Google Pixel 9 Series Cameras: What to Expect

The upcoming Google Pixel 9 series is expected to be unveiled at the Made by Google event on August 13, and the rumor mill has been churning out details about the handsets’ camera capabilities. According to a recent report, the Pixel 9 series will feature upgraded cameras across the board, with the base model and Pro variants offering significant improvements.

The vanilla Google Pixel 9 is expected to retain the 50-megapixel Samsung GNK primary rear sensor from the Pixel 8, but it will get an upgraded ultrawide camera with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor. This is a significant upgrade from the 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 ultrawide camera found on the Pixel 8. The front camera is also expected to get autofocus, which may result in clearer images.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are expected to have identical camera setups, with the same 50-megapixel Samsung GNK sensor as the base model, but with upgraded ultrawide, telephoto, and selfie cameras. These cameras are said to use the 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor, which is a significant upgrade from the 48-megapixel Sony IMX787 sensor found on the Pixel 8 Pro. The telephoto cameras will reportedly come with optical image stabilization (OIS) support, while the front cameras will likely get autofocus, similar to the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, on the other hand, is expected to feature a slightly different camera setup. It will have a 48-megapixel Sony IMX787 primary rear sensor and a 10.5-megapixel OIS-supported Samsung 3J1 telephoto shooter, similar to the existing Google Pixel Fold. However, the book-style foldable is expected to carry a 12-megapixel Samsung 3LU sensor with an ultrawide lens and 10-megapixel Samsung 3K1 sensors for both its inner and outer selfie cameras. These changes may be perceived as a downgrade from the camera system of the current Pixel Fold model, which includes a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 ultrawide shooter, an 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 inner selfie camera, and a 10.5-megapixel Samsung 3J1 outer selfie camera.

The report suggests that these downgrades could be caused by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold being thinner, with a 2mm reduction in thickness compared to the Google Pixel Fold. The Google Pixel 9 series handsets are also expected to support 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) video recording at 30 frames per second, although it’s unclear if all or select models will support this feature. A future version of the Pixel Camera app is tipped to support 8K recording.

With the Google Pixel 9 series just around the corner, fans of the Pixel brand are eagerly awaiting the official reveal of these new handsets.