Is Google stealing from Apple again?

We nonetheless have over eight months to go earlier than we count on to see the Pixel 9 collection. Nevertheless, because of dependable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka OnLeaks), we have already got renders for the telephones.

These leaks are definitely fascinating to see this early within the cycle. Extra importantly, although, they inform a model new story for the Pixel line as a complete. I wish to break down that story right here (and within the video above) to see what Google’s objectives could be in 2024.

Earlier than I get too deep into issues, I wish to give somewhat refresh on the renders themselves. You’ll be able to see the alleged Google Pixel 9 Professional above and the common Pixel 9 under.

The very first thing you’ll discover with the Pixel 9 Professional leak are the flat sides across the cellphone. That is one thing you would possibly say is “borrowed” from the iPhone, however we’ll contact extra on that in a bit. You’ll additionally discover that the digicam bar has been up to date. The curved corners of the digicam bar remind me of the Materials Design language that you just see all through the Android working system itself. That is little doubt deliberate, as Google controls Pixel {hardware} and Android, so it’s attempting to make these look extra cohesive.

Subsequent up, we’ve leaked renders for the Pixel 9. These have been essentially the most stunning renders of the batch as a result of they appear almost similar to the Pixel 9 Professional. Probably the most vital distinction between them is dimension: The Pixel 9 needs to be about the identical dimension because the Pixel 8, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional renders are about the identical dimension because the Pixel 8 Professional. So this might be a compact flagship with what appears to be the identical triple-lens digicam that we noticed on the Pixel 9 Professional leaks. If these renders show correct, this might be the primary time ever {that a} Professional-level Pixel and the non-Professional counterpart have been this comparable.

So what’s the story right here?

When these renders first got here out, individuals have been very fast to level out that flat sides are an iPhone factor. In 2020, Apple launched the iPhone 12 collection, and that introduced again flat sides to smartphones. Since then, we’ve seen a variety of corporations comply with go well with. The Galaxy S24 collection, for instance, has flat sides throughout all fashions. The ASUS Zenfone 10 additionally has flat sides. And each cellphone that Nothing has launched up to now — the Nothing Telephone 1 and Nothing Telephone 2 — has flat sides as nicely.

It could be very straightforward to say that Google is simply copying Apple and that Samsung, ASUS, and Nothing are all doing the identical. Nevertheless, I wish to deliver up one thing Carl Pei (Nothing’s CEO and co-founder) mentioned some time again. When his firm launched the primary cellphone in its roster, the Nothing Telephone 1, individuals criticized it as a result of it regarded an excessive amount of like an iPhone, particularly due to its flat sides.

Pei defended this resolution by arguing that flat sides are merely essentially the most environment friendly approach to design a smartphone. You’ll be able to see what he means within the photos above. You probably have a field, it could actually match a certain quantity of issues inside. However if you happen to curve the edges of the field throughout, now you possibly can match much less stuff in it. Smartphones work the identical method. When you begin including curves throughout the edges of the cellphone, you received’t have the ability to put as many elements in it as you’d a extra squared-off cellphone.

After all, the trade-off right here is that the cellphone is rather less ergonomic in your hand. However this can be a worthwhile trade-off since you’re going to have the ability to match larger batteries, bigger or a better variety of cameras, extra cooling, and all types of different elements that you just wish to put in your smartphones these days.

In the long run, you’ll need to resolve what you suppose Google is admittedly doing right here. Is Google designing these Pixel 9 telephones with effectivity in thoughts, as Carl Pei would counsel? Or is Google simply copying Apple as a result of that’s what Android OEMs do? I’m of the opinion that it’s somewhat little bit of Column A and somewhat little bit of Column B. I feel Google is seeking to Apple and saying, “Hey, that design actually sells,” and likewise saying, “Hey, with this design, we will match extra elements into the cellphone than with our earlier designs.” It’s a win-win.

Ultimately, you possibly can select to purchase a Pixel 9 or purchase one other cellphone if you happen to worth higher ergonomics and also you don’t need your cellphone to look an excessive amount of like an Apple machine. However I don’t suppose this is so simple as Google simply copying Apple.

The flat sides of the leaked renders inform a brand new story, however so does the concept that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional are basically the identical cellphone, with one simply being smaller than the opposite. That is one more factor that Apple has completed for a few years now. The iPhone 15 Professional, for instance, is only a smaller model of the iPhone 15 Professional Max. Clearly, the Professional Max does supply some further options, most notably the higher-tier telephoto lens. It’s additionally bodily larger, so it has a bigger show and a bigger battery. However for all intents and functions, the Professional and Professional Max are the identical.

Though this has been Apple’s technique for years, Android hasn’t actually adopted go well with. Let’s look once more on the Galaxy S24 collection for example. The bottom Galaxy S24 just isn’t a Professional-level cellphone, and the Galaxy S24 Plus is only a larger and barely extra highly effective model of it. You must go to the Galaxy S24 Extremely to get all of the options that you’d count on from what we might contemplate a Professional-level cellphone, together with that extra highly effective 5x telephoto lens. Neither the Galaxy S24 nor the S24 Plus is a extra compact model of the Galaxy S24 Extremely. That is very true exterior of the US, the place the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus have an Exynos processor as a substitute of the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The identical factor goes with the Pixel line. The Pixel 8 isn’t only a smaller model of the Pixel 8 Professional; it’s lacking too many Professional options to be that.

So, within the Android world, it is advisable to decide: do I need a Professional-level cellphone that’s large, or do I need a not-so-Professional-level cellphone that’s extra compact? iPhone customers haven’t needed to make this resolution. They will get an iPhone 15 Professional and obtain virtually all of the options of the Professional Max however in a smaller (and cheaper) chassis. So, if Google does mimic this technique with the Pixel 9 collection, it will be a brand new method for the Android ecosystem — a minimum of when wanting on the market over the previous 5 years or so.

These two vital doable modifications for the Pixel 9 collection begin to paint a brand new thought of the upcoming Pixel household and its worth, which brings me to pricing.

If the Pixel 9 has the identical triple-lens digicam because the Pixel 9 Professional and most, if not all, of the Professional options that we count on to additionally see on the Pixel 9 Professional, then that cellphone won’t be a $700 flagship. A cellphone just like the Pixel 9 that we’ve seen in these leaks goes to be considerably dearer — presumably even simply as costly because the Pixel 8 Professional is right now, which is round $1,000.

After all, that will imply the Pixel 9 Professional could be much more costly than that. If true, this would depart a large hole in Google’s portfolio. On the low finish, you’d have the Pixel 7a (or the Pixel 8a, which we count on to return out this 12 months), which prices $500. If the Pixel 9 begins at $1,000, that’s an infinite hole within the $600 — $900 vary the place no cellphone would exist within the Pixel household.

It’s doable that Google would depart the Pixel 8 collection lively, lower the pricing, and use them to fill in that hole. Nevertheless, I do wish to level out that in December 2022, we posted a large leak of Google’s Pixel roadmap for the following few years. In that leak, we realized from a trusted supply that Google deliberate to launch three telephones within the mainline Pixel collection in 2024. If true, that would come with the bigger and smaller Pixel 9 Professional telephones (which we’ve already seen leaks for), in addition to an precise base-level Pixel 9, which might be a smaller machine with two lenses on the again, i.e., extra much like what we’ve seen from the Pixel 8, Pixel 7, and Pixel 6.

This may permit Google to imitate the iPhone technique almost in full, with a Pixel 9 appearing as an iPhone 15, a Pixel 9 Professional appearing as an iPhone 15 Professional, and a Pixel 9 Professional XL (heh) appearing as an iPhone 15 Professional Max. All that will be lacking could be a replication of the iPhone 15 Plus, which, let’s be sincere, Google doesn’t want (neither does Apple).

If our supply was correct, we must always count on one other cellphone to leak within the Pixel 9 collection, which might fill that hole that I simply mentioned. After all, we haven’t seen it but, so it’s doable that it doesn’t exist. Perhaps Google modified its thoughts, or our supply was mistaken. Perhaps Steve Hemmerstoffer merely hasn’t gained entry to it but. There are all types of potentialities right here because it’s so early on within the sport. Nevertheless, we’re nonetheless ready for one more Pixel 9 leak, and if one lands, we’ll be very enthusiastic about it as a result of it should imply our supply was right. And if our supply was proper about this, they’re most likely proper about all the pieces else seen in that Pixel roadmap leak.

We’d love to listen to your feedback about this. Would you purchase considered one of these Pixel 9 telephones? In that case, which one? Are you OK with Google copying from Apple to tweak the Pixel line? Pontificate within the ballot above and within the feedback under.