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We’re nonetheless months away from the launch of the Pixel 9 collection, however you know the way it goes with Google: it’s by no means too early for leaks. Unsurprisingly, we already know an amazing deal in regards to the firm’s subsequent flagship smartphone — together with the truth that we’re more likely to see three fashions this 12 months within the lineup as a substitute of the standard two. And that new third Pixel 9 system has the potential to be the premium compact Android smartphone of our goals.
A couple of days again, notable leaker OnLeaks revealed that there will probably be three Google flagships coming this fall. It’s not only a new addition, however a complete shake-up of how the lineup will probably be positioned and laddered. In keeping with him, there will probably be an everyday, comparatively small, Pixel 9, a bigger and beefed-up Pixel 9 Professional XL, and one other premium providing within the Pixel 9 Professional, bringing one of the best of each worlds in a robust but compact design that can sit between the 2. And it’s this final one that’s notably thrilling because it has the potential to satisfy an unmet want within the smartphone market: an uncompromised, high-end, comparatively compact Android cellphone.
Take flagships and make them small
It is so simple as that
This shift is especially attention-grabbing, even when it is one we had hints of occurring greater than a 12 months in the past. We discover this shocking as a result of compact Android telephones are an endangered species. Excessive-end ones, much more so. In reality, should you have a look at the present crop of smartphones offered in North America, the one actual remaining small smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S24. Whereas it is part of Samsung’s newest flagship collection, it pales compared to the likes of the S24 Extremely and even the Pixel 8 Professional.
New Pixel 9 renders level to three Google flagships coming this fall
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, and Pixel 9 Professional XL
Principally, if you need a high-end compact cellphone, the iPhone 15 Professional might be your solely choice. Till final 12 months, we had the Zenfone collection lifting the load on behalf of all Android units, however even Asus moved away from the one-handed expertise with the Zenfone 11 Extremely. It’s simply one other reminder of how troublesome it’s to make compact telephones that aren’t solely nice but additionally worthwhile as a enterprise. If Apple — the corporate with one of the environment friendly provide chains — needed to abandon small telephones, I’ve little hope from different OEMs.
The Google Pixel 9 Professional might choose up the place the Asus Zenfone 10 dropped off.
Enter Google Pixel 9 Professional. Sure, it won’t be as tiny as a few of the lovable telephones of yesterday, however it looks as if it is going to nonetheless pack fairly a punch whereas being considerably smaller than the Ultras and the Professional Maxes of the world.
What the Google Pixel 9 Professional has in its favor is the existence of higher digicam {hardware}, together with a devoted telephoto shooter for the primary time in a small kind think about a Pixel. Mixed with a reliable battery, a (hopefully) better-performing Tensor G4 processor, and a slew of AI capabilities, and this may very well be the pocketable 6.1-inch Android system of your goals.
However there’s nonetheless loads of room for error
Let’s hope Google is aware of it
We’re certain Google is aware of what it’s getting itself into. On one hand, it is going to lastly carry some competitors to the iPhone 16 Professional when it launches. Alternatively, it’s virtually sure to make use of this differentiation to promote its 2024 lineup at a better value than earlier than. I wouldn’t be stunned if the Pixel 9 Professional is costlier than the Pixel 8 Professional, and if the Pixel 9 Professional XL goes even larger up — although it’s virtually the successor to the $1,000 Pixel 8 Professional.
Google will hope that this distinctive mixture of ergonomics and options will probably be sufficient for the Pixel 9 Professional to face out and command a better promoting value. Nothing fallacious with that in right now’s aggressive panorama, however the Pixel collection has at all times been a notch cheaper than the remainder. If Google needs to compete with the ultra-premium smartphones, it must ship a near-perfect expertise. As we identified over the weekend, points resembling heating, selective and sluggish updates, poor community reception, inconsistent battery life, and different display screen issues won’t be as simple to forgive as soon as Google crosses the $1,000 mark.
Google’s premium Pixel 9 plans really feel too massive, too quickly
Google is headed out of the funds flagship recreation, however at what value?
A transfer to a triple-flagship technique additionally raises additional questions on how Google will handle to differentiate the reasonably priced A collection going ahead. The upcoming Google Pixel 8A is shaping as much as be similar to the prevailing Pixel 8 — not simply by way of options and specs, but additionally by way of pricing. It’s unlikely to be the easy-to-recommend reasonably priced smartphone that its predecessors have been. And with another mannequin to slot in the lineup whereas every little thing is getting costlier, it is simple to count on Google to thoroughly abandon the A-series subsequent 12 months and easily drop costs on current fashions to occupy that area.
After all, with greater than a 12 months to go till that is even an choice for Google to pursue, it isn’t fully value contemplating simply but. Within the meantime, I’m excited to see what the small Google Pixel 9 Professional brings to the desk and if it will probably carry again glory to compact Android flagships. If we won’t get right down to sub-6-inch shows, this would possibly simply be the next-best factor.
5 issues Google acquired fallacious with the Pixel 8 Professional
The Pixel 8 Professional is spectacular, however these key areas have to be improved
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Google Pixel 8
$499 $699 Save $200
The Google Pixel 8 is Google’s finest cellphone but, and it is essentially the most distinct common mannequin when in comparison with the Professional model. It comes with an exquisite kind issue that matches properly within the arms and has the standard software program prowess that you just count on from a Pixel.
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Google Pixel 8 Professional
$749 $999 Save $250
The Google Pixel 8 Professional is the corporate’s newest flagship, boasting a brand new Tensor G3 chip, a brighter display screen, and a brand new digicam array able to capturing much more gentle. As regular, the actual energy lies in Google’s Tensor chip, which provides much more photograph enhancement and picture modifying options.
