We’re still months away from the launch of thePixel 9 series, but you know how it goes with Google: it’s never too early for leaks. Unsurprisingly, we already know a great deal about the company’s next flagship smartphone — including the fact that we are likely to see three models this year in the lineup instead of the usual two. And that new third Pixel 9 device has the potential to be the premium compact Android smartphone of our dreams.
A few days back, notable leaker OnLeaks revealed that there will bethree Google flagships coming this fall. It’s not just a new addition, but an entire shake-up of how the lineup will be positioned and laddered. According to him, there will be a regular, relatively small, Pixel 9, a larger and beefed-up Pixel 9 Pro XL, and another premium offering in the Pixel 9 Pro, bringing the best of both worlds in a powerful yet compact design that will sit between the two. And it’s this last one that is particularly exciting as it has the potential to meet an unmet need in the smartphone market: an uncompromised, high-end, relatively compact Android phone.
Take flagships and make them small
It’s as simple as that
This shift is particularly interesting, even if it’s onewe had hints ofhappening more than a year ago. We find this surprising because compact Android phones are an endangered species. High-end ones, even more so. In fact, if you look at the current crop of smartphones sold in North America, the only real remaining small smartphone is theSamsung Galaxy S24. While it is a part of Samsung’s latest flagship series, it pales in comparison to the likes of the S24 Ultra or even the Pixel 8 Pro.
New Pixel 9 renders point to 3 Google flagships coming this fall
Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL
Basically, if you want a high-end compact phone, the iPhone 15 Pro is probably your only option. Until last year, we had the Zenfone series lifting the load on behalf of all Android devices, but even Asus moved away from the one-handed experience with the Zenfone 11 Ultra. It’s just another reminder of how difficult it is to make compact phones that are not only great but also profitable as a business. If Apple — the company with one of the most efficient supply chains — had to abandon small phones, I have little hope from other OEMs.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro could pick up where the Asus Zenfone 10 dropped off.
Enter Google Pixel 9 Pro. Yes, it might not be as tiny as some of theadorable phones of yesterday, but it seems like it will still pack quite a punch while being significantly smaller than the Ultras and the Pro Maxes of the world.
What the Google Pixel 9 Pro has in its favor is the existence of better camera hardware, including a dedicated telephoto shooter for the first time in a small form factor in a Pixel. Combined with a competent battery, a (hopefully) better-performing Tensor G4 processor, and a slew of AI capabilities, and this could be the pocketable 6.1-inch Android device of your dreams.
But there’s still plenty of room for error
Let’s hope Google knows it
We’re sure Google knows what it’s getting itself into. On one hand, it will finally bring some competition to the iPhone 16 Pro when it launches. On the other hand, it is almost certain to use this differentiation to sell its 2024 lineup at a higher price than before. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pixel 9 Pro is more expensive than the Pixel 8 Pro, and if the Pixel 9 Pro XL goes even higher up — even though it is practically the successor to the $1,000 Pixel 8 Pro.
Google will hope that this unique mix of ergonomics and features will be enough for thePixel 9 Pro to stand out and command a higher selling price. Nothing wrong with that in today’s competitive landscape, but the Pixel series has always been a notch cheaper than the rest. If Google wants to compete with the ultra-premium smartphones, it needs to deliver a near-perfect experience.As we pointed out over the weekend, issues such as heating, selective and slow updates, poor network reception, inconsistent battery life, and other screen problems will not be as easy to forgive once Google crosses the $1,000 mark.
Google’s premium Pixel 9 plans feel too big, too soon
Google is headed out of the budget flagship game, but at what cost?
A move to a triple-flagship strategy also raises further questions about how Google will manage to distinguish the affordable A series going forward. The upcomingGoogle Pixel 8Ais shaping up to be very similar to the existing Pixel 8 — not just in terms of features and specifications, but also in terms of pricing. It is unlikely to be the easy-to-recommend affordable smartphone that its predecessors were. And with one more model to fit in the lineup while everything is getting more expensive, it’s easy to expect Google to entirely abandon the A-series next year and simply drop prices on existing models to occupy that space.
Of course, with more than a year to go until that’s even an option for Google to pursue, it’s not entirely worth considering just yet. In the meantime, I am excited to see what the small Google Pixel 9 Pro brings to the table and if it can bring back glory to compact Android flagships. If we can’t get down to sub-6-inch displays, this might just be the next-best thing.
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The Pixel 8 Pro is impressive, but these key areas need to be improved
Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 8 is Google’s best phone yet, and it’s the most distinct regular model when compared to the Pro version. It comes with a wonderful form factor that fits well in the hands and has the usual software prowess that you expect from a Pixel.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is still a good deal in 2025, with plenty of software support and a premium flagship experience. The Tensor G3 is powerful enough for most tasks, and you’ll enjoy plenty of Pixel extras on Android 15. If you’re in the market for a Pixel but don’t want to pay flagship prices, the Pixel 8 Pro is worth a look.
