Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro Rumors: Coming Aug. 13, New Design, Fold 2 Confirmed

From CNET: The Pixel 9 series looks set to arrive much sooner than anticipated, with Google inviting the press to a Pixel hardware event on Aug. 13. The company's Pixel 8 and 8 Pro launched in October last year, but it looks like Google wants to get its phones out before Apple announces its iPhone 16 line. Google's phones all offer solid performance, generous software support and innovative AI-based features, while its more recent $499 Pixel 8A pares down some of the specs to come with its more affordable price.

Google usually releases its new Pixel devices in October (as was the case with the Pixel 8 series and Pixel 7 series) but the company has officially sent out invites to a Pixel hardware event on Aug. 13 and teased some of its products for the same date. It's not clear why Google has opted to change up its launch dates, but it could well be to get its phones out into the public eye before Apple takes the wraps off its iPhone 16 line, which is expected in September.

A rumor that's persisted since Android Authority published it back in late 2022 is that there'll be three models of the Pixel 9 phone, rather than the usual two. It's expected that we'll still see a base Pixel 9, but there may now be two versions of the flagship Pro range: a large model and a smaller one.

The fourth model is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, an update to the original Pixel Fold, launched in June 2023. We expected to hear more about Google's new foldable at I/O, but the company talked only about AI updates, with new folding hardware being conspicuous by its absence. While we hoped for some hint of the phone earlier in June, Google's latest teaser video confirmed we have to wait a little longer for its August unveiling.

View: Full Article