Google’s Pixel 9 flagships go official with a new model that suffers from shrinkflation

Summary

• Google’s Pixel 9 series is official with upgraded cameras and exclusive Gemini AI features for the candybar-style phones in the lineup.
• The Pixel 9 Pro introduces a smaller premium flagship option with advanced camera capabilities and AI smarts.
• The Pixel 9 Pro XL, despite sporting a new “XL” moniker, is the direct replacement for the Pixel 8 Pro, but the smaller 9 Pro is being slotted into the $999 price point while the 9 Pro XL gets a hidden $100 price hike.

For some, they’re an afterthought, but for many Android fans, Google’s Pixel lineup represents the best iPhone alternative in the ecosystem, with tight-knit integration between the Android OS and Google Tensor-powered hardware. So we’ve been keeping a close eye on the Pixel 9 series throughout its rumor phases, with plenty of leaks flowing in to keep us occupied — but now, the Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Pro, and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL have gone official.Google Pixel 9: Everything you need to know in one place

At the August 13 Made by Google event in Mountain View, Google announced a new family of phones, watches, and earbuds. We’re covering the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Buds 2 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in separate announcement posts, but this page is dedicated to the unveiling of the base model Pixel 9 and its two candybar-style siblings, the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL.

Meet the Google Pixel 9 family

Google Pixel 9

The Pixel 9 is Google’s entry-level flagship. Just like years past, the biggest differences between this model and its Pro counterparts lie in the camera system and display. Rather than a full three-camera array on the back, you only get the wide-angle and ultrawide lenses and not the 5x telephoto shooter. And instead of a Super Actua display, the screen is merely an Actua with a 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, though Google has increased the peak brightness by 35% to 2,700 nits.

Google is giving the entire series a RAM boost this year to help with some of the Gemini AI features, and the base model Pixel 9 benefits the most, jumping by 50% from 8GB in 2023 to 12GB this year.

Aside from hardware, Google’s AI features shine in the Pixel 9. For starters, Gemini is now the default system assistant, pushing Google Assistant to the margins. Meanwhile, a new Pixel Screenshots feature works a bit like an opt-in version of the controversial Windows Recall, where Gemini is trained by anything you capture in screenshots, allowing you to ask questions of the AI about the content. New AI photo tools are present, like an Add Me feature that lets you place yourself into a group shot after the fact, or Night Sight for panoramas.

As with all phones in the series, the Pixel 9 is getting Google’s new Satellite SOS functionality for emergencies in situations where there’s no cell coverage, though this won’t debut until an update in “Winter 2024.” You can also place apps and content into a password-protected private space, but again, Google says this is “coming soon” — we suspect it will debut alongside Android 15 in September.

Google Pixel 9 Pro

The Pixel 9 Pro is an entirely new entrant in Google’s lineup, even though it shares naming schemes with past Pixels. While the Pro model in years past had always been significantly larger than the base model, this phone has the exact same dimensions as the Pixel 9, just with all the Pro features. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the Pixel 8 Pro’s true successor, while the 9 Pro should excite people who have been clamoring for a top-tier flagship in a smaller body.

Everything you’ll find in the standard Pixel 9 is present here, and then some. For starters, both Pro models come with a free year of Google One AI Premium, allowing for access to Gemini Advanced as well as Gemini in Gmail and Docs. Meanwhile, Magic Editor in Google Photos has added the ability to automatically reframe shots, as well as a new Reimagine feature that lets you highlight an area of the photo and use generative AI to replace it.

The selfie camera on both Pixel 9 Pro models has been massively upgraded. While the standard Pixel 9 has the same 10.5MP front shooter as last year’s models, the Pros get a huge resolution bump to 42MP, with photo diode binning that combines readings from two adjacent pixels (dual PD binning). This camera also sports a wider 103° field of view and phase detection autofocus (PDAF).

A burgeoning trend in Google’s Pro series is a focus on videography, and the 9 Pro models make some strides in this department. Super Res Zoom is coming to video, allowing for greater detail when using digital zoom. And still exclusive to the Pro series, Video Boost in Google Photos can use AI to upscale 4K videos captured with the phone to full 8K resolution (though again, this one is “coming soon”).

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the direct sequel to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, and Google is using the addition of a smaller Pro model to essentially hide a price hike for this one. While last year’s plus-sized, top-of-the-line Google phone started at $999, this one starts at $1,099 in what some might call a case of shrinkflation.

Compared to the Pixel 9 Pro, there are three differences that we can find in Google’s press materials: The 9 Pro XL has a bigger display, a bigger battery, and Google’s fastest charging speeds. While this phone only charges at 45W like the smaller Pixel 9, Google says 30 minutes will get you to about 70% charged, compared to only 55% on the 9 Pro in the same amount of time. Google doesn’t specify how this is achieved, but we suspect it might have something to do with a possible dual power cell arrangement in the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Super Actua display in both pro models has gotten significantly brighter, up to a 3,000-nit peak brightness from 2,400 last year. The bezels around the screens are slightly slimmer on both Pro models than they are on the standard Pixel 9, though all are clad in Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back.

Additional details and availability

All Pixel 9 models will be available in four colors to start. The standard Pixel 9 comes in Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Peony (pink), and Wintergreen (light green). The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are being offered in Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz (pink), and Hazel (greenish). The colors on the Pixel 9 are more saturated, while those on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are slightly more muted.

Everything Google showed off at its hardware event is available for preorder starting today, but the products won’t hit store shelves at the same time. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL should be available in stores by August 22, just nine days after launch, but Google has yet to provide a street date for the Pixel 9 Pro.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to hit stores on September 4, with the Pixel Watch 3 following closely behind on September 10, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 landing on September 26.

The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be officially available in 32 countries, up from a paltry 20 last year. The full list is as follows: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, and US.

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  Google Pixel 9

  The Pixel 9 is Google’s most affordable 2024 flagship, making a few compromises when compared to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL while retaining the Google smarts the lineup has become known for. An upgraded 48MP ultra-wide camera is paired with a 50MP main shooter, and the selfie cam added autofocus. All of this comes with new Gemini AI features and a 2,700-nit Actua display for exceptional value at its price point.

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  Google Pixel 9 Pro

  The Pixel 9 Pro is a new addition to Google’s lineup, slotting in as a smaller premium flagship to pair with the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The latter is the direct successor to 2023’s Pixel 8 Pro despite its new XL moniker, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro brings a new form-factor to Google’s high-end offerings, sporting the same dimensions as the standard Pixel 9 model while packing all the AI and camera prowess we’ve grown accustomed to from Google’s Pro lineup.

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  Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

  The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a new name, but it fills the same slot as 2023’s Pixel 8 Pro, having similar specs with roughly the same footprint. The non-XL Pixel 9 Pro is new to the lineup as a smaller premium flagship offering. With the 9 Pro XL, however, you get Google’s fastest charging, a bigger screen and battery, and all of the camera and Gemini AI smarts you’d get in the smaller 9 Pro.