Google (GOOG, GOOGL) unveiled its latest line of Pixel phones, including a sleek new foldable device, at its Made by Google event at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., on Tuesday.
The lineup includes the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold and comes about a month before Apple (AAPL) unveils the iPhone 16 lineup, giving Google a decent head start over the rival tech giant.
All Pixel 9 phones come with Google’s Android 14 operating system and the company’s AI-powered Gemini platform. And while the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro offer more upscale designs, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was clearly the main attraction.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google’s second-generation foldable device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – yes, it’s quite a chunk – features a thinner and lighter design, making it feel less bulky than its predecessor.
The 9 Pro Fold, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, has a front screen and a foldable internal display. However, this time, Google has increased the size of the Fold’s front screen from 5.8 inches to 6.3 inches, making it feel like you’re using a regular smartphone when it’s folded.
Inside, the Fold gets a larger 8-inch foldable panel (up from 7.6 inches). Google also uses its Super Actua display technology on the internal screen, giving it more vibrant colors.
The Pixel Fold also gets three new rear cameras: a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto option with up to 5x optical zoom. Inside, the Fold packs Google’s new Tensor G4 chip and 16GB of RAM. You can choose between 256GB and 512GB of storage.
On the software side, the Pixel Fold allows users to run two apps side by side in split-screen mode when using the internal display. The Pixel Fold costs $1,799, which is the same price as the first-generation Fold but still well into the premium smartphone range.
Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro
Alongside the Fold, Google also unveiled the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Consider the Pixel 9 the mainstream model in the lineup, and the two Pro phones Google’s high-end offerings.
Aside from the screen size, there is no real difference between the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL. According to Google, the Pixel 9 Pro gets a 6.3-inch Super Actua screen, while the 9 Pro XL gets a 6.8-inch Super Actua display. The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch Actua panel.
All three phones have slimmer designs with smaller display bezels and new, more dramatic-looking camera bumps on the back. The Pixel 9 has a glossy back, while the 9 Pros have a matte finish with polished metal edges. All of this is to say that these are great-looking devices, which is why it’s a shame you’ll probably end up covering them with cases.
The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro both feature Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM, with options for 128GB and 256GB storage. The Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM and options for 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage.
As for the camera, the Pixel 9 comes with an ultra-wide-angle lens and a wide-angle lens, while the Pro models have triple lenses.
The Pixel 9 starts at $799, while the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL start at $999 and $1,099, respectively.
Google Gemini
Every Pixel phone comes with Google’s generative AI-powered Gemini software installed. Accessible by long-pressing the power button on the side of the phone, Gemini can pull information from the web and, in the future, also use the company’s various apps, including Gmail and Calendar.
Google is also adding two new AI-powered features to its phones: Pixel Screenshots and Add Me. Pixel Screenshots is an easy-to-use repository for the screenshots you take with your phone, and uses AI to extract important information from them. So if you take a screenshot of a party invite, Screenshots will capture the date, time, and location and give you the option to create a calendar event.
And if you need to search for a specific screenshot, you can use the built-in search function. So if you’ve taken screenshots of different pairs of sneakers you want and need to find them, you can search for sneakers and the app will display all the relevant screenshots. This can also be useful if you’ve been on a business trip and need to take screenshots of your purchases.
Add Me is a photo feature designed for situations where you want to take a group photo but don’t have a tripod or anyone to take the photo. It lets you take a photo of your friends, then have them step out of the frame and you step in. Add Me then merges the two photos into a single image, making it look like you took a regular group photo. I got to try Add Me out personally and it worked pretty well.
Overall, Google has a solid lineup of new devices just before the launch of Apple’s latest iPhones. And while Google’s phones won’t reach Apple’s sales numbers – to get that far, Google would have to steal market share from its partner Samsung – it will be interesting to see how they compare.
Email Daniel Howley at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
Click here to see the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings rumors and expectations, and company earnings news.
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
