The new Pixel 9 series takes center stage at Tuesday morning's Made by Google 2024 event. Along with the Pixel 9 Fold Pro, the business introduced one additional size choice. The three gadgets are the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The Pro now has the same 6.3-inch display as the standard Pixel, albeit with a better resolution (1280 x 2856 vs 1080 x 2424). The new Pro XL model is essentially an upgrade of last year's 8 Pro, with a 6.8-inch display measuring 1344 x 2992 pixels.
Another option is a good thing, and the Pixel 9 selection is comparable to what Apple provides with its iPhone. The separation of Pro devices now allows users to choose a higher-spec product that isn't too bulky. The displays are approximately 35% brighter than their predecessors, peaking at 2,700 nits. They're also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The other crucial thing to remember here is, of course, Gemini. Users can use a beta program to assign the Power button on the Pixel 8a to launch the platform. With the Pixel 9 series, generative AI is now the default assistant, replacing Google Assistant, which the company refers to as the "legacy assistant" on Android.
If users find the new product lackluster or undercooked, they can return to Google Assistant on their devices. As we mentioned last week, the older Assistant will continue to function in the context of Google Home and Nest devices.
The industrial design is also updated, with sharper corners and a more prominent rear-facing camera bar. The Pixel 9 has two rear cameras, whilst the 9 Pros have three. The base gadget features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera with 8x Super Res Zoom and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The Pros include a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical and up to 30x Super Res Zoom. The Pros also include 42-megapixel selfie cameras.
Google is adding to its superb set of AI-based editing tools here. Add Me allows you to take a picture of a group and then merge two images to include yourself. Magic Editor now includes automatic image reframing, crop suggestions, and the option to expand images.
One area where Google differs from Apple is the inclusion of the new Tensor G4 chip across the Pixel 9 series. It's paired with the Titan M2 security chip. The Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM and either 128GB or 258GB of storage. The Pro models come with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Both 6.3-inch variants have 4700 mAh batteries, whereas the XL has 5060 mAh.
The Pro devices come with one year of Google One AI Premium, which includes Gemini Advanced access, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, and 2TB of Google Cloud storage. All of the new handsets receive seven years of OS and security updates, as well as new features included via Pixel drops.
The Pixel 9 costs $799, the Pixel Pro $999, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL $1,099. Preorders begin Tuesday. August 22 marks the release date of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL. The Pro's ship date is currently TBD.