Google announces Pixel 9 with four devices including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

At their hardware event overnight, Google has announced their latest phones with the new Pixel 9 series. 

The Pixel 9 series includes four devices, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, as well as the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold – with all devices set to launch in Australia over the coming months. 

Pixel 9

While the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro share the same 6.3” screen size, the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro essentially include the same specs down the line – except the battery due to size constraints. 

The Pixel 9 is where Google is introducing the fourth generation Tensor G4 processor, bringing with it more power, enabling it to do more on the go. The additional power means you’ll see faster web browsing, as well as faster app loading speeds (up to 17% faster over Tensor G3). 

Tensor G4 has also improved Google’s AI capabilities on mobile, with Gemini Nano able to offer Multi-Modality on a mobile device for the first time, allowing you to add a variety of inputs to Gemini. 

Google will be including a year of Google One AI Premium with the Pixel 9 Pro, giving you access to Gemini Advanced, as well as 2TB of cloud storage – normally priced at $12.49 per month. 

The introduction of a more powerful AI capable processor has brought in additional features including Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. 

Pixel Screenshots will take advantage of all the screenshots we take regularly, with Gemini able to analyse these screenshots and find things like receipts, codes and more. Pixel Studio is their generative AI image creation tool, with Google’s Imagen3 AI in the cloud doing the grunt work to create the image, and their Fusion model doing on-device work for quick edits. 

There’s been bumps to the memory on-board the phones this year too, jumping from 8GB in Pixel 8 to 12GB in the Pixel 9, with the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL jumping to 16GB of memory. Storage starts at 128GB on the Pixel 9 series, with options for up to 256GB on Pixel 9, or up to 512GB on Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The Pixel 9 phones all come with a bump in battery, with Google listing over 24 hours battery life, and up to 100 hours using their extreme battery saver mode. There’s been a bump to a 45W fast charging, offering up to 55% charge in 30 minutes on Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, and up to 70% charge in 30 minutes on the Pixel 9 Pro XL – but you’ll have to buy the 45W charger separately.

Google is also adding in more camera features to their already stacked computational photography lineup. All your favourite features are back including Night Sight including Night Sight Video, Astrophotography Mode, Top Shot and more, with two new features, Add Me and Auto Frame for Magic Editor. 

Add Me will let you add the photographer to the image after it’s taken, using AR swap in the photographer, with Pixel magically merges both photos.

Auto Frame will pop up in Magic Editor as an option, letting you completely reframe your shot, with generative AI filling in the gaps to complete your shot.

Surprisingly Google is launching the Pixel 9 series with Android 14, though Android 15 is right around the corner. Updates won’t be a problem though, with the phones getting seven years of OS and security updates, as well as new and upgraded features every month with Pixel Drops.

Availability

The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are available to pre-order from today and will be on sale starting August 22. They will be available through the Google Store online, as well as JB HIFI, Telstra, Optus, Harvey Norman, Officeworks and Vodafone.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold

After missing out on the Pixel Fold last year, Google is finally bringing a folding Pixel to Australia. 

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a premium option, starting at $2,699 and will be on sale starting September 2.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold brings a dual-screen phone, with a 6.3-inch outer display to match the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, with an 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display. It opens using a new hinge, which uses aerospace aluminium and opens with a satisfying snap. 

The Tensor G4 is also powering the Pixel 9 Pro Fold with their Titan M2 security chip, and the phone comes with 16GB of RAM and starts at 256GB of on-board storage.

The AI features for Pixel 9 will also be coming to Pixel 9 Pro Fold including Pixel Screenshot, letting you recall information like events just by asking Gemini.

There’s a load of cameras on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, with a triple rear camera setup on the rear including a 48MP wide sensor, 10.5MP ultrawide sensor with 127° field of view that can also be used as a macro camera. There’s also a 10.8MP telephoto sensor offering up to 5x optical zoom, or 20x digital using Super Res Zoom – with both the Wide and Telephoto sensors getting Optical + electronic image stabilisation.

On the front of the phone, as well as embedded on the inner display there’s a 10 MP sensor with an 87° ultrawide field of view. 

The camera features for Pixel 9 including Add Me and Auto Frame in Magic Editor will also be coming to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. 

Google is also introducing a neat new feature aimed at taking pictures of kids on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Called Made You Look, the feature plays fun animations on the outer display while the phone is open so you can capture the attention of little ones for a great shot. 

The hinge on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will also let you use the rear cameras to take your selfies, with the external display helping you frame your best shot.  It also helps with group shots, letting everyone see what’s happening on the outer display so they’re all in frame.

Google is also launching the Pixel 9 Pro Fold with Android 14, though Android 15 will be available soon after launch. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will also see seven years of OS and security updates, as well as new and upgraded features every month with Pixel Drops.

Availability

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $2,699 (RRP) and will be on sale from September 2. You’ll be able to grab one from the Google Store online, as well as through JB HIFI, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, as well as through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.