Google Pixel 9 Series: Everything You Need to Know

After months of leaks and rumors, Google has finally unveiled the Pixel 9 series in four models: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Whether you’re a Pixel fan or just curious about what Google is up to, there’s a lot to unpack here.

Google Pixel 9: A Compact Powerhouse

Pixel 9 has a flat-sided look with curves on the corners that make it look like the Galaxy S24 series. But the new pill-shaped camera island on the back looks different from the previous generations. It still manages to look distinctive enough though. Pixel continues to use fancy names for its color – Obsidian (black), Porcelain (cream-ish), Wintergreen (green), and Peony (pink). Pricing starts at $799.

At 6.3 inch, Pixel 9 is slightly bigger than Pixel 8 (6.2 inch). It carries an FHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. Peak brightness gets a boost at 2700 nits, a 35% increase compared to Pixel 8 (2000 nits) and a 4% jump over the Galaxy S24.

Taking a cue from the Galaxy S24 series, Google has upgraded to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. This should be faster and more accurate than what we’ve seen in previous Pixel phones.

As expected, Pixel 9 series is powered by the Tensor G4 chip. So don’t expect a massive leap in performance – think of it more as a refined version of last year’s Tensor G3.

Google will continue offering 7 years of major Android OS and security updates for the entire Pixel 9 lineup. While we were hoping the Google Pixel 9 series would launch with Android 15 out of the box, it arrived with Android 14 instead. But don’t worry – Android 15 isn’t too far off as per the rumor mill.

Battery life gets a boost too at 4700 mAh battery compared to the 4575 mAh that Pixel 8 came with. Plus, RAM has been upgraded to 12 GB, up from 8 GB, which should keep things running smoothly, especially with all the AI features Google is promising. On the storage front, it starts with 128GB, which might feel a bit limiting given the price. But hey, you can always opt for the 256GB model if you need more.

Note: Not all Pixel AI features run offline. Many of them require an active internet connection.

Pixel phones have always been known for their camera prowess. Pixel 9 has an impressive 50MP main sensor coupled with a new 48MP ultra-wide sensor, a massive improvement over the previous generation. Additionally, it also acts as a macro lens. The selfie cam is 10.5 MP which is disappointing in 2024 but should still deliver those Instagram-ready shots thanks to AI processing.

Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL: Same but Different

Now, this is where things get interesting. The Pixel 9 Pro shares the same name as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro but don’t let that fool you – it’s been downsized to match the Pixel 9’s dimensions. Why? Because you get a smaller phone without sacrificing those high-end specs and cameras. Many people do like a powerful phone in a smaller package after all.

Pixel 9 Pro is slightly bigger at a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display, offers a slightly higher resolution of 1280×2856 pixels, and a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it easier to use in broad daylight. Aside from their display, phone size, and battery capacity, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have identical specs.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL steps into the shoes of last year’s Pixel 8 Pro with a 6.8-inch OLED display, 1344 x 2992 resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by the same Tensor G4 chip, it comes with a beefy 16GB RAM and 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.

When it comes to the camera, the Pixel 9 Pro series retains much of the same setup as the previous generation, with one notable enhancement. The ultrawide sensor now boasts a larger aperture size of f/1.7, up from f/2.0, which should improve low-light performance. Another difference is the 48MP telephoto lens which Pixel 9 lacks while the selfie shooter is massive at 42 MP.

Pixel 9 Pro XL’s battery is slightly bigger at 5060 mAh than the Pixel 8 Pro (5050 mAh) but comparable to Pixel 9 Pro that is only 360 mAh less. Additionally, the Pixel 9 Pro XL supports 37W charging, whereas the Google Pixel 9 Pro offers a slower 27W charging speed. Rookie numbers by industry standards.

The Pixel 9 Pro is priced at $999, while the Pro XL will set you back $1,099 making it a bit pricey for the hardware it packs but then again, Pixels were never known for their hardware.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: The Foldable Surprise

And then there’s the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s answer to Samsung’s Galaxy Fold series. It’s essentially the Pixel Fold 2, but now part of the Pixel 9 lineup for some reason.

The design has seen a complete overhaul, making it slimmer and taller, moving away from that passport-style look. The crease on the cover display is also slightly less noticeable compared to the previous model. However, we’ll need to compare it with other foldables to see just how much of an improvement it is. Plus, the new squircle camera bump on the back adds to the Pixel’s design language.

As for the display, here’s a quick spec sheet for you.

Due to its folding design, Pixel Fold 2 retains the capacitive fingerprint sensor from the original Pixel Fold. As for the RAM and storage, it comes in two flavors – 16 GB+256 GB and 16 GB+512 GB RAM and storage respectively. No 1TB option.

What caught our attention was the reduced battery capacity this time around. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold now has a 4,650mAh battery, down from the 4,821mAh found in the original Pixel Fold. We are still running tests so we can’t say how this change will impact battery life. Pixel Fold does have a new vapor chamber to reduce heat and improve performance and efficiency but we will see just how effective it is once we are done running some tests.

When it comes to cameras, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t quite match the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Much like the difference we noticed between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the S24 Ultra, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has weaker camera hardware compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And when compared to the original Pixel Fold, the upgrade is minimal. Here are the camera specs:

Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes in only two colors. As for price, you’re looking at $1,799 which is $100 cheaper than the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 6.

AI Features on Pixel 9 Series

We have a separate article detailing all the AI features you get with the Pixel 9 series and how you can use it in your daily life. You are in for some surprises here.

Should You Get One

So, there you have it – Google’s Pixel 9 series in a nutshell. A fresh design, slightly better specs, and a whole lot of cool AI magic. That’s the Pixel 9 series for you. The real question is this – who would buy Pixel 9 Pro Fold at this price when they can get Galaxy Fold 6 for just $100 more? Stay tuned for our in-depth comparison of the two folds.