Google has officially unveiled its Pixel 9 series, marking what the company calls the beginning of the ‘Gemini era’ with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) features. The lineup includes four models: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the new foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This expanded range represents Google’s most ambitious smartphone launch to date, with the company aiming to compete more aggressively in the global smartphone market.At the heart of the new Pixel devices is the Tensor G4 chip, designed to power Google’s advanced AI capabilities. The standout feature is Gemini, Google’s latest AI model, which can understand and process text, images, and audio. This allows for more natural interactions and complex queries, positioning the Pixel 9 series as ‘the only intelligent phones in the world designed specifically to connect the user with Google’s AI,’ according to the company.The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro models come with significant upgrades. The standard Pixel 9 features a 6.3-inch display that is 35% brighter than its predecessor, along with a dual-camera system including a 50MP primary camera and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. The Pro models boast a larger 6.8-inch display and add a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.Perhaps the most notable addition to the lineup is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s latest attempt at a foldable smartphone. This device features an external Actua display and an internal Super Actua Flex display, though specific details about its capabilities are still emerging.Google has introduced several new AI-powered features across the Pixel 9 series. These include ‘Magic Editor’ for advanced photo editing, ‘Add Me’ for inserting oneself into group photos, and ‘Pixel Screenshots’ for creating a searchable library of screenshots. The company has also unveiled ‘Gemini Live’, a conversational AI assistant that can help with tasks ranging from job interview practice to organizing events.Pricing for the new lineup starts at $799 for the Pixel 9, with Pro models and the foldable version commanding higher price points. In a bid to attract customers, Google is offering various promotions, including storage upgrades, increased trade-in values, and bundled accessories in certain markets.Notably, Google is expanding the availability of its Pixel devices, with the entire Pixel 9 series, including the foldable model, set to launch in India – the world’s second-largest smartphone market. This move signals Google’s ambition to capture a larger share of the global smartphone market.Industry analysts view this launch as a significant shift in the smartphone landscape. As Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, stated, ‘We’re fully in the Gemini era’. This focus on AI capabilities is seen as Google’s strategy to differentiate itself in a market where hardware innovations have become incremental.The Pixel 9 series is set to begin shipping in late August for the standard models, with the Pro and foldable versions following in September. As the smartphone industry enters this new ‘AI era’, it remains to be seen how consumers will respond to these AI-centric devices and whether they will give Google the competitive edge it seeks in the global smartphone market.
Key points
- Google has launched the Pixel 9 series, including its first widely available foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
- The new Pixel devices feature advanced AI capabilities powered by the Tensor G4 chip and Gemini AI.
- Google is expanding its market presence, notably launching the entire Pixel 9 series in India.
- The company is offering various promotions to attract customers, including storage upgrades and increased trade-in values.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported pricing across different sources, with some quoting prices in dollars and others in euros.
