Google Pixel 9 & 9 Pro series: Price, specs and availability in Australia
Google has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Pixel 9 phones (yes, the Fold is coming to Australia!)—packed with a range of AI features that could be a serious game-changer for smartphones.
The Made By Google event's unveiled A LOT so grab your coffee or cup of tea and strap in for the ride because we're going to unpack it all together.
Quick Summary
- The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are essentially the same phones barring a size difference. The smaller model isn't available for pre-order just yet.
- Yes, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is coming to Australia. This is Google's second foray into the world of foldables. The first iteration never made it down under.
- Prices for the Pixel 9 lineup start at $1,349 and go up to $2,899. They've received a $150-$200 price bump from last year.
- The phones come equipped with Google's latest Tensor G4 chip to make all the cool new AI tricks possible.
- Some AI features will require a Google One AI Premium subscription. It'll be offered for free on the Pro models for the first year.
- They've launched with Android 14. We're expecting Android 15 to be released sometime next month.
- Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be on sale later in September but all the specs and features have already been announced.
How much do the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro phones cost?
The latest Pixel 9 series hasn't been spared from a price bump. Clearly, the rumours from Europe predicting a price increase were well-founded.
Both the base model and the 9 Pro XL are $150-$200 more expensive than their equals in the Pixel 8 lineup.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Pixel 9 128GB | $1,349 |
| Pixel 9 256GB | $1,499 |
| Pixel 9 Pro 128GB | $1,699 |
| Pixel 9 Pro 256GB | $1,849 |
| Pixel 9 Pro 512GB | $2,049 |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL 128GB | $1,849 |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL 256BG | $1,999 |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL 512GB | $2,199 |
| Pixel 9 Pro XL 1TB | $2,549 |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold 256GB | $2,699 |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold 512GB | $2,899 |
Pixel 9 and 9 Pro release date and availability in Australia
The timeline's a bit jumpy depending on the model but here's a quick rundown:
- Pixel 9: Pre-orders kick off on 14 August, with the phone on sale starting 22 August.
- Pixel 9 Pro: Not available to pre-order but the phone will go on sale from 22 August.
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: Pre-orders kick off on 14 August, with the phone on sale starting 22 August.
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Pre-orders kick off on 14 August, with the phone on sale on 2 September.
You can buy the Pixel 9 devices outright from the Google Store, JB HI-FI, Harvey Norman or Officeworks. Or, you can get them on a handset repayment plan from Vodafone, Optus or Telstra.
Get in on the juiciest Pixel 9 pre-order deals and plans. HINT: There's an $800 discount on offer too. Dive in here.
Pixel 9 series: The biggest features announced
There's a lot to unpack here so we'll break it down by major themes and go one by one: design, cameras, Gemini, and AI tricks. Feel free to hop, skip and jump as you please.
Design
It's hard not to notice that the latest generation of Pixel devices has a brand-new look, anchored by a modern sculpted camera bar — an iconic element of the brand.
I'm still waiting to pass my full judgement on it but for the moment, I kinda dig the new look.
The Pixel 9 Pro features a silky matte glass finish and a polished metal frame while the Pixel 9's polished glass back is complemented by a satin metal finish on the camera and frame.
Both the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL share the same specifications, so you won't have to compromise on camera quality or battery life. It's all about what size suits you best - 6.3 inches vs 6.8 inches.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers a large 8-inch screen in a device that still fits in the pocket. It's thinner than you can imagine, and in fact, the cover screen matches the Pixel 9's main display in size, shape, and specs.
It has a fluid friction hinge and an IPX8 water resistance rating. There's unfortunately no stylus pen functionality.
Cameras
Google's dubbed this year's camera on the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL its best yet, featuring the first end-to-end AI-powered camera stack.
- The triple rear camera system includes an upgraded ultra-wide lens, allowing for macro focus, telephoto capabilities, and improved light detection.
- The front-facing camera has also been significantly upgraded, jumping from 12 megapixels in last year's device to 48 megapixels this year, to help with sharper, crisper images and better light detection.
- This lens also offers a wider field of view to make group shots with friends even easier.
- The base model Pixel 9 features two Pro-level cameras.
- The wide and ultra-wide cameras have the same specifications as the Pro device, and the front-facing camera has been upgraded with autofocus, improved light detection, and a wider field of view so you can capture more in the frame.
Gemini - Google's AI assistant goes big
The Pixel 9 series now comes with Gemini as your default assistant. With your permission, Gemini can access your inbox, calendar, and to-do lists, seamlessly combining that information to create a set of helpful experiences tailored just for you.
What's this I'm hearing about Gemini Live? Apparently, this will allow for free-flowing conversations with your assistant. It will first be available to Gemini Advanced subscribers. To ensure that all Pixel 9 Pro device purchasers get the full experience, the subscription will be bundled with the device for the first 12 months. It'll cost $32.99 a month moving forward.
Cool new AI tricks
It's still early days and we won't know just how useful these AI features are until the phones are reviewed, but at a glance, some of them sound pretty nifty.
Photo editing: Google's introduced two new AI-powered features for editing photos and videos. The first is 'Add Me,' which uses AI to help you appear in group photos without handing your phone to a stranger. The second is Magic Editor, which has been expanded to include Auto Frame, which allows you to recompose an image using trained models, and Reimagine, which lets you change backgrounds, seasons, time of day, and more with a simple prompt.
Video Boost: Pixel 9 Pro delivers the best video experience yet, according to Google, with Video Boost now supporting up to 8K with AI rescaling for super clear and crisp content. Super Res Zoom allows you to zoom in up to 20x. Low-light performance has been improved as well.
Pixel Studio: This is another AI-powered creativity canvas. It allows you to create new images with a simple prompt, edit them, change subjects, reorganise, and layer on text. You can change the style from photorealistic to cartoon.
Made You Look Feature: This one's for parents with little ones. Instead of waving your arms around and making funny noises, you can use the front screen with a little animated character to grab your child's attention so you can easily take a picture with them.
Pixel 9 and 9 Pro colours and specs
Obsidian and Porcelain are the common colours across the Pixel 9 lineup.
The base model will also come in Wintergreen and Peony while the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will sport Hazel and Rose Quartz.
And yes, all phones will be water resistant before you ask.
You can geek out by combing through our table of specs for the Pixel 9 lineup.
| Specification | Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro & Pro XL | Pixel 9 Fold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch Actua display 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI Smooth Display (60-120Hz) Corning Gorlilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass HDR support | 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch Actua displays 9 Pro: 1080 x 2424 LTPO OLED at 422 PPI 9 Pro XL: 1280 x 2856 OLED at 486 PPI Smooth Display (1-120Hz) Corning Gorlilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass HDR support | External screen: 6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI, Smooth Display (60-120Hz) Internal screen: 8-inch Actua Flex display, 2076 x 2152 OLED at 373 PPI, Smooth Display (1-120Hz) Corning Gorlilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass HDR support |
| Brightness | Up to 1800 nits (HDR) and up to 2700 nits (peak brightness) | Up to 2000 nits (HDR) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness) | External screen: Up to 1800 nits (HDR) and up to 2700 nits (peak brightness) Internal screen: Up to 1600 nits (HDR) and up to 2700 nits (peak brightness) |
| Dimensions and weight | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm, 198g | 9 Pro: 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm, 199g 9 Pro XL: 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5, 221g | Folded: 1552.2 x 77.1 x 10.5 mm Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm, 257g |
| Battery | 4,700mAh typical 24+ hour battery life Up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver | 9 Pro: 4,700mAh typical 9 Pro XL: 4,700mAh typical 24+ hour battery life Up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver | 4,650mAh typical 24+ hour battery life Up to 72-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver |
| Charging | Fast charging– up to 55% in about 30 minutes using Google 45W USB-C Charger sold separately | Fast charging– up to 55% in about 30 minutes using Google 45W USB-C Charger sold separately | Fast charging (hours of power in minutes) using Google 45W USB-C Charger sold separately |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 16GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 |
| Rear camera summary | Advanced dual rear camera system 50 MP wide | 48 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | Super Res Zoom up to 8x and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x | Pro triple rear camera system 50MP wide | 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 48MP 5x telephoto lens | Super Res Zoom up to 30x and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x | Advanced triple rear camera system: 48 MP wide | 10.5 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 10.8 MP 5x telephoto lens | Super Res Zoom up to 20x and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 5x |
| Front camera | 10.5MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus | 10 MP Dual PD (same for inner camera) |
| Video | 4K video recording | 8K video recording | 4K video recording |
| Dust and water resistance | IP68 dust and water resistance | IP68 dust and water resistance | IPX8 water resistance |
| Colours | Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony | Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, Rose Quartz | Obsidian, Porcelain |
| Security and OS updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates |
| Operating system | Launched with Android 14 | Launched with Android 14 | Launched with Android 14 |
Pixel Watch 3 and Buds Pro 2 availability in Australia
The Pixel Watch 3 (LTE) comes in 41mm and a new 45mm size for a larger watch face, priced at $749 and $839 respectively. They will be available from 10 September.
The Buds Pro 2 will cost $379 and will go on sale on 26 September.
Planning on pre-ordering the Pixel 9 outright? Might as well see if you can pair the latest tech with a great SIM-only plan. Compare away to see if you can score a great deal.
