This year’s Google Pixel phones are on their way, and in a surprise move from Google, they’re coming out much sooner than expected. Last year’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones were announced on October 4th and released about a week later. This year? It’s August.
This information comes from the most reliable source: Google itself, who published a 12-second video online that’s cute and a little telling, but not enough — the perfect definition of teasing.
First, the word “Google Pixel” appears, but all the letters disappear except for ix. The dot above the i also disappears, leaving only IX on the screen, which as you know is the Roman numeral for 9. Can you guess what they did?
Guess the name of the phone
What does this tell us? I’m going to poke my nose into this a bit, but I don’t think it means the Pixel 9 will only have Latin as a language option. That’s an interesting possibility. It would be nice, but not hopeful, to at least see Veni, Vidi, Vici on the lock screen. Of course, that’s the famous Julius Caesar quote taught to grade schoolers as meaning I came, I saw, I conquered.
So, what we know so far is that the next Pixel will keep the current numbering mode and will be the Pixel 9.
Design Teaser
This 12-second video has more info: Then we get a faint glimpse of the phone’s outline, with elegant, smooth curves and the Pixel’s trademark camera bar (that really tells you it’s a Pixel), but this time the edges are more rounded than ever, and if you squint, it looks like there are three lenses, meaning this is definitely a Pixel 9 Pro.
release date
And finally, the release date, also in Roman numerals, VIII-XIII-MMXXIV, which means August 13, 2024. Putting aside the fact that I don’t think the Romans put the moon first, since they didn’t have a 13th moon, that obviously means August 13, 2024 (but did the Romans ever think about a 13th moon? Let’s not get into that).
All this leads us to expect the smartphone to be unveiled on that day. To avoid any confusion, Google also posted on X: “Made by Google is coming August 13th, showcasing the latest #Pixel devices, the best of Google AI, and @Android software updates.”
Mark your calendars now.