Sensible. Purposeful. Totally different. These are the methods we have sometimes described Google’s Pixel smartphones since they debuted in 2016. Google was at all times much less involved about making its telephones look as cool as opponents — as a substitute, its focus has been on distinctive digicam tech and early AI capabilities. Since 2021’s Pixel 6, their circumstances have additionally been dominated by a large rear digicam bar, one thing that enables for big sensors however is undoubtedly polarizing. You both like it for instance of Google going in opposition to the grain, otherwise you hate it.
Now with the Pixel 9, which debuted immediately on the firm’s 2024 Made By Google occasion, the corporate is lastly making an attempt to make the digicam bar a bit much less ugly. You can dare name it fashionable. The brand new digicam bar loses the sides of the previous rectangular iterations and appears extra like a large capsule field (it is nearly as if Google is trolling Apple for its Magic Island). Along with a thinner design, a glass rear cowl and satin metallic edges, the Pixel 9 lastly seems to be like a cellphone that may sit beside Samsung’s newest Galaxy gadgets or an iPhone with out disgrace. These attractiveness will value you although: The Pixel 9 begins at $799, $100 greater than the Pixel 8.
Past the facelift, the Pixel 9 additionally features a slew of {hardware} upgrades that ought to make it extra succesful for AI duties. There’s Google’s new Tensor G4 chip and 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB on the Pixel 8. The battery is barely bigger than earlier than, and it might probably cost as much as 55 p.c in half-hour. And the display has been upgraded as nicely: Google’s 6.3-inch Actua OLED show is barely bigger than earlier than in addition to 35 p.c brighter, reaching as much as 2,700 nits.
The Pixel 9’s cameras have additionally been completely revamped. Along with the 50 megapixel principal lens, there’s additionally a brand new 48 megapixel ultrawide (up from a 12MP ultrawide final 12 months) that may take Macro Focus photographs. The ten.5MP entrance digicam additionally will get auto focus this 12 months — one thing that was surprisingly omitted prior to now. Not less than you will not have to fret about blurry selfies as a lot.
As you’d anticipate, Google is touting the Pixel 9 as the proper vessel for its Gemini AI. Along with producing photos or textual content on demand, the Pixel 9 may also have the ability to bear in mind info by way of Pixel Screenshots. It is an on-device AI characteristic that sounds just like Microsoft’s Recall, however as a substitute of counting on fixed monitoring of your system, it is solely going off of the screenshots you’re taking. You can, for instance, take an image of a celebration invitation after which ask Gemini to recollect it for you. Add Me, one other on-device AI characteristic, will allow you to take an image of pals and add your self in later.
The Pixel 9 begins at $799 with 128GB of storage, however you may also improve to 256GB for $899. It will be obtainable on August 22, and it is coming in a slew of colours: Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony and Obsidian.
Atone for all of the information from Google’s Pixel 9 launch occasion proper right here!