Google Pixels make up some of the best phones in the world, and now that the Google Pixel 8 is more than six months old, we've started setting our sights on the next in line.
Already, the Google Pixel 9 rumour mill has been spinning with all sorts of predictions and theories on what's coming next.
In 2024, the competition is tough. The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is hot on Google's heels with its Galaxy AI software, while the iPhone 15 series is still the most popular bit of pocket tech.
At Digital Spy, we think Pixels are the best Android phones you can buy and some of the top iPhone alternatives. The best Pixel phones boast elegant designs, top-tier camera systems and innovative artificial intelligence-powered features. When we reviewed the Google Pixel 8 Pro, we called it "the Android phone for power users and photographers".
Google is already on a winning streak, so what can it do to maintain that momentum? Here are all the rumours and everything we know so far about the Google Pixel 9.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: Release date and price
Google has taken us all by surprise in 2024 and revealed its Pixel 9 hardware event will take place in August 2024. Posted on YouTube with the title "AI… meet IX at Made by Google" the announcement pins down Tuesday, August 13 for Google's next big reveal.
If you can't wait that long, you should look at the best Google Pixel 8 deals, all of which are available right now.
An August launch is unexpected because before now, there has been a clear pattern of autumn announcements. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro were announced on October 12, 2023, the Pixel 7 series was debuted on October 6, 2022, and the Pixel 6 series launched on October 19, 2021.
When it was first launched, the Google Pixel 8 would set you back £699 while the Google Pixel 8 Pro started at £999 – which is in line with or slightly cheaper than Google's biggest competitors. We can't see that changing much this year.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: Models
Google usually releases three models of its smartphones – the Pixel, the Pixel Pro and the Pixel a.
The first two arrive at the same time, in October, while the third 'a' model usually comes later at the Google I/O event. This year, the Pixel 8a was launched on May 7, and went on sale a week later on May 14.
We're expecting a very similar set of devices for the ninth series. However, there has been some talk of another fourth device arriving this autumn that will cram Pro-level features into a smaller handset.
According to a source on Android Authority, Google's given the mystery model the codename 'Caiman' and likens it to the iPhone 15 Pro, which sits between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Time will tell how true this is, but we're looking forward to finding out.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: Design and display
The same source on Android Authority claims the next Pixel screens will follow a similar pattern to the 8 series: they think the Pixel 9 will get a 6.2-inch screen, the Pixel 9 Pro might have a 6.7-inch screen, and the new model (if confirmed) will have a 6.3-inch display.
Online there's been a lot of speculation about this, with some other trusted leakers like Ross Young on X claiming that the new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro devices will actually feature bigger screens than the current models.
Elsewhere, a render posted by @OnLeaks and mysmartprice seems to suggest the Pro model is going to shrink to only 6.5 inches, while another shows the Pixel 9's display as being only 6.1 inches. No-one knows for sure – it all seems quite up in the air right now.
Design is another area that's had the web talking. The same renders shared by OnLeaks show a new flat, matte phone with straight edges, killing off Google's glossy curves to make it look more like the Google Pixel Fold from 2023.
The camera bar could be changed, too. The Pixel 8's camera module stretches across the whole width of the phone, but leaks like the below from @rozetked on X, suggest this could be transformed into an island in the centre of the rear panel instead.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: Cameras
At the moment, the Pixel 8 Pro features a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens and a 48MP telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 has a 50MP wide camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens.
Some of the renders of the small phone we've mentioned appear to have an extra lens, which we're hoping is a new telephoto zoom lens. It seems more likely that this could be used in the mid-range device, should it exist.
Every year, Google has been adding more and more advanced camera features to its portfolio like Magic Eraser and Best Take. We expect the ninth generation of the device to build on that, although we haven't heard anything more so far.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: Performance and software
Since the Google Pixel 6 was released in 2021, Pixel phones have all come with Google's own Tensor chipset under the hood. Google has upgraded it every year, so the Pixel 7 came with the Tensor G2 and the Pixel 8 packed a Tensor G3.
Because of that, we can safely assume that the Pixel 9 will be powered by the Google Tensor G4. We'd expect it to run slightly faster than the previous generation, although not as fast as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor used in the best Samsung phones.
Google Tensor chips are fit for purpose, built to run AI-based features quickly and efficiently.
In terms of software, every Pixel series has coincided with the launch of Google's latest Android operating system, so the Pixel 9 should get Android 15 pre-installed.
Google Pixel 9 rumours: What we'd like to see
2024 has already been a fantastic year for phones with AI at the forefront of the conversation. Given AI is what Pixels are known for, we're hoping to see even more on-device AI processing features in the Pixel 9 devices (as opposed to on the cloud).
At Digital Spy, we're big believers in smaller phones. Don't get us wrong, huge screens are ideal for using the best streaming services, composing impressive shots and for mobile gaming. But the prospect of a new small phone that comes loaded with a lot of the same specs and features as the Pro model is very exciting.
We'd also like to see a telephoto lens in the smaller handset, which is something the Pixel lineup has been missing. To add to that, faster charging wouldn't go amiss, and we would always be happy to have better battery life across the whole series.
The Pixel 8 phones are both very good in that department, but it'd be great if Google were to push that even further.
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