Earlier this week, Google made a big, unexpected announcement. The Pixel 9 series will launch in August, nearly two months ahead of schedule. Why?
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Historically, Google has held an annual “Made by Google” event to launch the latest Pixel flagships in October. It all started on October 4th, 2016 and has been going on around this timeline ever since. One of the first events was in 2020, when Google launched the Pixel 5 and other devices on September 30.
But August 13? It is wildly soon, to the point where no one would really guess. After several years in New York, the event is also moving to Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. It’s clear that big changes are on the horizon.
Why the early date?
We won’t know for sure for a while, but there are a few possibilities that immediately jump out.
First, there’s the simple fact that Google’s next Tensor chip, the G4, is more of a drag than anything else. Coming in 2025 is a fully custom Tensor chip made by TSMC, and the G4 is said to be really just a minor bump on top of the current Tensor G3. That should be fine, as the Tensor G3 holds up much better than the first two generations, but we really don’t know how much better it will be. Rumors say it will be better with heat and efficiency, and it also receives an updated cellular modem that includes satellite support. So given the minor upgrades, it may simply be that Google’s next Tensor chip will be ready for prime time a little earlier than last year.
However, I would consider the chip itself a less likely reason for the earlier date. The stronger possibility, I feel, is the sheer size of this year’s lineup.
If all the rumors are true – and it certainly seems like it – there will be four new Pixel 9 models this year. The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The naming scheme looks like a mess, but if priced right, it could be a killer lineup from Google. But have that the amount of hardware hitting the market, especially for a company that only holds a small (but growing) portion of the smartphone market, seems crazy. I would guess that Google may end up announcing everything at once, but release the actual release over the course of a month or so. I’d certainly hope that at least given the same event, it’s also quite likely to bring new Pixel Watch hardware and updated Pixel Buds.
Finally, there’s one more reason why Google could push this launch so soon, and I think it might be the most likely of all.
AI.
After all, what else. Google is pushing AI harder and harder as the company feels competitive pressure, and the Pixel is a key part of that push. Taking advantage of the otherwise quiet month of August gives Google a chance to show off new AI ideas on the Pixel ahead of Apple’s other iPhones, which now appear to be loaded with “Apple Intelligence.” As our Abner Li delved into on Friday, Google has already said that powerful new AI features like Gemini Live are coming this year.
Which of these three reasons can be the inspiration for Google? I think it’s probably a mix and about a billion other factors, but I’m very curious to see how it all turns out. in the poll 9to5Google Most readers seem to think it’s a good idea to release the Pixel early, and I’ve always felt the company should consider it.
Buckle up folks; it’s likely to be busy in the Pixel rumor mills in the coming weeks.
This week’s top news
Samsung confirms July 10 launch of foldable devices, Watch Ultra and more
Amidst a flurry of leaks, Samsung this week officially announced a July 10 event where it is set to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Flip 6 and other new devices such as the Galaxy Watch Ultra. You can watch all the news below.
It will be a big event.
Google says the Find My Device network will be better
After first impressions of the first Find My Device trackers, Google said so for the first time this week 9to5Google that network improvements are coming. This mainly affects connection speed, but the full extent of the changes will probably not be known for a while. In addition, Google has also directly encouraged Android users to let the Find My Device network work in all locations, instead of its default setting only working in “high traffic” areas.
Motorola also announced this week the first network tracker that supports UWB.
Motorola is launching a new foldable device, the Razr
While it was quickly buried under Google’s big Pixel announcement, Motorola launched its latest foldable device, the Razr, this week. The Razr+ and Razr (2024) hold the prices of their predecessors, but with some pretty big upgrades. The flagship has a telephoto lens and much improved hardware, while the budget model has a large external display and just stunning value for the price.
Stay tuned for our full reviews coming soon.
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