Updated August 13
• A free storage upgrade could be offered alongside Pixel 9 Pro pre-orders.
• Leak ahead of Google's event reveals higher Pixel 9 Pro XL cost.
• Android 14 users can check Pixel 9's new weather app
• Here's why the Pixel 9 Pro may be highlight of the Made by Google event.
• Leaked Pixel 9 preorder details suggest you'll be able to upgrade you storage at no extra cost.
• The Tensor G4 powering the new Pixel phones may be a minor upgrade from the Tensor G3.
Update: Our Made by Google event live blog is up and running. Check it out for all the latest Pixel 9 news.
Today is the day we finally meet the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the rumor mill (plus a few official teasers) have revealed a lot's changing with this year's Pro Pixels. And yes, that's Pro Pixels plural.
It's already known that the Pixel 9 Pro is appearing at the Made by Google event on August 13 — Google has confirmed as much, even giving us a look at the new model. What it hasn't done is tell us a lot about the new features coming to the Pro version of the Pixel 9 lineup, though rumors have done a great job of filling in the gaps.
We're expecting to see two Pixel 9 Pro models at Made by Google, with a smaller version joining the Pro version with the super-sized screen. As always, AI-powered features will be the highlight of the new Pixel, as Google looks to answer devices like Samsung's Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup, which incorporated AI capabilities of their own earlier this year.
As for the rest of the Pixel 9 Pro details, read on to find out what we've been hearing about the new models — both from Google and from assorted rumormongers.
Google Pixel 9 Pro at a glance
- All Pixel 9 models should appear at a Google hardware event in August — and the Pixel 9 Pro is confirmed to make an appearance.
- There are two rumored Pro models — the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. And the Pixel Fold could join the Pixel 9 lineup as well
- The color options could consist of black, white, green and pink
- The Pixel 9 Pro could have a 6.1- or 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro XL would have a 6.7-or 6.8-inch panel.
- A new Tensor G4 chip should power all Pixel 9 models, with storage capacities ranging from 128GB all the way up to 1 TB.
- The Pixel 9 Pro's camera setup could benefit from a larger ultrawide camera sensor and an upgraded selfie cam.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Rumored specs
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Release date rumors and price
Normally, we'd expect the Pixel 9 flagships to show up in October. Cheaper A-series handsets like the recent Pixel 8a aside, the Pixel has only failed to appear in October once since the line debuted in 2016 — and that was in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic when the Pixel 5 instead emerged at the end of September 2020.
But Google is doing things differently in 2024, with a Made by Google hardware event on August 13. Already, Google's confirmed that the Pixel 9 Pro will be there via a teaser video.
As for the Pixel 9 Pro price, that's much harder to gauge, even at this late date. Last year, both Pixel handsets went up by $100, pushing the Pixel 8 Pro to a starting price of $999. For the similarly sized Pixel 9 Pro XL, a new claim reveals a $1,099 starting cost, which would be an increase. With that in mind, one would suspect that the smaller Pixel 9 Pro would come up less.
Some potentially bad news emerged in the form of a rumor tipping a price hike for the Pixel 9, based on European prices for the upcoming phones. However, the higher prices may only affect some models like the base model Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
On the plus side, early adopters could get extra storage for no extra cost. UK carrier Vodafone is offering a free ROM upgrade to any Pixel 9 pre-order, even if you order one of the expected high-capacity models.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Design and display
By far the most exciting rumor about the Pixel 9 Pro’s design dates back to the end of 2022 when an insider revealed Google’s roadmap for the next few years. In the leak — which correctly predicted many announcements in the intervening months, including the arrival of the Pixel Fold — it was suggested that there would be two Pixel 9 Pro handsets.
That's where we find ourselves now, with plenty of leaks to suggest that Google plans to introduces two Pixel 9 Pro models — one smaller version that's about the same size as the standard Pixel 9 and the other a large-screen version like past Pixel Pros. The big-screen model would be known as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The exact size of these screens remains a subject of debate. An early Pixel 9 render depicted the smaller Pixel 9 Pro with a 6.1-inch display while the Pixel 9 Pro XL featured a 6.7-inch panel. Subsequent leaks pegged screen sizes at 6.3 inches for the Pixel 9 Pro and 6.8 inches for the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Regardless of the actual screen sizes, the displays on the Pixel 9 Pro models should be brighter than Google's current flagships. A report from an insider source has revealed that the Pixel 9 series will feature the same M14 OLED screen as the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro. This new screen will vastly improve the brightness, with the the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL featuring 2,050 nits of brightness.
There is one other potential display feature — a rumored Adaptive Touch capability that would make screens more responsive depending on conditions like environment, activities and whether or not there's a screen protector in place on your phone.
As for the design of the phones, leaked renders and Google's own teaser videos show a change to the back of the Pixel 9 Pro. Instead of a camera bar stretching across the back of the phone, we're seeing one that's contained in a vertical pill-shape with rounded edges.
Under the display, a rumor tips the Pixel 9 phones including the Pro to switch to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensors. Current Pixels use an optical sensor, which isn't always reliable in some conditions for successfully recognizing your fingerprint and unlocking your phone. An ultrasonic sensor would improve that.
The color for these two Pro Pixels may turn out to be black, white, green and pink.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Cameras
Don't expect major hardware changes from the Pixel 8 Pro's camera setup when it comes to the Pixel 9 Pro. That said, some improvements have been rumored for the new models.
The ultrawide sensor could get swapped for a larger, newer model, although the resolution may not change from the 48MP that the Pixel 8 Pro offers. That same rumor tips the Pixel 9 Pro models to get an upgraded front camera — specifically a 50MP shooter that offers autofocusing. That's quite an upgrade from the 10.5MP selfie cam on the Pixel 8 Pro in terms of resolution.
We have a harder time believing another Pixel 9 Pro camera claim — namely, that variable aperture is coming to the phone's main camera. That rumor seems to be based on the size of the sensor in renders and not any leaked spec that would support such a claim.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Performance
The Pixel 9 Pro will almost certainly pack the Tensor G4 chipset, but what that will mean in terms of speed is currently unknown. You’re best tempering your expectations of a big speed boost, though, as a new rumor paints the G4 as a minor upgrade from the Tensor G3. That backs earlier claims that the Tensor G4 would have fewer CPU cores.
That said, the Tensor G4 chip could feature some important new tech thanks to Samsung, the builder of said chip. It should hopefully mean better performance and thermal management which will put the new Pixel more in line with its rivals.
The chip could be furnished with 16GB of RAM this time (which we've now seen rumored twice), rather than 12GB like previous Pixel Pro models. The extra RAM would help out with AI features.
As for on-board storage, rumored specs have the base model of the Pixel 9 Pro offering 128GB of on-board capacity. Google will also have 256GB, 512GB and 1TB versions, the rumors claim. As part of a potential preorder offer for the Pixel 9 phones, you may be able to upgrade to the next tier of storage at no additional cost.
The Pixel 9 phones could feature a new modem to address long-term connectivity issues that have befallen previous Pixels. We're also expecting to see satellite connectivity for the new Pixels, not unlike the Emergency SOS via satellite capabilities that have part of the last few iPhone generations. A Threads radio, made for interacting with Matter smart home products, may also be squeezed into the Pixel 9 Pro's frame.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: AI and software
The Pixel series was ahead of the curve in adopting artificial intelligence with its Magic Editor, and it sounds like Google won’t be resting on its laurels with the Pixel 9. We'd certainly expect the Google Gemini Nano AI features to play a prominent role on the Pixel 9 Pro, especially after Google introduced those features to the Pixel 8 series.
A report raises the expectation that enhanced on-device AI capabilities are coming to the Pixel 9 phones. Specific features cited in the report include text-to-image conversions, enhanced Magic Compose capabilities, more intricate auto-reply suggestions and text categorization and embedding capabilities. Again, all of this would happen on the Pixel 9 models, without involving cloud connectivity.
Additionally, a report cites three potential additions to the Pixel 9's array of AI-powered tools: an Add Me tool for editing group photos, a Studio tool for creating images with Generative AI, and a Pixel Screenshots feature that makes screenshots stored on your phone searchable by content.
Another rumored AI feature has nothing to do with cameras and photos. Instead, the Call Notes feature will reportedly give you the ability to record phone calls and create transcripts of your conversation; Google may also include summary tools.
The report detailing potential Pixel 9 preorder offers claims that anyone buying a Pro model will get a year's access to the Gemini Advanced AI model.
We’d expect the Pixel 9 Pro to be the first phone to benefit from Android 15, currently in its final beta stages. It's probably safe to assume the full version of Android 15 will be ready on or around that August 13 Google event.
A recent leak has indicated that the Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9 Pro, might ship with Android 14 instead of Android 15. It appears that the issue may be to do with Google releasing the Pixel 9 series earlier than we originally expected.
It was recently revealed that the Pixel 9's new weather app can be sideloaded from a popular APK website. The unfinished app isn't much different from the current app, aside from a new UI but other rumors are circulating about new weather maps and AI features.
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Outlook
Even with days remaining before the Pixel 9 Pro's launch, we'd expect more details to trickle out, particularly surrounding pricing for the phones. We also hope to hear more about AI features coming down the pike, as Google faces growing competition from Samsung and Apple to deliver truly smart smartphones.
