Updated on July 14 with details on the various Pixel 9 colors.
Google is gearing up to launch the new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro smartphones, but there’s some disappointing news for those looking to upgrade to the latest AI-powered devices.
French news site Dealabs Magazine has released pricing details for Google’s upcoming smartphones. While the pricing is in Euros, for the local market, they are showing higher prices for the two main Pixel devices—the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
First up is the Pixel 9. The price for the 128GB base model is €899. That’s €100 more than last year’s Pixel 8 128GB model. The higher-end 256GB version is slightly better value, but still a markup over last year’s model. It is priced at €999 compared to €859 for the Pixel 8.
As for the Pixel 9 Pro, its price is €1,099 for the 128 GB model. This is similar to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, but the 256GB and 512GB models of the Pixel 9 Pro show a higher price than the 2023 counterpart.
But there is a caveat here.
Google is releasing three basic Pixel 9 models (and a fourth foldable variant). This year’s Pixel 9 Pro will feature the upgraded specs you’d expect from a Pro brand, but will retain the smaller form factor of the Pixel 9. If you want Pro specs in a similar larger size to the Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll need to step up to the Pixel 9 Pro XL… which starts at €1,199. That price brings back the €100 premium over the Pixel 8 Pro, the same premium as the Pixel 9 over the Pixel 8.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will start at the same price of €1,899 for the 128GB model, with the 256GB model costing €2,029.
Update: Sunday, July 14: Further details for the various Pixel models have come to light, with the colors of the four model flavors being reported by European retailers.
The Pixel 9 is set to launch in what Google calls Obsidian, Porcelain, Cosmo and Mojito colors. It’s a good guess to assume that the pink shade of a Cosmopolitan cocktail will match the shade of Cosmo on a Pixel. This suggests that a Pixel Mojito will have a delightfully strong green flavor.
Obsidian and porcelain are also in the mix. Obsidian was an option for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and the 8 Pro also offered Porcelain.
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are expected to introduce a Hazel and a Pink shade to sit alongside Obsidian and Porcelain. There are some questions about the availability of these four colors, while some are likely available in the higher trim levels.
Finally, you have the Pixel 9 Pro Fold listings that only show two colors, black and muted off-white from Obsidian and Porcelain.
Google’s launch event is on August 13, just ten months after last year’s launch. All four Pixel 9 models are expected to launch. No doubt Google will also use the opportunity to push its approach to artificial intelligence in smartphones. Last year’s release kicked off the current AI rush, and an earlier release in the second half of the year will help define the AI market.
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