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The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are currently Google’s high-end phones, but the never-ending hype for the upcoming smartphones means the tech world is thinking about what would heavily update them as soon as they go on sale. This meant that the Pixel 9 rumor had harnessed its horses and galloped towards the horizon long before Google showed off the phone’s arrival. Now that this is the case, what can we expect from the new flagship and how will it differ from the existing model?
There are only a few weeks left before the August 13 reveal, and Google has almost unveiled the game’s design. But that doesn’t mean we know everything. Here’s everything we’ve heard so far about the Pixel nine and Pixel nine Pro, from whispers and rumors to hard facts.
No assumptions are needed as to when the Google Pixel nine will be announced. Google will host a “Made through Google” event on August 13 and reveal “the best of AI, Android software, and Google’s portfolio of Pixel devices. ” This news was followed up via a teaser video for the Pixel nine, so we want to say that we will have some knowledge about the Pixel nine until then. The event will begin at 6 p. m. m. BST/1 p. m. EST/10 a. m. m. PST and it will. It will be streamed live for viewing at home.
Pricing is, as always, much harder to determine until Google makes something official. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro increased in value compared to the last-gen Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, going from $599/£599 and $899/£850 to $699/£699 and $999, respectively. /£999.
Rumors suggesting that the “affordable” Google Pixel 8a would see a price increase, moving it further out of mid-range territory, turned out to be accurate. We keep our hands crossed so that there is no additional. increases for the ninth generation of the Pixel, but we also wouldn’t be surprised if we were asked to spend an extra $50/£50 on most of the existing price.
Google unveiled the Pixel 9 Pro early, after a series of high-profile leaks and device prototypes began to circulate. Images posted on social media and Google’s online store also show even more rounded corners than the outgoing Pixel 8 Pro. like a flatter, more polished frame that’s more in line with newer iPhones than any previous Pixel phone.
The most obvious update is the camera island, which replaces the shelf covering the phone that Google used in one way or another for several generations of Pixel. It’s a raised rectangle with rounded edges, made of the same polished steel as the phone’s frame. The company also made it clear that Gemini AI would be heavily involved.
What hasn’t been shown yet is the exact number of Pixel nine phones that will launch on August 13. We know that the Pixel nine Pro Fold, formerly called the Pixel Fold 2, will appear, but our expectations for the 3 variants of the Pixel nine are still based entirely on leaks and rumors.
However, these leaks seem quite convincing. Onleaks and nine1 Mobiles have shared what is considered an official promotional curtain for the new lineup, revealing that two Pixel nine Pros are expected, one with a 6. 3-inch display and one with a 6. 8-inch panel, along with a 6. 3-inch Pixel. nine. matches and the device’s first roadmap noted via AndroidAuthority, which reported that Google runs on 3 Pixel nine models. Rozetked also shared photographs of 3 Pixel phones, when there was a chance that the larger phone would be called the Pixel nine Pro XL. . Based on the marketing leak, it turns out that Google has backtracked on the XL bit.
Whatever the number of models and their dimensions, there’s no doubt that the displays will feature Google’s new Actua and Super Actua brands, indicating adaptive refresh rates and vastly higher brightness.
According to Android Authority, an “Adaptive Touch” mode is also on the horizon. It’s already included in the latest beta versions of Android QPR and will “automatically adapt to your environment, activities, and screen saver” when active. There is power communication paints with rainy hands or a rainy screen, and the code suggests that this will be exclusive to the Pixel nine series. It’s unclear if it’s based on fast hardware or if it will eventually be applied to older Pixel phones.
Mysmartprice has collaborated in the past with OnLeaks to create a 3D render of the Pixel 9 Pro, showing a more subtle phone with flat sides and a pill-shaped camera cutout on the back that’s more minimalist than the bar. rear camera of the Pixel 8 Series. Since then, OnLeaks and nine1Mobiles have released more renders showing the same design and change to the camera bar. Following Google’s first reveal, those renderings were on point.
A trio of color features are expected for the model, but it’s unclear at this point if Google will bring the Pixel 8 Pros’ frosted rear glass to any of the Pixel nine models, or if the smaller phone will retain a more reflective, mirror-like finish. Formation
It looks like Google-designed and Samsung-made Tensor silicon will make a comeback, than the purely in-house chips Google was running on. According to The Information, the missed internal deadlines mean that it will take at least the next generation of phones before such processors arrive. The marketing leak only confirms the Tensor G4 branding, not the express core count or clock speeds. The Pixel nine will obtain 12GB of RAM, whilst the Pro and Fold variants will obtain 16GB.
Tensor G4 would be a small bump over the Tensor G3, in the same way that the Tensor G2 was not a radical replacement for the original Tensor; It will be built on Samsung’s newest 4nm process, according to Korean news site Fnnews, employing the Fan-Out WLP (FOWLP) generation for higher force efficiency. The Exynos 2400 processors used in the global versions of the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus were manufactured using this process; This suggests that there will be high-end functionality, but it’s unlikely to outperform Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon chips in benchmark tests. However, any innovation in battery life and heat dissipation will be welcome; The Pixel 8 Pro can get quite hot under load and loses out to its rivals in terms of longevity.
There’s no information on battery size or charging speeds, but we do know that a senior Google hardware engineer is on the board of trustees of the Wireless Power Consortium; This suggests that Qi2 wireless charging will appear in the ninth generation of the Pixel. If so, it will still be one of the first Android phones to have it.
The camera hardware doesn’t seem to be in a position to undergo a radical change, but the most recent leaks recommend some changes. The Pixel 9 will receive a 50 MP main camera, a 48 MP ultrawide camera (compared to the Pixel 8’s 12 MP), and a 10. 5 MP selfie camera. Both Pixel nine Pro variants will have 50 MP main, 48 MP ultra-wide, 48 MP telephoto and 42 MP front cameras; Only the latter is an upgrade, as the Pixel 8 Pro settles for a 10. 5MP unit. We’re confident that Google will have also created smarter, AI-assisted editing teams by launch day.
We’re big fans of Pixel diversity here at Stuff, having given the Pixel 8 Pro a full five-star score; however, despite the accolades, there are still a few things we think Google could improve. These are our main wishes for the future. . . it’s important to note if Google will offer any.
Google hasn’t increased the charging speed of its phones much in a long time, largely because its competition offers devices that can handle triple-digit power. An official 30W peak is rarely that fast, and it’s debatable whether the newer pixels actually perform at this rate. We’d love to see the Google Pixel nine reach at least 65W, which would give it an edge over the forty-fiveW Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Qi2 wireless charging would also put Google on par with Apple in terms of compatibility with MagSafe-style accessories.
This year’s Tensor chips were a notable improvement over the previous generation, but it’s still fair to say that they fall behind the newer Qualcomm silicon, both in terms of functionality and power efficiency. While we wouldn’t say the Pixel 8 Pro is a slouch, it isn’t capable of a battery boost compared to its Snapdragon-forced rivals. Seeing Google catch up here would be a real blessing.
For years, Google has adamantly refused to let them move the “At a Glance” widget from its main position on Android’s home screen. iOS is also ahead of the curve when it comes to widgets, whether it’s in terms of consistency in design or the quantity offered. We’ve noticed hints that the former is being replaced in the recent mid-aged Android 14 betas, but the latter will need a serious software overhaul to catch up with what Apple is doing.
Now that Google has moved the Pixel 8’s value closer to premium territory, we think a successor wants to match its closest rival, Samsung’s Galaxy S24, in terms of number of camera lenses. The Galaxy S24 has a 3x optical zoom lens in addition to a main and ultra-wide lens, while the Pixel 8 makes do with just the latter two. Google might say its Super Res virtual zoom is as smart as a dedicated lens, but adding a third camera would help separate the main lens even further. Pixel and A-series devices. The Pixel nine Pro may still offer a more capable optical zoom with a 5x telephoto lens, so there’s still an explanation for why to upgrade to the more expensive model. Consider this very unlikely.
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