Product fireworks

Google presents its new Pixel smartphones

The Pixel 9 will be available in stores from August 22.

(Bild: Google)

Google unveiled the next generation of its smartphone, the Pixel 9, on Tuesday evening. This comprises four models, including the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold. New Buds earphones and the Watch 3 smartwatch were also unveiled.

With the presentation of its new products, Google is launching an attack on Apple and its iPhone earlier than expected. Until now, the search engine giant has always unveiled its new products in October, one month after Apple. Now Google is turning the tables.

Four different models
The ninth generation of Pixel smartphones comprises four different models with OLED displays of different sizes: the Pixel 9 with a screen diagonal of 6.3 inches (1080 x 2424 pixels), the Pixel 9 Pro of the same size but with a higher resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels, the Pixel 9 Pro XL with 6.8 inches (1344 x 2992 pixels) and the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold with an outer display of 6.3 (1080 x 2424 pixels) and an inner display of 8 inches (2076 x 2152) - currently the largest of its kind, according to Google.

Processor and memory
All models share Google's in-house Tensor G4 processor, which is supported by twelve gigabytes of RAM in the Pixel 9 and 16 gigabytes in the Pro models and the Fold. The Pixel 9 has 128 gigabytes of internal memory in the basic version, with 256 gigabytes available for an additional charge. The Pro models also offer an option with 512 gigabytes and even a variant with one terabyte of memory. The Fold starts with 256 GB of memory, which can be optionally doubled.

According to Google, the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers the largest internal display of any smartphone currently available.

(Bild: Google)

Cameras
For photography and filming, the Pixel 9 and the Pro models are equipped with the 50-megapixel wide-angle camera already familiar from its predecessor. What is new on all three models, however, is an ultra-wide-angle camera with a resolution of 48 megapixels and a selfie camera with 10.5 megapixels on the basic model and 42 megapixels on the Pro models. The latter also have a telephoto lens with 48 megapixels. The Fold, meanwhile, has a 48-megapixel main camera as well as an ultra-wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens with 10.5 megapixels each. The selfie cam on the foldable Pixel has a resolution of ten megapixels.

Battery and runtime
The battery capacity of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro is 4700 milliampere hours (mAh), that of the Pixel 9 Pro XL is 5060 mAh and that of the Fold is 4650 mAh. Google promises a battery life of at least 24 hours and up to 100 hours in extreme battery-saving mode for all models (Fold: up to 72 hours). All devices support fast charging with up to 45 watts - however, the corresponding charger must be purchased separately - as well as wireless charging via the Qi standard.

Emergency call via satellite
The new software features include a satellite emergency call function called "Satellite OS", as already known from the iPhone, which can be used to make emergency calls even without an existing mobile phone connection. "Satellite SOS" is available on smartphones in the Pixel 9 series at no additional cost for the first two years, regardless of the mobile network provider, but initially only in the USA.

AI functions
With Gemini Live, Google is also bringing an improved AI voice assistant to its Pixel smartphones, which should enable smooth conversations with its AI chatbot Gemini - initially only in English, however, with other languages to follow in the "coming weeks". Gemini Live will be available to all paying Gemini Advanced subscribers - the first year is free for buyers of the new Pixel smartphones.

Google has also integrated AI functions to help create perfect shots - from group photos in which no one is missing to zooming in on videos. The panorama function has also been revised so that detailed shots are now possible even in poor lighting conditions.

The Magic Editor also offers new editing functions. Video optimization is available for all models in the Pro series. According to Google, it processes night vision videos twice as fast after uploading. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL can also be used to record high-resolution zoom videos with up to 20x super-resolution zoom. Last but not least, the "Crystal Clear Calls" function promises improved audio quality.

Prices
The price of the smartphones, for which Google guarantees updates for seven years, has risen compared to the previous generation. The entry-level price for the Pixel 9 with 128 GB memory is 899 euros, which is 100 euros more than the Pixel 8. 256 GB is available for 999 euros. The Pro model starts at 1099 euros, the Pro XL at 1199 euros and goes up to 1689 euros for the terabyte version. Even higher is the Fold, with an entry-level price of 1899 euros for the 256 GB version. The 512 GB version costs 2029 euros.

New buds and watch
New Pixel Buds Pro 2 true wireless earbuds were also unveiled, which, according to Google, now have a special shape that prevents them from falling out after 45 million ear scans and wear tests. Like the smartphones, they also support the new Gemini Live. The price: 249 euros.

The new Pixel Watch 3 was also presented. The smartwatch comes in diameters of 41 and 45 millimetres and promises a battery life of up to 36 hours thanks to an optimized energy-saving mode, without compromising health, fitness and security functions. Both sizes also have the new "Pulse Loss Detection" function, which automatically alerts the emergency services in the event of a loss of pulse. The WiFi-only version of the smartwatch costs EUR 399 and EUR 449 respectively, and EUR 499 and EUR 549 respectively with additional LTE.

Availability
The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are now availablefor pre-order in the Google Store and at A1, Drei and MediaMarkt. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available in stores from August 22, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold from September. The Pixel Watch 3 will be available from September 10 and the Pixel Buds 2 from September 26.