Google has released the Pixel 9 phone range and with it, the company has again elevated the smartphone experience, delivering powerful performance and amazing camera capabilities.

The first releases have been the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL and they will soon be joined by the Pixel 9 Pro and the hotly-anticipated Pixel 9 Pro Fold, all powered by the new Google Tensor G4 chip.

The Pixel 9 phones have an elevated new look that puts the camera front and centre with an evolution of Google’s camera bar.

The phones are twice as durable as Pixel 8 and are also the best looking releases we have ever seen from Google.

When work began on the new products, the design team was tasked with advancing the categories while also delivering what people have come to love and expect from Pixel.

“We took the approach of what we called ‘radical refinement,’” says Google VP of home design and wearables, Isabelle Olsson.

“We wanted to build on the foundational design elements that people have come to love.”

Each product category is unique, Olsson explains, but at the same time their designs are cohesive across the portfolio, and all products share the same level of craftsmanship.

There was a desire to ensure that the form factors felt as advanced as their capabilities.

“As AI transforms our mobile experiences, the tactility, durability and beauty of the objects that enable it matter more than ever,” says Google Director of Industrial Design, Claude Zellweger.

For the first time, Pixel 9 Pro comes in two sizes — Pixel 9 Pro is 6.3-inches and Pixel 9 Pro XL is 6.8-inches.

All of the new Pixel 9 phones feature an elegant, new sculpted form with more rounded corners and a flat glass front and back, which Zellweger says follows “a logical progression of size, comfort and strength”.

The sculpted new design not only looks great, but it also feels great in hand thanks to the materials and finishes the design team chose.

The satin matte back on Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL is complemented by the dual-finish camera bar and gleaming, polished metal sides.

With the completely re-engineered design, the phones are now “twice as durable than prior generations so they can better withstand the inevitable drops”, according to Google.

Pixel is known for the stunning photos it takes, which according to Google is why in recent generations, the design has spotlighted the device’s camera.

This year for the Pixel 9, Google’s design team has evolved the much-loved camera bar design along the camera.

Designers describe the new camera bar as the most elegant and efficient way to package the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL’s powerful multi-camera module.

“It looks more purposeful and modern, evolving the signature element that people have come to associate with Pixel,” Zellweger says.

Other than display size, charging speed and power, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL share all the same specs and features.

Both have the brightest Super Actua displays yet, and a new 42 MP front camera that excels in low light.

Pixel 9 is packed with upgrades. The 6.3-inch Actua display is sharp, vibrant and 35% brighter than before, with a peak brightness of 2700 nits.

As for the camera, it is the same main and ultrawide cameras as Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

That’s a significant upgrade for the ultrawide lens, from 12MP on Pixel 8 to 48MP on Pixel 9. And the front camera now has autofocus for even sharper selfies.

In addition to improved Night Sight Video, Video Boost can now enhance videos to up to 8K resolution for the best video quality on Pixel yet.

Google has also added AI features to help you perfect the shot — from getting everyone in the group photo to capturing zoomed-in videos.

Plus, the Pixel 9 has approximately 20% longer battery life during active use with the screen on compared to Pixel 8.

The new Pixel 9 phones are powered by Google’s new custom silicon: Tensor G4. The company says it is the most efficient chip yet and was designed to improve everyday use cases, like opening apps or browsing the web.

Google says Tensor G4 was designed with Google DeepMind and is optimised to run the most advanced AI models.

It is the first processor to run Gemini Nano with Multimodality — which helps your phone understand text, images and audio.

To make sure the AI-powered experiences on your device run smoothly, Google have upgraded the memory across the entire Pixel 9 family, with 12GB of RAM for Pixel 9 and 16GB on Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Google recently announced a new way to interact with Gemini more naturally: Gemini Live, which will be available on Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold with a Google One AI Premium subscription.

Gemini Live lets you have a free-flowing conversation with Gemini — right from your phone or Pixel Buds.

So, whether you’re trying to plan a fun gathering, need help thinking through household repairs, or want help brainstorming gift ideas, Gemini Live will offer a new level of help in a more intuitive, natural way, according to the company.

Google has truly elevated the experience with the Pixel 9 and we can’t wait to see how the Pixel 9 Pro Fold performs when it is released soon.

THE DETAILS: BUYING THE PIXEL 9

You can order the Pixel 9 today from AU$1349 RRP and the Pixel 9 Pro XL from AU$1849 RRP from the Google Store, JB HIFI, Telstra, Optus, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, Vodafone.

The Pixel 9 is available in Obsidian and Porcelain, Wintergreen and Peony, with the Pixel 9 Pro XL available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel and Rose Quartz.

Pixel 9 Pro will be available later in Spring, starting from AU$1699 RRP.