Google Pixel 9 Software and features

Google Pixel 9: Everything you need to know about the next Google flagship

Google is known for making some of the best Android phones in the market, especially when it comes to software and camera performance. The Google Pixel 8 series, launched in October 2023, was a big leap forward for the company, as it introduced the Google Tensor G3 chipset, a custom-made processor that powers the Pixel’s AI and machine learning capabilities. The Pixel 8 series also brought 120Hz displays, improved battery life, wireless charging, and a host of new features powered by Google’s software magic.

But as the tech world moves fast, we are already looking forward to the next generation of Pixel phones, the Google Pixel 9 series. Rumors and leaks have started to emerge about the upcoming devices, and we have compiled everything we know so far in this article. Here’s what you can expect from the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro.

Release date and price

The Google Pixel 9 series is expected to launch in October 2024, following the tradition of previous Pixel releases. However, there is always a possibility of delays or changes due to the global chip shortage or other factors. We will update this section as soon as we get more concrete information about the launch date.

As for the price, we don’t have any official or reliable information yet, but we can make some educated guesses based on the previous Pixel pricing. The Pixel 8 started at $699, while the Pixel 8 Pro started at $899. These prices were $100 higher than the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, respectively, but they also came with more features and longer software support. Google promised seven years of software updates for the Pixel 8 series, which is unprecedented in the Android world.

We don’t expect Google to raise the price again for the Pixel 9 series, as that would make them less competitive with other flagship phones. However, we also don’t expect Google to lower the price, as that would imply a compromise in quality or features. Therefore, we predict that the Pixel 9 will start at $699, and the Pixel 9 Pro will start at $899. Of course, these are just estimates, and the actual prices may vary depending on the market and the storage options.

Design and display

One of the most noticeable changes that the Pixel 9 series is rumored to bring is a new design language. According to leaked renders from reliable sources, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro will sport a flat-sided design, similar to the iPhone 12 and 15. This would mark a departure from the curved edges that have been a signature of Pixel phones since the Pixel 2. The flat-sided design may offer a better grip and a more premium feel, but it may also make the phones thicker and heavier.

The back of the Pixel 9 series is also expected to see some changes, especially in the camera department. The Pixel 8 series had a square-shaped camera module that housed two cameras and a flash. The Pixel 9 series, on the other hand, is said to have a rectangular-shaped camera module that houses three cameras and a flash. The third camera is likely to be a telephoto lens, which was missing from the Pixel 8 series. The back of the Pixel 9 series is also rumored to retain the matte glass finish that was introduced with the Pixel 8 Pro, which gives the phones a smooth and elegant look.

The front of the Pixel 9 series is expected to have minimal bezels and a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. The Pixel 8 series had a similar design, but the Pixel 9 series may reduce the bezels even further, especially on the bottom chin. The Pixel 9 series is also rumored to have an in-display fingerprint scanner, which would replace the rear-mounted one that has been present on Pixel phones since the Pixel 1. This would make the Pixel 9 series more convenient and secure, as well as more in line with the current trends.

The display size and resolution of the Pixel 9 series are not confirmed yet, but we can make some assumptions based on the Pixel 8 series and the leaked renders. The Pixel 8 had a 6.2-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 8 Pro had a 6.7-inch OLED display with a Quad HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The leaked renders suggest that the Pixel 9 will have a slightly smaller display than the Pixel 8, around 6 inches, while the Pixel 9 Pro will have a slightly larger display than the Pixel 8 Pro, around 6.8 inches. The resolution and refresh rate of the displays are likely to remain the same, as they are already among the best in the market.

Camera and performance

The camera has always been one of the main selling points of Pixel phones, as they offer some of the best image quality and features in the market. The Pixel 8 series introduced some impressive new camera features, such as Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from photos, Magic Editor, which can apply various effects and filters to photos, Best Take, which can suggest the best shot from a burst of photos, Zoom Enhance, which can improve the quality of zoomed-in photos, and more. The Pixel 8 series also improved the video recording capabilities of Pixel phones, with features such as Cinematic Pan, Locked, Active, and Cinematic Stabilization, and HDRnet, which can enhance the dynamic range and colors of videos.

The Pixel 9 series is expected to build on the camera prowess of the Pixel 8 series, with some hardware and software upgrades. The most obvious hardware upgrade is the addition of a third camera on the back, which is likely to be a telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 series lacked a telephoto lens, which was a disappointment for some users who wanted more optical zoom. The Pixel 9 series may bring back the telephoto lens, which was present on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, and offer more optical zoom and better portrait mode. The other two cameras on the back are likely to be the same as the Pixel 8 series, a 12.2MP main camera and a 16MP ultra-wide camera.

The selfie camera on the front is also expected to be the same as the Pixel 8 series, a 8MP camera. However, the Pixel 9 series may introduce some new software features for the selfie camera, such as Face Retouching, which can smooth out skin and remove blemishes, and Face Pose, which can adjust the angle and expression of the face. The Pixel 9 series may also improve the low-light performance of the selfie camera, with features such as Night Sight and Portrait Light.

The Pixel 9 series is also expected to improve the performance of the Pixel phones, with the help of the Google Tensor G4 chipset. The Google Tensor G3 chipset, which powered the Pixel 8 series, was the first custom-made processor by Google, and it delivered impressive results in terms of AI and machine learning capabilities. The Google Tensor G4 chipset, which will power the Pixel 9 series, is expected to be an upgraded version of the Google Tensor G3 chipset, with better CPU, GPU, TPU, DSP, ISP, and other components. The Google Tensor G4 chipset may also support 5G connectivity, which was missing from the Google Tensor G3 chipset.

The Pixel 9 series is also expected to have more RAM and storage options than the Pixel 8 series. The Pixel 8 series had 6GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Pixel 9 series may have 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. The Pixel 9 series may also have a microSD card slot, which was absent from the Pixel 8 series and previous Pixel phones. The Pixel 9 series may also have a larger battery capacity than the Pixel 8 series, which had 4000mAh and 5000mAh batteries for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively. The Pixel 9 series may have 4500mAh and 5500mAh batteries for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, respectively. The Pixel 9 series may also support faster wired and wireless charging than the Pixel 8 series, which supported 18W and 12W charging, respectively.

Software and features

The Pixel 9 series will run on Android 13, the latest version of Google’s operating system, which is expected to launch in August 2024. Android 13 will bring some new features and improvements to the Pixel 9 series, such as Material You, which is a new design language that adapts to the user’s preferences and context, Privacy Dashboard, which is a new tool that shows the user how apps access their data and permissions, and Nearby Share, which is a new feature that allows the user to share files and content with nearby devices.

The Pixel 9 series will also have some exclusive features that are not available on other Android phones, thanks to the Google Tensor G4 chipset and Google’s software magic. Some of these features may include:

Live Translate, which is a feature that can translate speech and text in real time, across multiple languages, without an internet connection.
Call Screen, which is a feature that can screen incoming calls and filter out spam and robocalls, without the user having to answer the phone.

Now Playing, which is a feature that can identify songs and artists playing in the background, without the user having to ask or search.
Recorder, which is a feature that can record audio and transcribe it into text, with