Google Pixel 9 release date predictions, price, specs, and expected upgrades
What we know so far
Based on Google's own teaser and media invites, the Pixel 9 is set to be launched on August 13, 2024. And this time Google is said to have much more in store for us, bracing itself to launch not two but three new Pixel flagships!
The Pixel 9 will pack plenty of changes and upgrades to make it stand out from its predecessors. For starters, it will come with arguably the biggest design overhaul since the Pixel 6 series, losing the pebble shape and adopting a more "blocky" look. The camera visor will also be transformed to resemble more that of last year's Pixel Fold.
One of the most exciting upgrades coming with the Pixel 9, though, is definitely a long-awaited one. Google is said to have finally improved the biometrics by adding an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
The Tensor G4 chipset that should power the Pixel 9 will be—once again—not entirely made by Google itself, but rather with the help of Samsung. Still, the G4 should come with performance improvements, especially in the graphics department.
Besides the new chip, there are also reports of more RAM being added across the whole lineup, presumably to power the new on-device AI features and the rumored Pixie smart assistant that will be powered by Google's Gemini multilingual AI model.
There has been no information about the camera system on the Pixel 9, sadly, so there is a good possibility we won't see new camera hardware. That said, there's plenty of time for new information to come to light and prove this prediction wrong.
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Pixel 9 release date
- Probable announcement: August 13, 2024
- Probable market release: 1 week after announcement
Google has consistently been releasing its flagship phones during October, ever since it first came out with the Pixel 6 series. This year the tech giant will be announcing its flagship phone lineup early though, as hinted by Google's announcement of the early Pixel hardware "Made by Google" event for August 13.
This is Google's biggest announcement for the year as far as consumer electronics go. It is also when the latest Android version should come out as it usually does alongside the latest Pixel phones.
| Pixel 9 device family | Announcement date | Market release date |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel 9 series | August 13, 2024* | Third week of August, 2024* |
| Pixel 8 series | October 4, 2023 | October 11, 2023 |
| Pixel 7 series | October 6, 2022 | October 13, 2022 |
| Pixel 6 series | October 19, 2021 | October 28, 2021 |
| Pixel 5 series | September 30, 2020 | October 15, 2020 |
Pixel 9 price
Google bumped the price for its entry-level flagship last year by $100, making the starting price $699. With that in mind, we didn't expect to see another price hike this year, at least not until some recent news of higher Pixel 9 prices.
The new starting price for the Pixel 9 will allegedly be $799, which would put it right next to the likes of Apple's iPhone 15 and Samsung's Galaxy S24.
You can expect Google to start pre-orders the same day of the announcement, so the moment the Pixel 9 is revealed you will most likely be able to make your purchase and secure one for yourself.
| Pixel model | 128GB of storage | 256GB of storage |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel 7 | $599 | $699 |
| Pixel 8 | $699 | $799 |
| Pixel 9 | $799* | $899* |
* - anticipated prices
Pixel 9 camera
(Image credits to OnLeaks and 91Mobiles) Pixel 9 render of its supposed camera bar.
There have been some leaked renders of the Pixel 9 that hint at a much larger lens for the main camera. Now, there are tons of speculations what an increase in the lens' size could mean, one of which is the addition of a variable aperture.
A variable aperture would give the user control over the light that enters the lens, therefore allowing for more precise settings when shooting and more freedom for creativity. For example, you would be able to control how blurred the background is, and that's the naturally-occuring blur, not the one artificially added by the phone's software. Another benefit would be the ability to choose between better low-light shots and to have a wider depth of field (how much of the photo is in focus).
Keep in mind that this is one of those rumored upgrades that come with quite a bit of wishful thinking. There are legitimate reasons why variable aperture is yet to become mainstream on flagship phones, but if Google does end up including it on the Pixel 9 lineup it would definitely differentiate it from the likes of Apple and Samsung, which don't offer anything as experimental.
| Camera | Camera Specs |
|---|---|
| Wide-angle (main) | 50 MP, f/1.68 |
| Ultra wide-angle | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Front camera | 10.05 MP, f/2.2 |
Pixel 9 storage
We are yet to see a regular Pixel with more than 256GB of storage. So far, all pixel models since the Pixel 6 have come in two storage variants: 128GB and 256GB.
Given that the Pixel 8a got a new, higher storage option, however, we now think that the Pixel 9 might get one too. Of course, that would be 512GB, as 1TB internal storage is more of a "Pro" feature in the world of mobile phones.
Pixel 9 expected storage versions:
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 512GB*
* - anticipated
Pixel 9 design changes
The design of the Pixel 9 is actually one of its most leaked aspects starting with renders that surfaced in late January 2024. There were also some renders of the pricier Pixel 9 Pro and the alleged third model, the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
All of the images we have seen so far depict a Pixel 9 that follows the current trendy look for flagship phones with flat sides and curved corners, resulting in a more blocky shape.
All of the images we have seen so far depict a Pixel 9 that follows the current trendy look for flagship phones with flat sides and curved corners, resulting in a more blocky shape.
The display is also flat and not curved around the edge. The sides on the regular Pixel 9 will be matte, while its back panel will be glossy; this look will be inverted on the Pro model/s, which will sport a glossy frame and matte back panel.
Alleged Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL live image.
The camera bar at the back is also getting a bit of an overhaul. It will still be that defining Pixel design element we know and love, but now it looks a bit more refined and it is no longer connected to the phone's sides but rather "floating" at the top of the back panel. Frankly, we have already seen the new design for the camera bar with the Pixel Fold that launched last year.
All of this talk about four different Pixel 9 models came from a report that revealed the Google Pixel 9 Series wallpapers. Besides revealing four whole Pixel 9 models, these alleged wallpapers also told us what we can expect in terms of color options for the Pixel 9. Here are the wallpapers in question:
What you see above are the light and dark mode variants of the four different wallpapers the Pixel 9 is said to come with. This means we can expect four potential Pixel 9 color variants: Porcelain, Peony, Jade, and Obsidian.
The Peony Pixel 9 even leaked a recent videos online, check them out:
Pixel 9 is already out in Algeria.
— Hani Mohamed Bioud (@hanibioud) July 1, 2024
Storage: 256GB
Color : Pink
I'll keep you updated tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/0mE1QlCbEg
@reparation_mobile23 Google pixel على خطى الآيفون #iphone#googlepixel♬ son original - Reparation_mobile23
Pixel 9 display
As for some other display-related upgrades, Google could once again bump the brightness levels to something higher than 2000 nits. The Pixel 8 series was among the first to achieve very high levels of display brightness and continues to be among the best based on our display lab tests, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.
We also expect the Pixel 9 to come with the latest from Gorilla Glass protection, which in this case would be the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 that the Galaxy S24 comes with. The Victus 2 is not that much better than the OG Victus, but there are slight improvements across the board that add to the overall durability of the phone.
And, would you believe it, we might finally get a much quicker and more accurate biometrics, as Google is said to have equipped the Pixel 9 Series with an upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
Last but not least, Google is said to introduce a new feature with the Pixel 9 series, which would enable the display to automatically adjust to your environment, activities, and screen protector. The idea is to ensure a fluid experience, consistency, and responsiveness when touching the display with your fingers in all sorts of conditions.
Pixel 9 battery
We don't foresee any significant changes to the battery size with the Pixel 9, or its battery life for that matter. The battery capacity should remain somewhere in the ballpark of 4,500-4,700 mAh.
Pixel 9 battery size vs previous models
| Battery capacity/phone | Battery size |
|---|---|
| Pixel 7 | 4,355 mAh |
| Pixel 8 | 4,575 mAh |
| Pixel 9 | 4,575 mAh* |
Pixel 9 charging speed
There is still no word about any increases in charging speeds, be it wired or wireless, but there are strong indications that the Pixel 9 will support the new Qi2 wireless charging standard.
The new Qi2 standard does not have any speed-related upgrades per se, but it does bring along magnets (like Apple's MagSafe wireless charging), which would be a major benefit as far as accessories go. There's also the fact that magnets assure better alignment with charging coils, which means less energy loss during wireless charging.
Pixel 9 features and software
The Pixel 9, much like its predecessors, will be the first phone lineup to arrive with the upcoming Android 15 software update installed. Now that Google offers 7 years of software updates, this means that the last Android update the Pixel 9 will get will be Android 21.
Google already announced the new features that will be coming with Android 15 later this year. Some of them include the Theft Detection Lock, the ability to hide apps behind an extra layer of authentication, real-time protection against fraudulent apps, and using pictures to add new cards to your Google Wallet.
On the topic of AI, the Pixel 9 will also debut with a new AI-powered smart assistant dubbed "Pixie". Pixie might be just another word for Gemini, Google's version of ChatGPT, and it will be exclusive to Pixel devices, unlike the Google Assistant.
AI-related features will be an even bigger selling point for the Pixel 9 than they were for the Pixel 8. The latest report from expert AssembleDebug on the Pixel-focused blog PiunikaWeb states that the Pixel 9 will come with enhanced on-device AI capabilities.
One of these on-device AI features might be the rumored "Studio", which was formerly known as "Creative Assistant." Studio will help you create custom stickers and emojis relying on your descriptions.
Another rumored Pixel 9 AI features is "Add me." This is likely a camera-related feature that ensures everyone is included in a group photo, possibly by suggesting additional shots or automatically adding people from nearby frames. It might be an extension of the Pixel 8's "Best Take" function.
There's also the "Pixel Screenshots" feature, which lets you search information within screenshots and get summaries or answers to questions about them. It seems similar to Microsoft's Recall but with two key differences: opt-in only and on-device processing for better privacy.
Additionally, based on the code discovered in the latest versions of Google’s AI Core app, we can expect the Pixel 9 to snap photos without relying on Google's cloud infrastructure for post-processing. Instead, everything will be carried out by the on-device AI algorithm, making the whole process significantly quicker.
Pixel 9 hardware and specs
The Pixel 9 will come with the next generation of Tensor chipsets, the Tensor G4. So far, these chips have been modified Samsung Exynos silicon made by Samsung Foundry. Allegedly, there were plans for this new generation to be the first one Google makes entirely on its own, but the latest information points at those plans being delayed until 2025.
The Tensor G4 should offer a nice speed boost, but it still won't rival the competition like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, or even Samsung's Exynos 2400, which the Tensor G4 is said to be based on.
The Tensor G4 should offer a nice speed boost, but it still won't rival the competition like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, or even Samsung's Exynos 2400, which the Tensor G4 is said to be based on.
Pixel 9 benchmark tests indicate that the Tensor G4 will feature faster clock speeds with one Cortex-X4 core at 3.1GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.95GHz. Notably, the Tensor G4 has eight cores, compared to the Tensor G3's nine cores in the Pixel 8 series.
Leaked live image of the AnTuTu scores for the Pixel 9 series.
AnTuTu benchmark results for the Pixel 9 series reveal scores of 1071616 for the Pixel 9, which is an improvement over the Pixel 8's score of around 900000, but not a massive one.
Furthermore, Google will keep the G4 at 4nm, reserving TSMC's 3nm node for its actual in-house chipset scheduled to come with the Pixel 10 in 2025, which should offer a more significant leap in performance and capabilities.
The new Pixel 9 will also be faster and have better connectivity than before (5G, Wi-Fi 6E, etc.), as shown in a recent FCC documentation.
This year we might also see Google bump up the amount of RAM. The report from Rozetked that revealed the alleged live images of the whole Pixel 9 series also states that the Pixel 9 will come with 12GB of RAM while the Pro models will have 16GB. This might be because of the new on-device AI features, which undoubtedly will need more and faster memory, although there is no word about faster RAM, the report just talks about the amount of memory.
Should you wait for the Pixel 9?
It might be worth holding your horses until 2025. The main reason here is that 2025 has a high chance to be the year when we finally see Google start using its very own chipsets, and this time for real, not a redesigned Samsung Exynos version.
Pixels have always been lagging behind in terms of performance compared to the competition so this would be a major change. And just imagine what Google would be able to do software-wise with a more powerful chip that is tailor-made for Google devices from start to finish.
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