Sunday, November 3, 2024

The First Look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro’s Much Bigger Camera Bump

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Google is slated to hold a surprisingly early Pixel smartphone event on August 13. The company has released a teaser video for the occasion, showing what appears to be a big new camera bump on the Pixel 9 Pro.

Google’s 30-second teaser video for the Pixel 9 Pro shows some interesting details. Some of it is entirely unsurprising, like that the device will heavily utilize Google’s Gemini AI technology. That makes perfect sense.

What’s more surprising is that the Pixel 9 Pro will feature a different design sporting a big camera bump on the back. While Google hasn’t shared any information about what kind of cameras will be in its upcoming flagship smartphone, given that the camera module is larger, it stands to reason that there will be something new about the Pixel 9 Pro’s camera technology.

Close-up of a black smartphone's rear camera setup, featuring multiple lenses and a flash within a horizontal bar. The background is softly blurred, showcasing a warm-toned room with a small, green potted plant.
For reference, he’s the rear of the Google Pixel 8 Pro. The bump is nearly flush with the phone’s back plate. | Photo by Chris Niccolls as part of PetaPixel‘s Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphone review.

A white smartphone with a prominent horizontal camera module displaying multiple lenses at the back. The text "Google" is on the left and "Pixel 9 Pro" is on the right side of the image.

A sleek smartphone with a glossy finish and a triple-camera setup on the back is displayed. The background features a blurred, colorful text that reads "Oh hi, AI." The smartphone's design appears modern and sophisticated.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
A smartphone screen displays a message instructing to write a breakup letter, indicating the sender has found something new and magical. The text ends with, "Dear Old Phone." The phone has a sleek, dark purple design with the label "Gemini" at the top.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Close-up side view of a slim, modern smartphone with a prominent camera bump against a black background. The phone appears to have a sleek metallic finish with a subtle gradient, shifting from pink to purple.
Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google has also shared a teaser video for its new flagship folding smartphone, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This latest teaser opens with the same Gemini AI graphics as the other teaser before the Pixel 9 Pro Fold opens up.

Beyond the naming change from Pixel Fold to Pixel 9 Pro Fold, bringing the upcoming handheld more in line with Google’s conventional Pixel naming conventions, the device also gets a new camera module with a revised stacked design.

Close-up of a white Google Pixel Fold smartphone. The left side shows the rear cameras and LED flash, while the right side displays the unfolded front screen with a colorful abstract wallpaper. The device has a sleek and minimalistic design against a dark background.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
A foldable smartphone is displayed in three views: fully open as a tablet, partially closed showing its inner flexible screen, and closed showing the back with a camera array and the front outer screen featuring a wallpaper of white bird feathers. The Google logo is visible on the back.
For reference, the original Google Pixel Fold

The screens are simulated in the teaser video, but Google seems to have focused on making the hinge less noticeable when in use. The entire design just looks more polished and sleek.

A close-up image of a Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold smartphone, showcasing its rear camera module with two large lenses and a flash. The phone is slightly folded. The text "Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold" is displayed beside the phone against a light background.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
A smartphone screen displaying the text "Oh hi, AI." in large white font. The background of the screen is a gradient that transitions from blue at the bottom to pink at the top. The edges of the phone are visible along the top and right side.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Hopefully, the new camera system is a step up, too, as it is one of the weaker aspects of last year’s Pixel Fold device. The big struggle so far for most folding phones has been offering feature and performance parity in terms of camera features, with most foldables falling short of their maker’s best traditional “slab” phones.

Mobile photographers need not wait long to learn more about Google’s camera changes in the Pixel 9 family of smartphones. The Google Pixel event will begin on August 13 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT).


Image credits: Google unless otherwise noted

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