If you’ve kept up with the news cycle over the last few weeks, you’ll know that the Google Pixel 9 Pro has leaked … a lot. After countless leaks spoiling the phone’s design, specs, and more, Google has gone ahead and revealed the phone itself — a month ahead of its official release.
A teaser video, aptly called “Introducing the Google Pixel 9 Pro,” starts with a demonstration of Google Gemini, suggesting that Gemini will be a big focus for the Pixel 9 Pro. We then see the back of the Pixel 9 Pro with the text “Oh hi AI,” followed by the Pixel 9 Pro name and a reminder about its August 13 launch.
Our brief look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro aligns with what we’ve seen in leaks. The phone appears to have rounded corners, flat edges, and a new take on Google’s iconic camera bar. It’s also all but confirmed that there are three rear cameras, a flash, and the same temperature sensor introduced on the Pixel 8 Pro last year.
Thanks to a big camera leak earlier this week, we expect the Pixel 9 Pro to offer a 50-megapixel main camera, an ultrawide camera, and a telephoto camera. We’re also expecting a Tensor G4 chipset, at least seven years of software updates, and plenty of AI. Along with the Pixel 9 Pro, we should also see the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
It’s unclear if Google will tease its other phones like this, but one thing is for certain: We don’t have much longer to wait before we can stop talking about leaks and teasers. The Made by Google event on August 13 should reveal all, and it’ll be here before you know it.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.