Google has launched its latest lineup of smartphones, the Pixel 9 series, which includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. These new phones are powered by Google’s latest Tensor G4 chip, designed to enhance performance and AI capabilities.
The Pixel 9 phones feature a sleek, new design with a refined camera bar that highlights the advanced camera systems. The Pixel 9 Pro is available in two sizes, with the Pixel 9 Pro (6.3 inches) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.8 inches) offering bright Super Actua displays and a new 42 MP front camera for clearer selfies in low light. Both models share the same specifications except for display size, charging speed, and battery power.
The Pixel 9 boasts a 6.3-inch Actua display, which is 35% brighter than its predecessor, the Pixel 8, and has been rated the best in its class. It also features an upgraded 48 MP ultrawide lens and a front camera with autofocus, significantly enhancing photo quality. Additionally, the Pixel 9 offers about 20% longer battery life compared to the Pixel 8.
Folashade Omonijo, Marketing Manager at Google, commented, “With the Pixel 9 series, we aim to deliver phones that seamlessly integrate into daily life, offering advanced AI features and improved performance. Our new Tensor G4 chip allows for faster app launches and web browsing, making everyday tasks more efficient.”
The Tensor G4 chip is a key highlight, developed with Google DeepMind, and supports advanced AI models like Gemini Nano with Multimodality, which helps the phone understand text, images, and audio. The Pixel 9 series also features upgraded memory, with 12GB of RAM in the Pixel 9 and 16GB in the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL.
A new feature, Gemini Live, will be available to Gemini Advanced subscribers. This feature allows users to interact with Gemini more naturally, offering assistance for tasks such as planning events or brainstorming ideas directly from the phone or Pixel Buds.
The Pixel 9 series introduces Pixel Studio, a creative tool that lets users generate images from scratch using an on-device diffusion model and Google’s Imagen 3 text-to-image model. This tool provides a canvas for creativity and easy editing.
Pixel Screenshots, an exclusive app for the Pixel 9, helps users organize and search for important information captured in screenshots. The app can analyze and categorize content, making it easier to find and recall.
The Pixel Weather app has also been improved with AI to provide accurate forecasts and a custom AI weather report. The new camera features include enhancements for better photos and videos, such as the ability to take detailed panoramas in low light and high-resolution zoom videos.
The Pixel 9 series also introduces Clear Calling and Call Notes features, which improve audio quality during calls and provide a transcript and summary of calls, respectively. Additionally, the phones include Satellite SOS for emergency assistance even without cellular service, available first in the U.S. at no extra cost for two years.
The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL are available for pre-order starting at $799, $999, and $1099, respectively. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available in stores on August 22, with the Pixel 9 Pro launching on September 4 in the U.S. and in other markets in the following weeks.