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Like clockwork, the Pixel 9 rumor mill is in full swing. Following tradition, we were expecting Google to officially unveil its latestlineup of Pixel phonessometime this fall, and we were surprised when the company instead confirmed thekeynote for August 13th. In any case, there’s already a barrage of speculation and leaks for us to sink our teeth into in advance of the official event.
This year could see a shake-up in Google’s flagship phone strategy, with the company expected to unveil not two, but three, models under the ‘Pixel 9’ banner.
Pixel 9: What we want to see from Google’s next Android trendsetter
Google’s next smartphone lineup might once again define what it means to be the best Android smartphone.
Here’s everything we currently know about Google’s hotly anticipated handsets – from release date, to features, and everything in between.
What will the Pixel 9 lineup actually look like?
Ever since the fateful release of thePixel 6andPixel 6 Proin late 2021, Google has settled into what is now a fairly iconic design language. You can tell a modern Pixel phone apart from its competitors, by simply glancing at its visor-style horizontal camera bar, which gives it a unique and distinctly ‘Google’ flair of identity.
We expect the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 XL to have a redesigned camera bar and glossy back
There’s less than a month left until Google’s Made by Google event on August 13, and we may have just seen what the marquee for the announcement will look like thanks to TikTok user pixo_unpacking (viaYtechB). This week, pixo_unpacking posted videos of alleged samples of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 XL with the Google stickers and etchings that we’ve seen used in the past for pre-production samples.
Rather than melting the camera bar into the side frame of the phone, as was the case in previous years, it appears the Pixel 9 series is instead taking a page from Google’s recentPixel Fold. Separating the camera bar from the phone body itself appears to result in a fresh look that doesn’t deviate too far from that distinct Pixel design DNA. Of course, whether the new aesthetic is an upgrade or a downgrade, is subject to personal preference.
The videos showcase two different backings for each phone version, with the Pixel 9 base edition featuring a glossy finish and the Pixel XL featuring a matte back. According to the video, the Pixel 9 appears to boast two cameras, while the Pixel 9 XL features three cameras.
The camera does appear different, as we’ve expected for a while now. The videos show the camera housed within an elongated oval camera bar that sticks out a bit from the back of the Pixel 9. Both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 XL feature the same camera bar design, even though there appears to be one less camera in the Pixel 9.
In what is perhaps our most in-depth look at the physical design of the Pixel 9 series yet, well-known industry leakerOnLeakshas released high-resolution press renders of the Pixel 9 Pro in collaborationwith Android Headlines. The four colorways showcased in the imagery are Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose, and Hazel.
We’re expecting to see three distinct models of Pixel 9 this year
Since the release of the Pixel 6 series, Google has offered its flagship phones in two configurations: a smaller, baseline flagship and a larger, ‘Pro’ model for enthusiasts.
According to rumors, we’ll see the tech giant branch out and offer three flavors of Pixel 9 this year, as opposed to two. We’re still expecting to get a standard, ‘compact’ Pixel 9, but with the addition of two separate size classes for the Pro: a Pixel 9 Pro and a Pixel 9 Pro XL.
In other words, those looking to purchase the highest end Pixel with all the accompanying bells and whistles that Google can muster, will finally be able to do so in a non-XL form factor.
The Pixel 9 series might ship with smaller display sizes than last year’s models
Rumors and leaked renders indicate that the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL will ship with 6.03-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.5-inch display sizes, respectively. If this is true, it indicates an overall size reduction in Google’s Pixel offerings when compared to last year’s lineup.
The Pixel 9 allegedly features a new color - Bubblegum pink
According to a rumor, the Google Pixel 9 has been leaked early to the market in Algeria, and there’s a new color variant. If the leak is correct, Google will be releasing the Pixel 9 in a pink color variant, although from the image this appears to be a Google Pixel 9 Pro, but the leak shows it with a 256GB memory configuration.
What will the Pixel 9 lineup feature under-the-hood?
With the smartphone market largely plateauing from an innovation standpoint, it’s fair to assume that Google’s upcoming flagships will be fairly incremental updates, at least from a hardware perspective.
Leaked specs fromRussian outlet Rozetkedindicate a base storage size of 128GB across the board, with the Pixel 9 outfitted with 12GB of RAM, and the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL each receiving 16GB of RAM.
Expect Google’s latest-and-greatest Tensor G4 chip to power the new lineup
Small tweaks such as a slightly thinner and more symmetrical display bezel are likely to arrive, if only on the Pro variants. We do, however, expect Google’s latest-and-greatest Tensor G4 chip to power the new lineup.
Expect the brand-new Tensor G4 under the hood
Earlier chatter indicated that Google was planning on swapping from Samsung to afully in-house chip design, though a newerreport from Android Authorityindicates that this now won’t be happening until at least 2025.
We can expect Google’s Tensor G4 to offer a bump up in processing prowess over last year’s G3, though recent historical trends have left the processor somewhat behind competing Qualcomm platforms in terms of overall performance. The chip has allegedly been benchmarked byRozetked, the same outlet that provided us withexclusive hands-on imagesof the three devices back in May.
The coveted triple camera setup is likely to come to the non-XL Pixel 9 Pro
Rumors indicate that camera hardware will remain largely unchanged, though the new non-XL Pixel 9 Pro is expected to receive the same triple camera setup as its larger XL sibling. The standard Pixel 9, meanwhile, isshown in rendersto only have two rear cameras, indicating that the telephoto zoom lens will remain a Pro feature across this year’s lineup.
The most recent specification leaks come to us fromOnLeaksin collaboration with91mobiles, in which promo materials seem to back up previous rumors – specifically the Tensor G4 chipset, as well as the existence of three distinct Pixel 9 models.
More granular spec details include a 16GB RAM configuration for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL models, a 6.3-inch display size for the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, a 6.8-inch display size for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and a new 42 MP front facing selfie camera on the Pro models.
What version of Android will the Pixel 9 series arrive with?
Google is currently beta testingits latest version of Android – Android 15 – with the intent of hitting platform stability sometime in June. A final release is set to arrive sometime at the end of the summer or beginning of the fall, if all goes according to plan.
It’s highly likely that Google will use the launch of its Pixel 9 series to hype up and properly introduce Android 15 to the world. The company often introduces a grab bag of AI-powered features to coincide with new Pixel hardware launches, and it’s unlikely that the Pixel 9 will buck that trend.
When will the Pixel 9 lineup be unveiled and released?
Last year’sPixel 8andPixel 8 Prowere officially unveiled at a Google keynote on Aug 13, 2025, and were released to the public a week later, on Oct 12. Google has yet to confirm anything concrete, but it’s safe to expect a similar release window of early-to-mid October for the upcoming Pixel 9 series.
How much will the Pixel 9 lineup cost?
Google’s asking price for its upcoming portfolio of smartphones is still up in the air, and will likely continue to be so until closer to launch. I’d wager that the price will remain consistent with that of last year’s models, with the new non-XL Pro model falling somewhere right in the center of the pricing ladder.
Google upped the cost of its Pixel phones last year, and so it seems doubtful that the company will do so for a second year in a row. Of course, as it stands, pricing is still very much a guessing game.
Should you buy the Google Pixel 8a or wait for the Pixel 9?
With the Pixel 9 right around the corner, is the Pixel 8a a sensible buy?
