This year’s Google Pixel phones are on their way and, in a surprising move by Google, it looks like we’ll see them a lot earlier than expected. Last year’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones were announced on October 4 and released around a week later. This year? August.
Google teases Pixel 9 series.
The information comes from that most credible of sources: Google itself, which has published a 12-second video online here. The video is cute and tells a little, but not enough: the perfect definition of a tease, then.
First, the words “Google Pixel” appear, only for the letters apart from ix to vanish. The dot on the i goes as well, leaving IX on screen which, as you’ll know are the Roman numerals for 9. See what they did there?
Name That Phone
What does this tell us? I’m sticking my neck out here but I don’t think it means the Pixel 9 is going to come with Latin as the only language option, intriguing thoughth at prospect is. At least, it would be nice if the lock screen read Veni, Vidi, Vici, but I won’t hold my breath. This was, of course, Julius Caesar’s famous quote taught to schoolchildren as meaning I came, I saw, I conquered.
So, what we know so far is the next Pixel will stick to the current mode of numbering and will be the Pixel 9.
Design Tease
There’s more in that 12-second video. Next, we see the hint of an outline of the phone, with elegant, smooth curves and—so you really know it’s a Pixel—the trademark camera bar, this time with edges more rounded than ever and what looks like, if you squint, three lenses. Which means it’s the Pixel 9 Pro, surely.
Release Date
And finally, the release date. It’s also in Roman numerals: VIII-XIII-MMXXIV. That means 8/13/2024. Now, leaving aside the fact that I don’t think the Romans put the month first, it obviously means August 13, 2024 as there’s no 13th month (though didn’t the Romans consider one at one point? Let’s not go there).
All of which tells us we can expect to see the phone revealed that date. Lest there was any confusion, Google also just posted on X: “Made by Google is coming August 13 — and we’ll be showcasing the latest #Pixel devices, the best of Google AI and @Android software updates.”
Mark your calendars now.