Shruti Sneha, Pune
Google has given a sneak peek of the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold designs in a new YouTube video, putting an end to months of design speculation. This announcement comes nearly a month before the official launch.
The teaser video confirms previous leaks, revealing that Google chose a pill-shaped camera island for the Pixel 9 Pro. This is a departure from the Pixel 8’s design, which saw the camera island extend across the entire width of the phone. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a large rectangular camera island with cameras housed in two pill-shaped cutouts.
According to Android Authority, the Pixel 9 series devices on Taiwan’s National Communications Commission, Google has relocated the selfie camera on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s internal display to the left side of the screen. The selfie camera on the first-generation Fold was center-aligned. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will have three 50-megapixel rear cameras equipped with Sony IMX858 sensors. The front-facing camera is also said to be a 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor, which was designed primarily for rear-facing cameras. The Pixel 9 is also expected to receive an ultrawide sensor upgrade.
It’s possible that the regular Pixel 9 may also receive upgrades, with the ultrawide camera getting the same 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor as the Pro variants. Additionally, the Pixel 9 will feature a front-facing autofocus camera, something that was previously exclusive to Pro models. Google withheld further details regarding the future gadgets. Rumours, however, suggest that the Tensor G4 chipset, which is anticipated to offer notable performance gains over the current generation chipset, will power the Pixel 9 series.
According to a recent Dealabs story, the Pixel 9 Pro will start at €1,099 (about Rs 1,00,000) in Europe, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will start at €1,899 (roughly Rs 1,72,900). It is noteworthy that costs could vary in other areas.
August 13 is the official launch date for the Pixel 9 series, and Google is anticipated to reveal further information and teases in the run-up to the event.