Google has been repeatedly slashing the price of Pixel 8 and we have just been treated to brand new images of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. No, it isn’t September 2024. It’s January and a super early Pixel 9 leak just dropped.
The images come from reliable leaker OnLeaks, via MySmartPrice and 91 Mobiles, and show that Google is planning to completely revamp the Pixel 9’s design. Gone are the rounded edges, which have been replaced with a flatter shape that looks a lot like an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S24.
Around the back, Google has slimmed down the camera bump into a pill shape instead of one long oblong across the entire backplate. Interestingly, the Pro unit will have a 6.5-inch screen, which slightly smaller than the current 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro display, while the base Pixel 9 will have a 6.1-inch screen. The SIM tray has been moved to the bottom of the phone, alongside the USB-C charging port.
According to the 91Mobiles story, Google is adding a third camera sensor to the base Pixel 9, which is apparently a telephoto lens. OnLeaks doesn’t have information on the other two lenses, but there’s a good chance they’re the standard wide and ultra wide sensors that are currently in the Pixel 8.
If accurate, this will be a huge change for the Pixel range, which has largely stuck with a similar shape for years. Moving to a flatter, more iPhone-like, design looks more slick and premium from these renders.
I’m curious about why Google would shrink the displays of both devices, but the addition of a third camera lens in the smaller Pixel 9 is good news. I suspect that there will still be hardware differences between the two sets of cameras. But I hope that upgrading the smaller handset’s tech means it will also get access to some of the Pro’s software tricks.
There’s little justification for excluding features like Video Boost, or pro controls, from the Pixel 8, or a future Pixel 9. If Google is planning to completely revamp its flagship line with a new design, then hopefully it will revamp its policy and bring the two devices closer together when it comes to features. Both phones likely won’t land for another eight months, so there’s plenty of time for Google to change its plans, even if these renders are accurate.
