At the #MadeByGoogle ‘24 keynote, the Google Pixel 9 series consisting of the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have officially been unveiled. Let’s dive right into the new line of smartphones.
Google Pixel 9 Series
Google has shaken up its Pixel lineup this year by launching the Pixel 9 series earlier than usual, with an August release instead of the traditional October launch. The introduction of a similarly-sized Pro model has shifted the vanilla Pixel 9’s position, but it remains a strong contender in Google’s smartphone lineup.
The Google Pixel 9 features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. A significant improvement is the switch from an optical fingerprint sensor to a more reliable ultrasonic one, with peak brightness now reaching 2,700 nits, a noticeable jump from the previous 2,000 nits.
Although the Pixel 9 is slightly larger than last year’s model, it still ranks among the smaller Android phones. Interestingly, it shares the same dimensions as the new Pixel 9 Pro, making it a compact yet powerful device. For those who prefer larger screens, the Pixel 9 Pro XL or the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are better options.
The Pixel 9’s exterior design remains largely similar to its predecessors, except for the absence of a periscope camera, which is exclusive to the Pro models. However, the Pixel 9 doesn’t compromise on camera quality, featuring the same 50MP main camera with a 1/1.31” Samsung GNK sensor and OIS-enabled lens as the other models. The ultra-wide camera has received a substantial upgrade, now boasting a 48MP sensor with a 123° field of view, up from the 12MP sensor in the 8-series.
Under the hood, the Pixel 9 is powered by the new Tensor G4 chipset, which includes one Cortex-X4 core, three A720 cores, and four A520 cores, delivering a more efficient performance. The device also benefits from an improved Exynos 5400 modem and a slight boost in GPU clock speed. With 12GB of RAM, even the standard Pixel 9 matches the memory capacity of last year’s Pro model, ensuring better performance for on-device AI tasks, including Google’s Gemini Nano.
Google has committed to supporting the Pixel 9 with 7 years of software updates, including both OS and security patches. The device launches with Android 14 but will be among the first to receive Android 15 when it becomes available.
Battery life has seen an improvement, with the Pixel 9 now featuring a 4,700mAh battery, up from 4,575mAh in the previous model. The phone supports faster charging, reaching 55% in just 30 minutes with a 45W USB-PD charger.
Google Pixel 9 Series Specifications
| Model: | Google Pixel 9 | Google Pixel 9 Pro | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL |
| CPU: | Google Tensor G4, 4nm | Google Tensor G4, 4nm | Google Tensor G4, 4nm |
| GPU: | Mali-G715 @ 940MHz | Mali-G715 @ 940MHz | Mali-G715 @ 940MHz |
| RAM: | 12GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Display: | 6.3″ FHD+ (2424 x 1080), OLED Actua Display, 60 to 120Hz, 2,700 nits, HDR10+, Always-On, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 6.3″ (2856 x 1280), LTPO OLED Super Actua Display, 3,000 nits, 1 to 120Hz, HDR10+, Always-On, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 6.8″ (2992 x 1344), LTPO OLED Super Actua Display, 3,000 nits, 1 to 120Hz, HDR10+, Always-On, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Storage: | 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 (not expandable) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 (not expandable) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 (not expandable) |
| Camera: | 50MP f/1.68 Octa PD wide angle, 48MP f/1.7 123° Quad PD ultrawide, 10.5MP f/2.2 Dual PD selfie camera | 50MP f/1.68 Octa PD wide angle, 48MP f/1.7 123° Quad PD ultrawide, 48MP f/2.8 Quad PD telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 10.5MP f/2.2 Dual PD selfie camera | 50MP f/1.68 Octa PD wide angle, 48MP f/1.7 123° Quad PD ultrawide, 48MP f/2.8 Quad PD telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 10.5MP f/2.2 Dual PD selfie camera |
| OS: | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Audio: | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Tri-Band 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) NFC USB-C 3.2 | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Tri-Band 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.4 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) NFC USB-C 3.2 | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Tri-Band 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.4 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) NFC USB-C 3.2 |
| SIM: | NanoSIM and eSIM | NanoSIM and eSIM | NanoSIM and eSIM |
| Battery: | Li-ion 4700 mAh (non-removable), 27W Fast Charging (PD3.0, PPS), 15W Wireless Charging, Reverse wireless | Li-ion 4700 mAh (non-removable), 27W Fast Charging (PD3.0, PPS), 21W Wireless Charging, Reverse wireless | Li-ion 5060 mAh (non-removable), 37W Fast Charging (PD3.0, PPS), 23W Wireless Charging, Reverse wireless |
| Dimensions: | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight: | 198g | 199g | 221g |
| Ingress protection: | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Colors: | Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony | Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz | Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz |
| Starting Price: | $799 | $999 | $1,099 |
The Google Pixel 9 is available in four colors: Porcelain, Peony, Wintergreen, and Obsidian. It boasts an aluminum mid-frame with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, and it holds an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Pre-orders are now open in the US and Europe, with the ones in the markets to be announced at a later time. Those who pre-order will receive a free storage upgrade, allowing them to get the 256GB model for the price of the 128GB version. The Pixel 9 is set to ship on August 22 in the US.
Pokdepinion: I can’t believe we’re finally getting them in Malaysia after so long. I’m quite excited for it since we’re really close to getting our hands on them. Stay tuned for the reviews.
