Google Pixel 9 launch event: all the announcements and products
Google just wrapped up its Made by Google hardware event, where we got an official look at the refreshed Pixel 9 lineup and updates across Google’s other devices. Even though the Pixel event confirmed many of the leaks we’ve seen over the past several weeks, Google still shared some announcements we haven’t heard about yet.
Here’s a roundup of all the exciting news from Google’s Pixel 9 event.
Google has finally taken the wraps off its Pixel 9 lineup, which includes three slab phones and a folding phone. The regular lineup consists of a base Pixel 9 with a 6.3-inch display, a Pixel 9 Pro XL with a 6.8-inch screen, and a new, smaller Pixel 9 Pro option measuring 6.3 inches. The trio of devices comes with a redesigned oval-shaped camera housing, Google’s updated G4 Tensor chip, better battery life, and a new satellite SOS feature.
While the Pixel 9’s $799 starting price is $100 more than last year’s model, the Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999, and the Pro XL will cost $1,099 and up. The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL start shipping on August 22nd, with availability for the smaller Pixel 9 Pro starting in September.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gets bigger screens and a slimmer profile
In addition to three new standard Pixel devices, Google showed off the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The refreshed Fold is taller and thinner than its predecessor, offering larger displays measuring 6.3 inches on the outside and eight inches on the inside.
The device, which also comes with a G4 Tensor chip, features an inner display with a higher peak brightness at 2,700 nits as opposed to 1,450 on the original Pixel Fold. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold costs $1,799 and starts shipping on September 4th.
Of course, Google’s new Pixel devices feature the company’s Gemini AI assistant, which you can use to find information within your apps or ask a question about a photo you just took. The Pixel 9 lineup also ships two new AI apps: Pixel Screenshots, which uses on-device AI to let you search for information in saved screenshots, and Pixel Studio, a text-to-image generator.
Google tossed in some AI image editing tools to go along with the Pixel 9 lineup’s upgraded cameras, such as an “Add Me” option that puts someone in a group photo by stitching two scenes together. Magic Editor in Google Photos now also lets you use generative AI to replace entire sections of a photo, like the sky.
Google’s Pixel Watch 3 comes in a larger 45mm option alongside the 41mm model. In addition to thinner bezels that offer more screen real estate, the Pixel Watch 3 has a new ultra wideband chip, a brighter display that hits up to 2,000 nits, and a boatload of new fitness features.
One of the most notable features coming to the Pixel Watch 3 is the ability to detect whether the wearer’s pulse has stopped, allowing it to call emergency services if the wearer doesn’t respond to a prompt to check in and it doesn’t sense any movement. This feature will roll out in Europe to start. The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 starts at $349.99 with Bluetooth, while the 45mm watch starts at $399.99. Both sizes will be available on September 10th.
Not only are Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 smaller and lighter, but they now come equipped with 11-millimeter drivers and a new Tensor A1 chip that’s supposed to improve active noise cancellation (ANC). The new buds also have a wing fin design, which should help them stay in your ears during a workout, along with up to eight hours of audio playback with ANC enabled (or up to 30 hours with the case).
At $229, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 cost a bit more than their predecessors, which launched at $200. They start shipping on September 26th.
Gemini Live, which Google first announced at I/O in May, is rolling out now to Gemini Advanced subscribers. The new voice chat option lets you ask Google’s AI assistant questions out loud, and it will respond using your choice of 10 different voices. Just like ChatGPT’s voice assistant, Gemini Live will let you talk conversationally, and you can even interrupt it mid-sentence.
