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How Google’s new Pixel 9 phones differ from one another (and don’t)

How Google’s new Pixel 9 phones differ from one another (and don’t)

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It’s Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. why the hell did Google make so many phones?

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A person holding up a Pixel 9 phone to their ear.
The base Pixel 9 is one of four new models, starting at $799.
Image: Google

At its most recent Made by Google event, the monopolistic search giant announced four new phones: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This is more phones than Google has ever sold at once — especially when you throw in the midrange Pixel 8A from May — making the decision on which to get somewhat confusing.

So, we thought it might be helpful to explain the key differences and similarities between the four new models and succinctly lay out all the finer specs for you to peruse. Hopefully, this will help you choose between the new Pixels, which are set to launch in waves on August 22nd and September 4th.

The biggest differences between Pixel 9 phones: price and size

What immediately separates most of the Pixel 9 phones from one another is size and price. The base Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz and a starting price of $799 for 128GB of storage, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8’s starting price.

The next step up is a dual-prong approach to the “Pro” spec, which now consists of the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999 and the larger 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL starting at $1,099 (both Pros have OLED displays with 1 to 120Hz refresh rate and 128GB of base storage).

At the top of the range is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the sequel to last year’s Pixel Fold, which now arrives alongside the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, thus making it less of an outlier. The 9 Pro Fold sports a 6.3-inch OLED outer screen (60 to 120Hz) and an eight-inch, tablet-like inner screen (1 to 120Hz); it starts at $1,799 with 256GB of storage.

A new processor for all and somewhat new cameras (for some)

Where all Pixel 9 phones are united is in their OS longevity and choice of processor, as all models offer seven years of Android updates and utilize Google’s new Tensor G4 system-on-chip. This is a change from last year when the Pixel Fold came in mid-2023, before the G3-powered Pixel 8 generation, and was based on the G2 chipset from 2022.

But one of the biggest determining factors for people in choosing a phone is the camera(s). There’s a bit of a hierarchy here, with the high-end Pixel 9 Pro Fold getting a triple-camera array with lower specs than the others — including the Pixel 9, which relies on a dual-camera array. In fact, the 9 Pro Fold’s camera specs sound a lot more like last year’s Fold than they do the rest of the Pixel 9 range, which feature 50-megapixel standard wide cameras and 48-megapixel ultrawides (with 48-megapixel telephotos on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL). Yet, let’s not forget that the 50-megapixel sensor utilized by three-fourths of the Pixel 9 range sounds pretty similar to last year’s Pixel 8.

Here are the detailed specs, side by side, to dive into at your leisure.

Pixel 9 specs comparison

CategoryGoogle Pixel 9Google Pixel 9 ProGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XLGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold
ColorsWhite, black, green, pinkWhite, black, hazel, light pinkWhite, black, hazel, light pinkWhite, black
Dimensions (mm)152.8 height x 72 width x 8.5 depth152.8 height x 72 width x 8.5 depth162.8 height x 76.6 width x 8.5 depth 155.2 height x 77.1 width x 10.5 depth (folded); 155.2 height x 150.2 width x 5.1 depth (unfolded)
Weight (grams)198 grams199 grams221 grams257 grams
OSAndroid 14Android 14Android 14Android 14
Display6.3-inch OLED6.3-inch LTPO OLED6.8-inch LTPO OLED6.3-inch OLED external screen / 8-inch flexible LTPO OLED internal screen
Screen resolution1080 x 2424 (422 PPI)1280 x 2856 (495 PPI)1344 x 2992 (486 PPI)1080 x 2424 (422 PPI) external screen / 2076 x 2152 (373 PPI) internal screen
Refresh rate60 to 120Hz1 to 120Hz1 to 120Hz60 to 120Hz external screen / 1 to 120Hz internal screen
ProcessorGoogle Tensor G4 custom chipsetGoogle Tensor G4 custom chipsetGoogle Tensor G4 custom chipsetGoogle Tensor G4 custom chipset
RAM12GB16GB16GB16GB
Storage128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB256GB, 512GB
Glass displayCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (external screen) / Ultra thin glass (internal screen)
ConnectivityWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G (mmWave + Sub 6GHz)Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G (mmWave + Sub 6GHz)Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G (mmWave + Sub 6GHz)Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G (mmWave + Sub 6GHz)
PortsUSB-C 3.2 charging port (45W max)USB-C 3.2 charging port (45W max)USB-C 3.2 charging port (45W max with quicker charging)USB-C 3.2 charging port (45W max)
Wireless chargingYes, wireless charging rates up to 15WYes, wireless charging rates up to 21WYes, wireless charging rates up to 23WYes
BiometricsIn-display fingerprint sensor, Face UnlockIn-display fingerprint sensor, Face UnlockIn-display fingerprint sensor, Face UnlockIn-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
SIM supportNano SIM, eSIMNano SIM, eSIMNano SIM, eSIMNano SIM, eSIM
Water and dust protectionIP68IP68IP68IPX8
Front camera10.5-megapixel (f/2.2, 95-degree FOV)42-megapixel (f/2.2, 103-degree FOV)42-megapixel (f/2.2, 103-degree FOV)10-megapixel (f/2.2, 87-degree FOV)
Rear camera50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68, 82-degree FOV), 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.7, 123-degree FOV) 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68, 82-degree FOV), 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.7, 123-degree FOV), 48-megapixel 5x telephoto camera (f/2.8, 22-degree FOV, Super Res Zoom up to 30x)50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68, 82-degree FOV), 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/1.7, 123-degree FOV), 48-megapixel 5x telephoto camera (f/2.8, 22-degree FOV, Super Res Zoom up to 30x)48-megapixel main camera (f/1.7, 82-degree FOV), 10.5-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.2, 127-degree FOV), 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto camera (f/3.1, 23-degree FOV, Super Res Zoom up to 20x)
Video recordingUp to 4K at 60fpsUp to 8K at 30fps with Video Boost or up to 4K at 60 fpsUp to 8K at 30fps with Video Boost or up to 4K at 60 fpsUp to 4K at 60fps
Photo and video modesSuper Res Zoom up to 8x, Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Sight, Astrophotography, Portrait Mode, Face Unblur, Long Exposure, Action Pan, Real Tone, Panorama, Top Shot, Frequent Faces, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Portrait Light Super Res Zoom up to 30x, Pro controls, High-Res (up to 50MP), Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Sight, Astrophotography, Portrait Mode, Face Unblur, Long Exposure, Action Pan, Real Tone, Panorama, Top Shot, Frequent Faces, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Zoom Enhance, Portrait Light Super Res Zoom up to 30x, Pro controls, High-Res (up to 50MP), Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Sight, Astrophotography, Portrait Mode, Face Unblur, Long Exposure, Action Pan, Real Tone, Panorama, Top Shot, Frequent Faces, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Zoom Enhance, Portrait Light Super Res Zoom up to 20x, Pro controls, High-Res (up to 50MP), Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Sight, Hands-free astrophotography, Portrait Mode, Face Unblur, Long Exposure, Action Pan, Real Tone, Panorama, Top Shot, Frequent Faces, Dual Screen Preview, Tabletop mode hands-free shots, Made You Look, Manual white balancing, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Zoom Enhance, Portrait Light
Battery capacity4,700mAh4,700mAh5,060mAh4,650mAh
Emergency featuresSatellite SOS, Safety CheckSatellite SOS, Safety CheckSatellite SOS, Safety CheckSatellite SOS, Safety Check
Android OS updatesSeven yearsSeven yearsSeven yearsSeven years
Temperature sensorNo YesYesNo
Starting price$799$999$1,099$1,799
AvailabilityAugust 22September 4August 22September 4

So, what do you think? Is one of these new Pixel 9 phones appealing enough for you? Does Google’s shotgun approach of four new options all at once have you thrilled for the luxury of choice or baffled by analysis paralysis?

I’d be lying if I said the thought of a “Pro” phone at a more modest size wasn’t appealing. But then there’s always that temptation of the bigger battery in a surfboard-sized phone. Let us know what you think in the comments.