At the Made By Google Pixel launch event, the company unveiled its next lineup of premium smartphones in the Pixel 9 series, a new Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable and the Pixel Watch 3. But even with new hardware, generative AI still stole the show with new features that are native on the new phones and will be available on other handsets -- including in a new subscription-based premium service.
This isn't too much of a surprise given all the AI features and tools Google unveiled at its I/O event back in May. The big question was how much these features, including its Gemini (formerly Bard) chat assistant, would be integrated into its new devices. The answer seems to be: Gemini is everywhere.
"We're fully in the Gemini era with AI infused in almost everything we're doing at Google across our full tech stack," Rick Osterloh said on stage.
Gemini has been integrated at the operating system level, Osterloh said, and plenty of stage time was spent showing off practical ways the AI assistant could make everyday tasks a little bit easier. Google was selling Gemini so hard it brought competitors' phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 on stage to demonstrate the AI assistant -- even before the new Pixel phones were revealed.
Pixel 9 phones and foldables
The Pixel 9 series introduces a new smaller Pixel 9 Pro model between the basic Pixel 9 and the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL. All three have a newer design, abandoning the "Geordi Visor" rear band for a standard (if still very wide) camera block. It's undeniably a cleaner look.
Otherwise, the phones don't look or feel too much differently than than its predecessors, and that extends to their internals. The phones pack the latest Google-designed Tensor G4 chipset and for the Pixel 9, 12GB of RAM to start, with storage options of 128GB and 256GB. Tthe Pro and Pro XL models also have 512GB and 1TB options and come with 16GB of RAM. There's a new cooling chamber inside the phones and Google claims they have 20% greater battery life despite battery capacity not increasing much from their predecessors.
The cameras for the base Pixel 9 have been slightly upgraded with a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (up from 12-megapixel in the Pixel 8), though the 9 Pro and Pro XL's cameras are pretty unchanged. Instead -- and unsurprisingly -- Google is leaning hard on the AI photography features, like Add Me, which composites multiple photos to get the perfect group shot that includes everyone in the photo. Guided Frame also helps low-sight and sightless phone users align their face in frame when taking selfies.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, as the follow-up to last year's Pixel Fold has been named, has left its predecessor's wider size for a taller format like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and other book-style foldables. In addition to adopting the Pixel 9's non-visor design, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has some spec upgrades: its baseline 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage configuration remains the same, but its 512GB and 1TB options bump the RAM up to 16GB.
There are cute software tricks coming to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold after launch, too -- Made You Look shows fun characters on the cover screen to engage your baby when taking a photo.
The Pixel 9 series is launching with Android 14 -- not the upcoming Android 15, though Google has assured that the phones will get the update when it comes out at an unspecified date. This isn't surprising given Google pushed the Pixel 9 launch date up a couple months to August ahead of its typical October window for Pixel events.
Satellite SOS, a new feature that allows the phones to seek help using satellite networks (much like Apple Emergency SOS), is coming on all Pixel 9 devices.
Gemini on-device and by subscription
Google's vision for Gemini has it completely replacing the old Google Assistant feature. With generative AI, Gemini can anticipate user needs, Google says.
Google wasn't shy about showing Gemini on Pixel alone, as it name-checked how the generative AI assistant helps users on the small cover screen of the Motorola Razr 2024 and how it can be used in split screen on the larger inner display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
But regular Gemini isn't the only AI that Google showed off. Gemini Live, a voice chat version that converses with users, is exclusive to Gemini Advanced, a subscription service for Android devices priced at $20 per month.
Google is aware of privacy concerns, assuring users that its data processed through Google's secure cloud won't lead to personal data being sent to third parties. Google also lauded its on-device generative AI in Gemini Nano, where the data is processed on device, like in summarizing phone calls, meaning the data never leaves your phone.
Story is ongoing and updating...
Watch this: Google Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL Hands-On
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