Google’s Pixel 9 line offers more size options, better cameras and Gemini by default

The new Pixel 9 lineup took centerstage during Tuesday morning’s Made by Google 2024 event. Along with the inclusion of the Pixel 9 Fold Pro, the company presented an additional size option. The trio of devices are: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Pro now sports the same size display as the base Pixel at 6.3 inches, albeit at a higher resolution (1280 x 2856 versus 1080 x 2424). The new Pro XL model is essentially an update to last year’s 8 Pro, with a 6.8-inch display at 1344 x 2992 pixels.

Another option is a good thing, and the Pixel 9 lineup is similar to what Apple offers with the iPhone. The splitting of the Pro devices now lets people opt for a higher-spec product that isn’t overly large. The displays are around 35% brighter than their predecessors, peaking at 2,700 nits. They’re also covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The other important thing to note here is, naturally, Gemini. Through a beta program, users can assign the Pixel 8a’s Power button to trigger the platform. Now with the Pixel 9 line, the generative AI is the default assistant and replaces Google Assistant, which the company has taken to calling the “legacy assistant” in the Android context.

If people find the new offering underwhelming or underbaked, they can switch back to Google Assistant on the devices. As we noted last week, the older Assistant will continue to play a role in the context of Google Home and Nest devices.

The industrial design gets an overhaul here, as well, with sharper corners and an even more pronounced rear-facing camera bar. The Pixel 9 sports a pair of rear cameras, while both 9 Pros have the same three-camera setup. The base device gets a 50-megapixel-wide camera with 8x Super Res Zoom, coupled with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The Pros add in a 48-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical and up to 30x Super Res Zoom. The Pros also sport 42-megapixel selfie cameras.

Google continues to add to its excellent suite of AI-based editing tools here. Add Me lets someone take a picture of a group and edit themselves into the shot by merging two images. Magic Editor also gets automatic image reframing, crop suggestions and the ability to expand images.

One place Google breaks from Apple is the decision to include the new Tensor G4 chip across the Pixel 9 line. That’s coupled with the Titan M2 security chip. The Pixel 9 ships with 12GB of RAM and either 128 or 258GB of storage. The Pros have 16GB of RAM and storage up to 1TB. Both 6.3-inch models sport a 4700 mAh battery; the XL’s is 5060 mAh. Google says all three should get 24 hours on a charge or up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode switched on.

The Pro devices come with a year of the Google One AI Premium plan, which includes Gemini Advanced access, Gemini in Gmail and Docs and 2TB of Google Cloud storage. All of the new handsets come with seven years of OS and security updates, along with new features included in Pixel drops.

The Pixel 9 starts at $799, the Pixel Pro at $999 and Pixel 9 Pro XL at $1,099. Preorders open Tuesday. The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL ship August 22. The ship date for the Pro is still TBD.