Google to release Pixel 9's in August

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Google this morning announced that its annual Pixel hardware event will be taking place on August 13. This is incredibly early for 2024 with Made by Google usually taking place in October....

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Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 series is set to expand. Alongside the regular Pixel 9 (no codename on this) and the Pixel 9 Pro ("komodo"), Google wants to launch a small version of the Pixel 9 Pro. At 6.3" this model (codenamed "caiman") would effectively be the size of the current Pixel 7, but with all of the extras that often leave users opting for the larger model. It's yet another Apple-inspired move, as Google looks to chase the success of phones like the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. ...

With these design differences out of the way, it's a little easier to talk about what the lineup will have in common, and that starts with specs. The Tensor G4 is all but certain to be the brains behind Google's next smartphones. Originally intended to be the company's first custom in-house chipset, recent reports delayed those plans into 2025 with the Pixel 10. The Tensor G4 will serve as a small bump over the Tensor G3, something made apparent through its "Zuma Pro" codename. Rather than using TSMC's 3nm node as expected, the G4 will continue to act as a modified Samsung Exynos chipset, right down to using Samsung's foundry, as we've seen in the past.

If raw performance is important to you, it might be worth holding out to see if the Pixel 10 gets that long-rumored, fully custom, in-house chip. Google's hardware has never matched the powerhouse performance of Apple or Samsung. That could change in 2025 if this current schedule holds out.

Alongside Tensor G4, we're getting a new Samsung-made modem, which is rumored to be both more power-efficient and faster than what's currently found in modern Pixel phones. That's great news — networking has not been Tensor's biggest strength since it launched with the Pixel 6, and any improvements here to better compete with Qualcomm are a welcome addition. In addition to being the first new modem since the Pixel 7, it might also power satellite connectivity, a feature being worked on specifically for Android 15.

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