Google has concluded its ninth Made by Google event, and with it comes the reveal of several new Pixel products, including the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel 9, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a new iteration of the company’s folding phone that promises several improvements, including a thinner design, AI assistance via Gemini, and what Google says is its biggest display on a phone ever. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available for purchase from the Google Store and Google’s retail partners beginning August 22, while the Pixel 9 Pro will be on shelves on September 4 in the U.S. alongside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Product links:
- Pixel 9 (from $799)
- Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL (from $999/$1099)
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold (from $1,799)
- Pixel Watch 3 (from $349.99)
- Pixel Buds Pro 2 (from $229)
Google on its latest Pixel phones:
- “Our Pixel 9 phones are powered by our new custom silicon: Tensor G4. It’s our most efficient chip yet and was designed to improve everyday use cases, like opening apps more quickly or browsing the web.”
- “…updated finishes, with a silky matte glass back and polished metal sides for a distinctly premium feel. Plus, the phones are twice as durable as Pixel 8.”
- “…Pro model comes in two different sizes: Pixel 9 Pro (6.3”) and Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.8”). Both have our best and brightest Super Actua displays yet, and a new 42 MP front camera.”
- “…we’ve upgraded the memory across the entire Pixel 9 family, with 12GB of RAM for Pixel 9 and 16GB for Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.”
- “…other than display size, charging speed and power, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL share all the same specs and features.”
- “…the Pixel 9 has approximately 20% longer battery life during active use with the screen on when compared to Pixel 8.”
Some promos for Google’s latest devices:
Google on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold:
Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a fluid-friction hinge that easily opens fully flat with a satisfying snap so you can enjoy the big, bright Super Actua Flex display. It’s 80% brighter than Pixel Fold, so you’ll be able to see your screen clearly even when it’s bright outside. And Pixel 9 Pro Fold features scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and boasts an IPX8 rating for water resistance of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes of submersion.
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This wasn't on my radar at all.
But I guess since ~2016 or so I have completely stopped being excited by mobile tech, so maybe that shouldn't be a surprise.
They all do what I need them to. (email, web) and I don't want any of their new features (cloud, AI). To me these features are actually negatives. I am less likely to buy any product if it has anything AI or cloud on it. On my current Pixel 7 Pro I have everything assistant disabled wherever I can disable it in settings (I've gone through every setting, and if it says either assistant or cloud, or reasonably seems related to either, it gets disabled). I also replace the launcher with something that doesn't integrate with either googles search bar, or assistant, so I never have to see that garbage.
I use my phone like I use my computer. If I want to search for something, I'll open a browser and point it at my favorite search engine. And guess what,m I'm neither using Chrome as my browser, or Google as my search engine :p
Google keeps emailing me about how I am eligible for an upgrade. Years ago I would be refreshing the upgrade page for weeks and maybe even months before I was eligible, and these days I just don't care.
I got my previous phone (Pixel 5a) because my phone before that (Pixel 3) went EOL, and I don't use devices without active security patching.
I got my current phone (Pixel 7 Pro) because I had a protection plan on my Pixel 5a and it died. They didnb't give me an option what to receive as a replacement, but when the box arrived it contained a 7 Pro. It was a little bigger than I preferred, but I went with it without complaining as the 5a was getting closer and closer to the EOL date.
I probably would have kept the 5a, and just put an alternate ROM on it to continue receiving security patches but instead I am now all set phone wise until the 7 Pro security patching EOL date in October 2027.
If it dies before then, and they send me something else, I'll probably use that. If it doesn't die before then, I'll probably just try to put a still supported ROM on it.
Either way I'm all set until October 2027. After that, I'll only pay for anything newer if I can't get a reputable 3rd party ROM to work on it.
I'll also never buy wireless earbuds or a smart watch.
So, the chances of them getting any more than the bare minimum amount of money out of me is remote, especially since I'll never pay for any of the freemium services.
I just wish they would take all of this AI and cloud shit and shove it.
Heck, if I could, I'd still be using my old Nexus devices.
Discussion (1 reply)
Join Discussion →This wasn't on my radar at all.
But I guess since ~2016 or so I have completely stopped being excited by mobile tech, so maybe that shouldn't be a surprise.
They all do what I need them to. (email, web) and I don't want any of their new features (cloud, AI). To me these features are actually negatives. I am less likely to buy any product if it has anything AI or cloud on it. On my current Pixel 7 Pro I have everything assistant disabled wherever I can disable it in settings (I've gone through every setting, and if it says either assistant or cloud, or reasonably seems related to either, it gets disabled). I also replace the launcher with something that doesn't integrate with either googles search bar, or assistant, so I never have to see that garbage.
I use my phone like I use my computer. If I want to search for something, I'll open a browser and point it at my favorite search engine. And guess what,m I'm neither using Chrome as my browser, or Google as my search engine :p
Google keeps emailing me about how I am eligible for an upgrade. Years ago I would be refreshing the upgrade page for weeks and maybe even months before I was eligible, and these days I just don't care.
I got my previous phone (Pixel 5a) because my phone before that (Pixel 3) went EOL, and I don't use devices without active security patching.
I got my current phone (Pixel 7 Pro) because I had a protection plan on my Pixel 5a and it died. They didnb't give me an option what to receive as a replacement, but when the box arrived it contained a 7 Pro. It was a little bigger than I preferred, but I went with it without complaining as the 5a was getting closer and closer to the EOL date.
I probably would have kept the 5a, and just put an alternate ROM on it to continue receiving security patches but instead I am now all set phone wise until the 7 Pro security patching EOL date in October 2027.
If it dies before then, and they send me something else, I'll probably use that. If it doesn't die before then, I'll probably just try to put a still supported ROM on it.
Either way I'm all set until October 2027. After that, I'll only pay for anything newer if I can't get a reputable 3rd party ROM to work on it.
I'll also never buy wireless earbuds or a smart watch.
So, the chances of them getting any more than the bare minimum amount of money out of me is remote, especially since I'll never pay for any of the freemium services.
I just wish they would take all of this AI and cloud shit and shove it.
Heck, if I could, I'd still be using my old Nexus devices.