Updated July 14 with details on the various Pixel 9 colors.
Google is getting ready to launch the new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro smartphones, but there is disappointing news for those keen to upgrade to the latest AI-powered devices.
French news site Dealabs Magzine has published details on the pricing of Google’s upcoming smartphones. While the pricing is in Euros, for the local market, they show higher prices for the two main Pixel handsets—the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
First up is the Pixel 9. The price for the entry-level 128 GB model is €899. That’s €100 more than last year’s Pixel 8 128 GB model. The higher tier 256 GB version is slightly better value but still has a markup over last year’s model; it’s priced at €999 compared to €859 for the Pixel 8.
As for the Pixel 9 Pro, it is priced at €1,099 for the 128 GB model. This is similar to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, but the 256 GB and 512 GB models of the Pixel 9 Pro show a higher price than 2023’s equivalent.
But there’s one caveat here.
Google is releasing three standard Pixel 9 models (and a fourth foldable variant). This year’s Pixel 9 Pro will feature the uprated specs you would expect from a Pro label, but it will retain the smaller form factor of the Pixel 9. If you want the Pro specs in a similar larger size sported by the Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll need to move up to the Pixel 9 Pro XL… which starts at €1,199. That price restores the €100 premium over the Pixel 8 Pro, the same premium as the Pixel 9 over the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will start at the same price of €1,899 for the 128 GB model, with the 256 GB model priced at €2,029.
Update: Sunday July 14: Further details on the various Pixel models have come to light, with the colors of the four model flavors being reported by European retailers.
The Pixel 9 is set to come in colors Google is labelling Obsidian, Porcelain, Cosmo and Mojito. It’s a good guess to assume that the rose shade of a cosmopolitan cocktail will match the shade of Cosmo on a Pixel. That suggests a Pixel Mojito is going to have a delightfully sharp green flavor.
Obsidian and Porcelain are also in the mix; Obsidian was an option for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and the 8 Pro also offered Porcelain.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are expected to introduce a hazel and a pink shade to sit alongside the Obsidian and Porcelain. There are some questions on the availability of these four colors with some possibly available on the higher storage tiers.
Finally, you have the Pixel 9 Pro Fold listings which only show two colours, the muted black and off-white of Obsidian and Porcelain.
Google’s launch event is on August 13th, just ten months after last year’s launch. All four Pixel 9 models are expected to launch. No doubt Google will also take the opportunity to promote its approach to AI on smartphones. Last year’s launch kicked off the current rush to AI, and launching earlier in the second half of the year will help it define the AI marketplace.
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