Google has officially announced its latest smartphone lineup, the Pixel 9 series, which includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the innovative Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Powered by Google’s new Tensor G4 chip, these devices are designed to deliver the best of what the Pixel brand has to offer, featuring a blend of sleek design, advanced AI capabilities, and enhanced durability.
A Stunning Design Evolution
The Pixel 9 series represents a significant design upgrade from its predecessors. With an emphasis on comfort and style, the new phones feature a sculpted design that highlights Google’s iconic camera bar, now more prominent than ever. The devices boast a silky matte glass back and polished metal sides, providing a premium feel. Google claims that these models are twice as durable as the Pixel 8, ensuring longevity for users.
For the first time, Google’s Pro model comes in two sizes: the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro and the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. Both models offer Super Actua displays, touted as the best and brightest screens Google has ever produced. Additionally, a new 42 MP front camera ensures sharper and brighter selfies, even in low light.
Power and Performance: Enter Tensor G4
At the heart of the Pixel 9 series is the Google Tensor G4 chip, a custom silicon processor developed in collaboration with Google DeepMind. This new chip is designed to enhance everyday smartphone tasks, from faster app loading times to smoother web browsing. Tensor G4 also introduces Gemini Nano with Multimodality, enabling the phone to understand and process text, images, and audio more effectively than ever before.
All Pixel 9 models come equipped with upgraded memory: 12GB of RAM for the Pixel 9 and 16GB for the Pro models. This ensures that the AI-powered features run seamlessly, offering users a smooth and responsive experience.
AI-Powered Features for a Smarter Experience
Google has packed the Pixel 9 series with cutting-edge AI features. Gemini Live, announced earlier this year, allows users to interact with Google’s AI more naturally through free-flowing conversations, available on the Pro models. This feature will be included as part of a one-year Gemini Advanced subscription with the purchase of a Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, or Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Pixel Studio, another standout feature, is a first-of-its-kind image generator that lets users create visuals from scratch using a combination of on-device and cloud-based AI models. The Pixel Screenshots app, exclusive to Pixel 9, helps users organize and recall important information from screenshots, making it easier to find and use saved content.
Enhanced Photography and Video Capabilities
Photography has always been a cornerstone of the Pixel brand, and the Pixel 9 series continues this tradition with several upgrades. The main and ultrawide cameras on the Pixel 9 match those of the Pro models, with the ultrawide lens seeing a significant upgrade to 48MP. The front camera now features autofocus for sharper selfies.
Video enthusiasts will appreciate the improved Video Boost, which processes Night Sight videos twice as fast, and the ability to record high-resolution Zoom videos up to 20x using Super Res Zoom Video on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Additional camera features include “Add Me,” which ensures that even the person taking the photo can be included in group shots and a re-engineered Panorama mode that excels in low-light conditions. Magic Editor in Google Photos also sees enhancements, allowing users to reframe and reimagine their photos with ease.
Seven Years of Updates and a Better Battery Life
Google promises that all Pixel 9 devices will continue to improve over time, offering seven years of OS updates, Pixel Drops, and security updates. Additionally, the Pixel 9 boasts a 20% increase in battery life during active use compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 9 series marks a significant step forward for Google’s smartphone lineup, combining advanced AI, powerful performance, and a design that feels as good as it looks. With the introduction of Tensor G4 and features like Gemini Live and Pixel Studio, Google is setting a new standard for what a smartphone can do.
