9. Apparently in France this will start at 899 euros for 128GB of storage, rising to 999 euros for 256GB. Those prices are 100 euros and 140 euros respectively more than the current model.
However, the leaked prices for the Pixel 9 Pro are similar to last year, albeit slightly higher for increased storage capacities.
And we've also seen leaked prices for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is said to cost 1,199 euros for 128GB of storage, 1,299 euros for 256GB, 1,429 euros for 512GB, and 1,689 euros for 1TB. This is a new rumored model, but that would make it the most expensive non-foldable Pixel yet.
However, a leak suggests that the standard Pixel 9 will come with six months of Gemini Advanced, while the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold may come with a full year, so that could take some of the sting out of these prices.
Google Pixel 9: potential models
- Expect a Pixel 9, a Pixel 9 Pro, and a Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- A Pixel 9 Pro XL might join them
One of the most interesting (and earliest) Pixel 9 rumors points to there being a third model in the series, with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro being joined by another phone that has roughly the same screen size as the Pixel 9, but the improved specs expected of a Pro model.
So in other words it would see Google take a similar approach to Apple with its Pro line of iPhones (except there’s no suggestion that you’ll be able to get a big-screen Pixel without getting a Pro model, as you can from Apple in the shape of the iPhone 15 Plus).
This leak came from “an anonymous but trustworthy source” speaking to Android Authority in December 2022. While we’d always take such early leaks with a pinch of salt, it’s worth noting that this leak also included details of the Pixel 8 line, and almost all of these have since proved accurate, so the source seems credible.
We've also seen leaked benchmarks for a device supposedly called the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL – could this be the mysterious third device? In which case, this might have the specs we'd typically expect from a 'Pro' model, with the Pixel 9 Pro itself having a smaller screen.
Beyond that, Google has also confirmed that the Pixel Fold 2 will launch as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, so that can be considered part of the Pixel 9 line too.
Google Pixel 9: potential design and display
- There could be a whole new design
- There might additionally be a smaller 6.3-inch Pro model
Google itself has shown off part of the Pixel 9 Pro, in a teaser video. You can see an image from this below.
Details include a new camera block design and a matte coating rather than a glossy finish.
Beyond that, the leaker who predicted that we’d see three Pixel 9 models also claimed to know their screen sizes, saying the Pixel 9 will have roughly the same screen size as the Pixel 8 (which has a 6.2-inch display), while the Pixel 9 Pro will be around the same size as the Pixel 8 Pro (at 6.7 inches), and the unnamed third model will have a 6.3-inch screen.
However, this is slightly at odds with a more recent claim, with reputable leaker Ross Young saying shortly after the Pixel 8’s launch that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro will both have bigger screens than the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
They also, incidentally, claim that the Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 Pro Fold will have bigger screens than their predecessors.
To further confuse things though, an even more recent leak (this time from reliable leaker OnLeaks and MySmartPrice) points to the Pixel 9 Pro having a roughly 6.5-inch screen, making it smaller than the current model.
This leak also includes detailed renders of the Pixel 9 Pro, some of which you can see above.
You'll notice that the design has drastically changed if these images are accurate, with flat rather than curved sides shown, and a new camera design, which has now been confirmed by Google.
The leak also includes dimensions, which are apparently 162.7 x 76.6 x 8.5mm (rising to 12mm at the camera bump). That's very similar to the Pixel 8 Pro, which comes in at 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm.
The source of this has since returned with renders of the standard Pixel 9 too (above), this time in collaboration with 91Mobiles.
These show the same new design as the Pixel 9 Pro, and apparently this phone has a 6.1-inch screen (also making it smaller than its 6.2-inch predecessor), but is slightly larger (though slimmer) overall at 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm (or 12.0mm including the camera bump).
You can also see that there's a third camera lens on the rear, which is absent from the Pixel 8.
More leaked renders of the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro seemingly confirm these design changes, and we've seen leaked hands-on photos of all three rumored Pixel 9 models, some of which you can see below.
These match the leaked images above, and the source also included some specs. They claim that the Pixel 9 has a 6.24-inch screen, the Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.34-inch display, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.73-inch screen, and that all three have a 120Hz refresh rate.
They additionally claim that the Pixel 9 has a wide and ultra-wide camera on the back, with the Pro models adding a 5x telephoto to the mix, and that all three sensors on the Pro models are 50MP.
A Tensor G4 chipset is mentioned, as expected, and all three phones reportedly start at 128GB of storage, with the Pixel 9 apparently having 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB in the Pixel 8), and the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL said to have 16GB (up from 12GB in the Pixel 8 Pro).
The Pixel 9 design leak that's most likely to be accurate though is one from a Taiwanese regulatory agency, which shared photos of every model. You can see some of these in the gallery below.
Meanwhile, we've also heard about the different colors that the Pixel 9 models might come in – with some official wallpapers included in the same leak.
These colors apparently include Jade, Obsidian, Peony, and Porcelain for the Pixel 9, Hazel, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Rose for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, and then Obsidian and Porcelain (or Gold) for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Another Pixel 9 colors leak though points to in Obsidian, Porcelain, Mojito (probably a pale green), and Cosmo (which we’re not sure of) shades for the Pixel 9, Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Pink for the Pixel 9 Pro, Obsidian, Porcelain, and Hazel for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Obsidian and Porcelain for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
One of the more recent leaks shows off the Pixel 9 in a bright pink color – this video was apparently taken in Algeria, and matches up with earlier leaks we've seen around the handset.
Google Pixel 9: potential cameras and battery
There aren’t many Pixel 9 camera rumors so far, but leaked renders (shown in the previous section) show a triple-lens camera, complete with a square lens which would presumably be a periscope camera, for long-distance optical zoom. The Pixel 8 doesn't have a periscope/telephoto lens, so this would be quite an upgrade.
Similarly, we've seen leaked renders of the Pixel 9 Pro with three rear cameras, though that would be the same number as the Pixel 8 Pro. This leak also suggests one of the lenses might offer a variable aperture, and shows a single-lens camera on the front.
For reference, the Pixel 8 has a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10.5MP front-facing one, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide, a 48MP periscope (with 5x optical zoom), and a 10.5MP selfie camera.
It’s likely that some of these cameras will reappear in 2024’s phones, while others will probably be upgraded, either with more megapixels or simply a change in sensor. We doubt Google will add any additional cameras to the phones, but that’s speculation for now.
Oh, and if there is a third model, that will presumably have the same cameras as the Pixel 9 Pro, if indeed it’s being positioned as a smaller Pro option.
It’s also likely that we’ll see some new camera modes, as Google often adds to the camera software with new models.
As for the battery, a Taiwanese regulatory agency has stated that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have 4,558mAh batteries, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 4,942mAh one.
These are likely minimum rather than rated capacities, but for reference the Pixel 8 has a 4,485mAh rated capacity and a 4,575mAh typical one, and the Pixel 8 Pro has 4,950mAh rated capacity and a 5,050mAh typical one.
The same source also suggested that the Pixel 9 will charge at 27W and the Pixel 9 Pro at 30W, just like their predecessors, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL might charge at 35W or more.
Google Pixel 9: potential specs and features
- Rumored to use a new Tensor G4 chipset
- Unclear how much more powerful it will be
The Google Pixel 9 and its siblings will all almost certainly use the Tensor G4 chipset, since the previous three models used the first three generations of the Tensor chip respectively. Indeed, the source that pointed to there being a third Pixel 9 model has specifically said this, and claimed the chipset is codenamed ‘redondo’.
We’ve elsewhere heard that the Tensor G4 will apparently be a “smaller upgrade than initially planned”, so the Pixel 9 line might not have much of a performance boost. That’s a shame, especially when you consider that Google’s Tensor chipsets never match the top mobile chipsets from Qualcomm or Apple for power.
Sadly, early Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL benchmarks support this claim, with disappointing scores, though the Pixel 9 Pro XL was at least listed as having a massive 16GB of RAM.
On the other hand, another leak suggests the Tensor G4 will offer improved performance, power efficiency, heat management, and that that the Tensor G4's primary core could offer 15% better performance and 40% better power efficiency than the Tensor G3's primary core.
The phone might also have an improved AI assistant, with one leak claiming the Pixel 9 line will have a new AI assistant called Pixie, which is described as more personalized and powerful than Google Assistant.
Also on the AI front, there's evidence that Google is working on an AI-powered sticker creator, possibly called Creative Assistant, and this might launch with the Pixel 9.
Another upgrade might come in the form of a new modem for the Pixel 9 line, which could both improve the reliability and stability of networks on the phone, and also add emergency satellite connectivity.
Beyond that, we haven’t heard anything, but it’s very possible that Google will keep the temperature sensor that it added to the Pixel 8 Pro, and perhaps even bring it to more models.
