Google Pixel 9 — all the rumors so far

It's just a matter of days until we see the Pixel 9 — which is much earlier than we expected. But even though the Pixel 9's August debut may be a surprise, enough details have leaked out — including hands-on videos — to give us a pretty full picture of what's coming down the pike.

With a Google hardware event happening on August 13, expect even more definitive Pixel 9 rumors.  Here's what we know so far about Google's Pixel 9 plans ahead of the phone's likely launch and what's happening in terms of new AI features, display improvements and other changes.

Google Pixel 9 at a glance

• Instead of the usual fall launch, Google is holding a Made by Google event on August 13.
• Rumors point to four models —  a standard Pixel 9, a smaller Pixel 9 Pro, a Pixel 9 Pro XL with a 6.7- or 6.8-inch screen, and a Pixel 9 Pro Fold that succeeds the original Pixel Fold.
• The Pixel 9's screen is expected to be 6.3 inches.
• Each of these phones should get a choice of four colors — black, white, green and pink.
• The Tensor G4 should power all Pixel 9 models.
• All Pixel 9 models could benefit from a larger ultrawide camera sensor, while the front camera on the standard Pixel 9 may add an auto-focus feature.
• The phone should debut with Android 15, though one rumor claims the Android software update won't be ready.

Google Pixel 9 rumored specs

Google Pixel 9 rumored release date and price

Predicting an October launch for the Pixel flagships used to be the safest bet in tech. Since the release of the first Pixel in 2016, every model but one has been announced in October. The one exception — 2020's Pixel 5 — was announced on September 30 and released at the end of October. 

But the Pixel 9 is going to be another exception. Google has set an August 13 date for the next Made by Google hardware event. And there's no reason to believe that the Pixel 9 won't be part of that launch, especially with Pixel 9 Pro teaser videos from Google touting that August 13 date. (Here's our guide on how to watch the Made by Google live stream on August 13.)

Pixel 9 pricing remains uncertain at this point. The Pixel 8 costs $699 and the Pixel 8 Pro has a starting price of $999. Both of those prices represent $100 hikes from what their predecessors cost. Google is hardly the only phone maker to raise prices recently — both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra saw $100 increases of their own. Just ahead of its event, a new leak indicates a $1,099 starting cost for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which would mean that the Pixel 9 Pro would fetch for less.

Our hope is that Google at least manages to keep current prices in place for the Pixel 9 launch if it can't find a way to roll back the Pixel 8 increases. However, one Pixel 9 pricing rumor suggests higher prices for some models, at least in Europe.

Google Pixel 9: How many models

Normally, determining the number of Pixels coming out in the fall would be a pretty easy task based on Google's release record. With the exception of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5, Google has always released two models with different screen sizes. Currently, the larger of the two flagships is known as the Pixel Pro and it differs from the standard Pixel with a larger display, bigger battery and telephoto lens.

A December 2022 leak laid out an alleged roadmap for future Pixel phones that forecast three Pixel 9 models. According to this report, Google would offer two versions of the Pro so that there'd be a smaller screen option that also included a telephoto lens. Normally, we'd dismiss a rumor that surfaced more than a year ago — even if that's what Google was discussing at the time, a lot can change in a year — but the Pixel roadmap rumor did get a lot of details right about the Pixels that came out in 2023.

Subsequent reports have only made it seem more likely that there will be multiple Pixel 9 models out on August 13. Leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (also known by his posting name of OnLeaks) shared Pixel 9 images while claiming that Google's plans for the fall include the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Those latter two phones would feature a three camera array on their back and come with different-sized screens.

Android Central has chimed in with photos of Pixel 9 cases from Thinborne that also feature a Pixel 9 Pro XL alongside a Pixel 9 Pro. The cases also indicate flat sides and rounded corners, similar to some of the design rumors we've heard. (More on that very shortly.)

Add one other Pixel 9 model to the fix — a foldable version that Google has already teased called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This is the follow-up to the Pixel Fold folable phone released last year, and it sounds like Google is including that device in with the other Pixel 9 models so that it can benefit from an up-to-date Tensor chip.

All four models have appeared in regulatory photos taken by Taiwan's NCC. The design alterations are pretty plain to see in these shots, including the two sizes of Pro Pixel.

Google Pixel 9 design and display rumors

There've been multiple rumors about Pixel 9 screen sizes, perhaps confused by the addition of the two different Pixel 9 Pro models. Just ahead of the Pixel 9 launch, the consensus seems to be that the standard phone will  feature a 6.3-inch display, while the Pixel 9 Pro will be available with 6.1- and 6.7-inch panels, respectively.

Of course, that's not a universally held position. More recent Pixel 9 Pro specs leaks have suggested 6.3- and 6.8-inch sizes for the Pixel 9 Pro. Essentially, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro would have the same screen size, with only the number of cameras distinguishing the two models.

Renders point to one change coming to the Pixel 9 models. Rather than stretching across the length of the back panel as it has since its introduction with the Pixel 6, the horizontal camera bar now has rounded ends that stop short of going edge to edge. The renders also indicate a move to flatter sides for Google instead of the rounded edges favored by recent Pixels.

While we're on the subject of displays, another rumor talks about the possibility of an Adaptive Touch feature. Spotted in an Android 14 beta, Adaptive Touch would adjust the sensitivity of the display based on "your environment, activities and screen protector." Presumably, this would make the screen easier to interactive with.

Another possible change to the Pixel 9 display would be the addition of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, much like the one Samsung uses for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Ultrasonic sensors perform much more consistently than optical fingerprint sensors like the ones currently in use on the Pixel 8 lineup.

Leaked Pixel 9 photos seem to confirm another design change with the new phone offering more rounded corners than before. We've seen other Pixel 9 photos that show off some of the colors coming to Google's new phones.

Speaking of colors, leaked wallpapers for the Pixel 9 series have shown us what to expect. Black and white could be returning, along with Jade and Peony green and pink.

A report from an insider source has revealed that the Pixel 9 series will indeed feature the same M14 OLED screen as the iPhone 16 Pro. This new screen will vastly improve the brightness, with the base Google Pixel 9 allegedly offering a 1,800-nit peak brightness. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will supposedly feature a 2,050-nit display.

Google Pixel 9 camera rumors

When initial Pixel 9 renders appeared showing a third camera lens, there was momentary speculation that Google was adding a telephoto camera to its entry-level flagship. Now that rumors of multiple Pixel 9 Pro models has taken hold, it seems pretty clear that any renders showing a telephoto lens feature either Pixel 9 Pro model — be it the smaller version or the rumored XL offering.

Early rumors predicted that the Pixel 9 Pro models could feature a main camera with a variable aperture, but that claim seems to have fallen by the wayside. A more rock-solid rumor involves an upgrade to  the ultrawide sensor, with a larger sensor likely coming to this year's phones. That will mean improvements to low-light photos, though it's unclear if that improvement would extend to the Pixel 9 or be limited to the Pro models.

Currently, the Pixel 8 uses a 50MP sensor for its main camera with a 12MP ultrawide lens completing the setup. That same 50MP sensor leads the Pixel 8 Pro's cameras, but it uses 48MP sensors for its ultrawide and telephoto lenses. 

The same rumor that tipped an ultrawide camera improvement for the Pixel 9 phones also claims that the standard Pixel 9 will adopt a Pro feature, with the front camera picking up auto-focus capabilities.

Google Pixel 9 performance

Another easy prediction for the Pixel 9 lineup is that it will likely run on a new Tensor chipset — the Tensor G4, should Google stick with current naming conventions. Google bases its chips on Exynos silicon, though there's talk that the Tensor G5 chipset would be one that's completely designed by Google. That wouldn't appear until the Pixel 10 in 2025, though.

Fortunately, it seems that the Tensor G4 chip could benefit from Samsung's latest silicon developments, hopefully meaning it's more powerful and more efficient than the current Tensor chip. That said, reports claim the Tensor G4 is only a minor improvement over the Tensor G3 in terms of performance.

The Pro models may also receive 16GB RAM to allow for more effective AI processing. The Pixel 9 Pro is expected to feature 12GB of RAM

in terms of storage, rumors point to 128GB in the base models of each phone, with 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options available. A potential preorder offer for the Pixel 9 would let you upgrade to the next storage tier at no extra cost.

The true advantage of Tensor lies in the AI-powered features it can offer, such as the call screening and photo editing capabilities built into current Pixels. Samsung's Galaxy AI features introduced as part of the Galaxy S24 launch match some of those capabilities while adding a few unique ones. Then again, a software update brought capabilities like Circle to Share to current Pixels.

At any rate, we'd expect the Tensor G4 to get a neural engine update that fuels new features that we'll find out more about between now and the Pixel 9's launch. Code uncovered from the latest versions of Google's AI Core app and the Google Messages beta reveal more on-device AI capabilities for the Pixel 9, which would minimize the need to offload data for cloud-based services to process. Meaning, it could be possible for text to image conversions to happen locally on the phone.

Accompanying the new chip could be a Threads radio, the necessary component for using Matter-powered smart home products. This has appeared in the iPhone 15 Pro already, but this would be a first on the Android phone side of things.

Google Pixel 9 software

One report highlights several potential AI-powered features that could debut on the Pixel 9, though there are few details about them. Add Me is tipped to be a group photos editing tool, not unlike the Best Take feature from the Pixel 8 that let you swap out faces of people in the shot. A Studio feature sounds like it's going to bring more on-device generative AI features to Google's phones. And Pixel Screenshots will let you search for content in any of the screenshots you have stored on your phone.

Another leaked feature is known as Call Me. It will apparently offer phone call recording and transcription on the Pixel 9 phones, and there's additional hints that transcripts of phone calls could feature AI-powered summaries as well.

The Pixel 9 would seem to be certain to debut with Android 15 running the show. In fact, the Pixel 9 models will likely be the first to ship with the Android 15 update pre-installed. Google already has a public beta of Android 15 available to run on current Pixel phones, and Google I/O in May revealed more Android 15 features. We're currently at beta 4 for Android 15, which is the second beta focused on platform stability; that likely means a launch around the August 13 hardware event.

However, there are now rumors that Google could launch the Pixel 9 series with Android 14 instead, since it's launching earlier than normal, and then update to Android 15 once that's ready later in the year. This would be a weird move from Google considering how close Android 15 is to stability, so we're not convinced by the claim. However news that Samsung has suspended development on OneUI 7, it's own take on Android 15, things aren't looking good for Google. So that's something to keep in the back of your mind.

It was recently revealed that the Pixel 9's new weather app can be sideloaded from a popular APK website. The unfinished app isn't much different from the current app, aside from a new UI but other rumors are circulating about new weather maps and AI features. 

Google Pixel 9 outlook

We expect a few more Pixel 9 details to emerge ahead of the August 13 Made by Google event. And that's something we're eagerly waiting to hear about, as the release of the Galaxy S24 means that more AI-centric devices have joined the current Pixels. Given the other improvements to Samsung's flagships, you can imagine the pressure Google likely feels to step up its Pixel game this year.

Ultimately, we'd expect Google to once again make unique AI features a focus on the Pixel 9. But based on early rumors about the display, cameras and potential new models, we wouldn't be surprised to see the phone maker pull out all the stops to make the Pixel 9 stand out.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Pixel 9 Pro — 9 things I want to see
• Google Pixels in 2024 — Pixel 9, Pixel 8a, Pixel Watch 3 and more
• Google Pixel 8 just got these Galaxy S24 AI features in latest Feature Drop