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As usual, the mobile phone market in September and October is often a "battle of the gods", with brands such as Apple and Huawei launching a series of new flagship products during this period. In previous years, Google has basically chosen to launch the new generation of Pixel series at the autumn new product launch conference in October.

However, the situation this year is somewhat special.

According to the plan, Google will hold a new product launch at midnight on August 14th, Beijing time, launching the Pixel 9 series, Pixel 9 Pro Fold and new wearable products. Not only are there more new products, but the autumn launch conference (October 12, 2023) is nearly 2 months earlier than last year.

As to why the press conference was held so early, Google has not officially responded.But Xiao Lei speculates that it is likely that Google wants to use the Pixel 9 series and Gemini AI to once again consolidate Pixel's market recognition in AI before the iPhone 16 series and the new generation of Snapdragon flagships.

Pixel 9 Pro, Image/Google

In 2023, the Pixel series achieved an unexpected growth in market sales, and even entered the top five in the US market, and advanced to third place in the Japanese market (this year it rose to second place, higher than Xiaomi, which ranked third). Among them, the role of AI in promoting Pixel sales in product experience and market promotion cannot be ignored. After all, AI mobile phones as a whole have become the biggest hot spot in the mobile phone industry.

Google is taking advantage of its success and plans to use the Tensor G5, which is designed entirely by Google and built based on TSMC's 3nm process, for the first time in the next generation of Pixel to be launched in 2025. This will play a significant role in boosting the iPhone similar to the A processor.

Before Tensor G5, could the Pixel 9 series equipped with Tensor G4 be as good as Google Pixel?

Pixel 9 launches three models at once: a design closer to the iPhone

Over the years, leaks have become commonplace for the Google Pixel series. Before the release of the Pixel 3 series, complete information about the new products had spread all over the Internet, and before the release of the Pixel 4 series, a hands-on video appeared.

The Pixel 9 series also continues the "tradition" of Google Pixel. Before the launch conference, there were not only "official sneak peeks", but also real machine hands-on videos. As shown in the hands-on videos and leaked pictures, the Pixel 9 series adopts a right-angle middle frame design. The front screen frame no longer distinguishes between the standard version and the Pro version, and a unified narrow frame design with equal frames on all four sides is used.As for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, we will introduce it separately later.

Front view of the Pixel 9 series leaked by a British retailer. Image/Google

In terms of size, the Pixel 9 series has undergone major changes this time. In addition to the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 standard version, there are also a 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro and a 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL.Users who want to buy Pixel no longer have to choose between body size and telephoto like Xiao Lei did before.

Image/Onleaks

In short, they are all closer to the iPhone.

But on the back, the Pixel 9 series still maintains its own “Pixel” design style.Unlike the original Pixel 8 series Deco, which adopts a long strip design and is integrated with a metal middle frame, the Pixel adopts a "capsule" design that is simpler in terms of craftsmanship and continues to use metal.

To be honest, as a Pixel 8 user, Xiao Lei still prefers the design on Pixel 8.

Let’s talk about the configuration in detail. This time, Google should have “raided” Sony’s semiconductor warehouse and widely adopted Sony’s IMX858 sensor in the Pixel 9 series.

In addition to the Sony IMX858 sensor used in the entire series as the ultra-wide-angle lens, the telephoto and front cameras of the Pixel 9 Pro also use this sensor. As for the main camera, the entire Pixel 9 series uses the 50-megapixel GNK sensor released by Samsung at the end of last year, with stronger video shooting capabilities and HDR processing capabilities.

At the same time, the entire Pixel 9 series is also equipped with Google's latest generation processor - Tensor G4.

However, it is really hard to arouse people's interest in Tensor G4.On the one hand, there is a "double debuff" based on the Exynos platform and Samsung's 4nm process; on the other hand, the next-generation Tensor G5 will adopt Google's completely independent design and TSMC's 3nm process.

Fortunately, in terms of image processing, privacy security, and AI, Tensor G4 still has its own characteristics and advantages, and to a certain extent also foreshadows the design direction of Tensor G5.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the application of large models is now forcing mobile phone brands, especially overseas mobile phone brands, to increase memory. For example, the iPhone 16 series will come with 8GB of memory as standard. Specifically for the Pixel 9 series, the standard version will start from 12GB, and the Pro version will be increased to 16GB, catching up with the mainstream level of domestic mobile phones.

Thinner Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a true Pixel folding screen

Last May, Google released its first-generation foldable screen phone, the Pixel Fold, at the I/O Developer Conference. For the release of the second-generation foldable screen phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google chose to return to the autumn press conference, and it was nominally integrated into the Pixel 9 series.

In terms of appearance design, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold adopts the same design style as the Pixel series, with the same right-angle middle frame and metal Deco design. In addition,The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has also kept up with the pace of “lightness and thinness” of foldable screen phones to a certain extent, at least it is no longer as thick as the first generation.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold，图/ Google

According to data obtained by Android Headlines, the thickness of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is only 10.5mm when folded and only 5.1mm when unfolded.It is thinner than Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and vivo X Fold3 Pro. From the leaked pictures, the width of the power button and volume button is almost close to the middle frame, which also shows the "thinness" of Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

But the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is still quite heavy:It is about 10% lighter than the first generation, but still weighs 257g, which is heavier than almost all new-generation folding screen phones.On the one hand, this is because of its larger size. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 6.3-inch external screen and an 8-inch internal screen. On the other hand, it may be due to the rear camera module.

In terms of camera, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses a lens combination of wide-angle main camera + ultra-wide-angle + telephoto. The main camera uses the 64-megapixel Sony IMX787, and the Samsung 3J1 is also used as the sensor for the telephoto lens.

But to be honest, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still has a lot of room for improvement in screen border control and rear camera module, and still needs to work hard.

In addition, this new product launch is also expected to bring Pixel Buds Pro 2 headphones and Pixel Watch 3 watches.

Pixel Watch 3，图/ Google

Pixel Buds Pro 2 will return to the fixed ear fin design of the first-generation Pixel Buds, and may be equipped with the "Tensor A1" chip to achieve better active noise reduction and other functions.

Pixel Watch 3 is expected to be available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, with narrower bezels and a higher screen-to-body ratio. It will also be equipped with a screen with a brightness of up to 2000nit and a UWB chip.

Relying on Google's technological advantages, Pixel strengthens its "AI phone"

Although Samsung, OPPO, Honor and other giants are all emphasizing AI, to be honest, Google Pixel is the first mobile phone brand to focus on AI experience. Since Google announced "AI First" in 2016, Pixel has been constantly building product selling points around AI experience. However, the mainstream AI technology at that time was deep learning, which was also ignited by AlphaGo launched by Google.

Today, generative AI (and large model technology) has swept the world and become the biggest "trend" in the technology circle. Pixel has also risen to a certain extent.Of course, the Pixel 9 series also emphasizes AI.fromexposureAccording to the official promotional materials, in addition to Gemini AI and “circle search” that replaces the traditional Google Assistant, the Pxiel 9 series’ AI promotion will also revolve around the two functions of “Pixel Screenshots” and “Add Me”.

Pixel Screenshots is actually very similar to the “Recall” feature that Microsoft released on Windows 11.They all use "snapshots" to record the user's device usage process. Users can use natural language to retrieve the moments in their memory and find key information at any time.

Image/Google

Add Me continues Google's idea of ​​using AI to transform the mobile phone photography experience, and draws on the multiple exposure photography method to achieve group photos.As shown in a scene in the demo, Add Me can eliminate the need to find passers-by to help take photos.shutterRealize "re-photo".

Image/Google

This demand is real. Before, when Xiao Lei was traveling with a group of friends, he encountered the embarrassment of having one person missing in the group photo. In particular, some scenes require maintaining a certain distance, and passers-by may not be able to meet the actual photo needs, and of course they have no obligation to do so. When abroad, Xiao Lei even worried about the embarrassing situation of passers-by taking their mobile phones and running away.

However, now that OPPO, Honor, and Huawei have already made great use of AI imaging, a feature like Google Add Me can only be considered a minor feature - but it is better than having nothing on the iPhone.

Final Thoughts

To be fair, this generation of Pixel is quite confusing. After all, we already know that the next generation of Pixel will have breakthroughs in chips and core hardware.

However, the changes in other aspects of the Pixel 9 series are not small. The changes in design and the upgrades in various hardware make people look forward to the changes in experience. AI is also the focus of potential Pixel buyers as always, whether in imaging or daily use.

In this way, the new product launch conference that Google will hold in the early morning seems to be worth looking forward to. Lei Technology will also follow up on the conference, so let's pay attention to it together.