6 ms·

There's also the obligatory non-Pro model, and a refresh of the Pixel Fold: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9 https://store.google.com/us/product/pix

There's also the obligatory non-Pro model, and a refresh of the Pixel Fold: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9 https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9 https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9_pro_fold https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_9_pro_fold Usually the Pro is bigger than the non-Pro but this time they're exactly the same size, and they've added a bigger Pro XL variant. https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Google-Pixel-9,Google-Pixel-9-Pro,Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL/phones/12284,12285,12379 https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Google-Pixel-9,Google... The Pro and Pro XL appear to have identical specs aside from the screen size/resolution and a slightly bigger battery in the XL.

appel 2y ago
I'm glad they finally went this route. I can't be the only one who usually wants the specs of the Pro but always opts for the smallest phone (p1, p3, p5 & now p8).
- nvy 2y ago
  Indeed, it's a good choice. My wife has been routinely annoyed that the phone with superior specs was/is always uncomfortably large for her hands.
- adamc 2y ago
  I did that with the Pixel 8. Although I don't really care about the better camera either.
- buu700 2y ago
  Pretty much in the same boat here. The P9P is around the same size as my P8 (0.1" shifted from depth to width), which is great news. I would pay more for a better camera, but I care more about compactness than camera quality.
- Sebguer 2y ago
  The funny thing is the Fold is actually the smallest phone by height, and the thickness change isn't as big as you'd think...
  - afavour 2y ago
    The price change, on the other hand…
- ClassyJacket 2y ago
  Same. I wish you could get a Galaxy S Ultra, with the stylus in a smaller size.
- samstave 2y ago
  As likely anyone on HN is to hold: I have a bunch of old phones. How harvest sensors, cams, thingamathings and have a new cadre of people who can build plans to take sensor THING from PHONEA and CAMERA from PHONEB and etc... and build a thing where these already known devices can be harvested and incorporated into projects, products, etc... and not landfil.?
- jncfhnb 2y ago
  Isn’t this equivalent to just not offering you the smaller, lower spec phone then? Per your decision tree?
- ruthmarx 2y ago
  My issues is the smallest of pixel phones are still to big. I don't want anything bigger than the smallest Pixel 4 ideally. I've moved to FairPhone anyway because there are concerns more important than compactness.
jorvi 2y ago
Would have been nice if they did a regular size (5.8”) for normal people and 6.8” for the genetic freaks with dinner plate hands. 6.3” is still huge. 5.8” is workable. And it’s not like there’s no precedent, the Zenfone 10 is also 5.8” and is adored for it.
- jsheard 2y ago
  > the Zenfone 10 is also 5.8” and is adored for it. Then they released the enormous 6.8" Zenfone 11 Ultra this March, with still no indication that there will be a smaller variant. The small Zenfone 10 might not have sold well enough to justify doing another one.
- elromulous 2y ago
  The Zenfone 10 traded height for depth. It was very thick.
  - mminer237 2y ago
    That's 100% fine. I've never cared how thick my phone is in the least.
    - eks391 2y ago
      If you rotate the phone backwards 90°, you can reach all corners but the depth will be like 7"
    - dataflow 2y ago
      For a single phone you don't care, but for folks with a separate work phone, this suddenly matters a fair bit.
  - jeltz 2y ago
    And I love it for it. Most modern phones are too thin.
- deergomoo 2y ago
  I long for the days of being able to reach all four corners of my phone screen with one thumb. I had an iPhone 12 mini which was a wonderful respite, but apparently us small phone fans are a small enough demographic to not warrant serving. What's extra annoying is I never felt the need to use a case when phones were smaller, but one-handed corner reaching upsets the balance of the phone in my hand now to the point where it feels like a necessity—making the phone even bigger and bulkier.
petesergeant 2y ago
The only thing that could pry an iPhone from my hands is a foldable screen. I have envy.
- Volundr 2y ago
  I have a zFlip 5 and love it. I was pretty hesitant about switching (Pixel user before) but I like the smaller size in my pocket when folded and there seems to be a psychological effect of closing it when I'm done that results in my mindlessly fiddling with it less.
  - leptons 2y ago
    >psychological effect of closing it When I close mine, my dog immediately jumps up because he knows I'm done sitting down messing with my phone.
    - RamRodification 2y ago
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clicker_training https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clicker_training
    - iknowstuff 2y ago
      This would destroy me. I’d avoid closing it so that I don’t disturb the pooch. Forever on my phone.
      - leptons 2y ago
        My dog sleeps most of the day. I get about 10% of the amount of sleep that he does. I'm fine disturbing his sleep once in a while, especially when he's the one that wakes me up early almost every day. I love my dog, but his comfort comes second to mine.
- listless 2y ago
  You and me both. I consider switching a few times a year just for this.
lancesells 2y ago
The Pixel and iPhone are really seeming homogenous with each other. The marketing seems similar, typefaces used, the naming conventions are close to the same, the airbrushed image generators, the photos app marketing that's turning your personal photos into a photoshoot with editing capabilities. On top of that you've got the same earbuds form factor, smart watches, etc.
- echelon 2y ago
  I wish we had more than two phone giants. This is aggravating. Unfortunately due to their market dominance and muddling of (hardware, OS, software distribution, and platform ecosystem), it's almost impossible to disentangle. It'd be amazing if the DOJ made these companies only offer one slice of those four things. There would be so much competition and a wild variety of new things being tried.
  - hibikir 2y ago
    As far as the phone hardware goes, Google isn't much of a giant worldwide: Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei and probably a few more outsell Google. The pixel is downright rare outside of the US.
    - jsheard 2y ago
      They don't even sell Pixels in most places, the Pixel 9 series is launching in 32 countries, except the Pixel 9 Fold which is only launching in 19. Believe it or not that's a significant improvement from the Pixel 8 series and first Fold which debuted in only 20 and 4 countries respectively.
    - hotdeo 2y ago
      Pixels were the best selling android smartphone of 2023 in Japan. It's gained a lot of popularity recently here in Japan.
      - throw-the-towel 2y ago
JoshTriplett 2y ago
Sadly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold seems to have the camera of the base Pixel 9 (non-Pro), rather than the much nicer camera of the Pixel 9 Pro.
- html5cat 2y ago
  Thanks for highlighting! If anything, based on compare page, it seems that camera setup is closer to previous gen Fold rather than Pixel 9. Barely any changes.
knodi123 2y ago
And the XL has higher audio gain. But yeah, those are the only differences.

appel 2y ago

I'm glad they finally went this route. I can't be the only one who usually wants the specs of the Pro but always opts for the smallest phone (p1, p3, p5 & now p8).

nvy 2y ago
Indeed, it's a good choice. My wife has been routinely annoyed that the phone with superior specs was/is always uncomfortably large for her hands.
adamc 2y ago
I did that with the Pixel 8. Although I don't really care about the better camera either.
buu700 2y ago
Pretty much in the same boat here. The P9P is around the same size as my P8 (0.1" shifted from depth to width), which is great news. I would pay more for a better camera, but I care more about compactness than camera quality.
Sebguer 2y ago
The funny thing is the Fold is actually the smallest phone by height, and the thickness change isn't as big as you'd think...
- afavour 2y ago
  The price change, on the other hand…
ClassyJacket 2y ago
Same. I wish you could get a Galaxy S Ultra, with the stylus in a smaller size.
samstave 2y ago
As likely anyone on HN is to hold: I have a bunch of old phones. How harvest sensors, cams, thingamathings and have a new cadre of people who can build plans to take sensor THING from PHONEA and CAMERA from PHONEB and etc... and build a thing where these already known devices can be harvested and incorporated into projects, products, etc... and not landfil.?
jncfhnb 2y ago
Isn’t this equivalent to just not offering you the smaller, lower spec phone then? Per your decision tree?
ruthmarx 2y ago
My issues is the smallest of pixel phones are still to big. I don't want anything bigger than the smallest Pixel 4 ideally. I've moved to FairPhone anyway because there are concerns more important than compactness.

jorvi 2y ago

Would have been nice if they did a regular size (5.8”) for normal people and 6.8” for the genetic freaks with dinner plate hands. 6.3” is still huge. 5.8” is workable. And it’s not like there’s no precedent, the Zenfone 10 is also 5.8” and is adored for it.

jsheard 2y ago
> the Zenfone 10 is also 5.8” and is adored for it. Then they released the enormous 6.8" Zenfone 11 Ultra this March, with still no indication that there will be a smaller variant. The small Zenfone 10 might not have sold well enough to justify doing another one.
elromulous 2y ago
The Zenfone 10 traded height for depth. It was very thick.
- mminer237 2y ago
  That's 100% fine. I've never cared how thick my phone is in the least.
  - eks391 2y ago
    If you rotate the phone backwards 90°, you can reach all corners but the depth will be like 7"
  - dataflow 2y ago
    For a single phone you don't care, but for folks with a separate work phone, this suddenly matters a fair bit.
- jeltz 2y ago
  And I love it for it. Most modern phones are too thin.
deergomoo 2y ago
I long for the days of being able to reach all four corners of my phone screen with one thumb. I had an iPhone 12 mini which was a wonderful respite, but apparently us small phone fans are a small enough demographic to not warrant serving. What's extra annoying is I never felt the need to use a case when phones were smaller, but one-handed corner reaching upsets the balance of the phone in my hand now to the point where it feels like a necessity—making the phone even bigger and bulkier.

petesergeant 2y ago

The only thing that could pry an iPhone from my hands is a foldable screen. I have envy.

Volundr 2y ago
I have a zFlip 5 and love it. I was pretty hesitant about switching (Pixel user before) but I like the smaller size in my pocket when folded and there seems to be a psychological effect of closing it when I'm done that results in my mindlessly fiddling with it less.
- leptons 2y ago
  >psychological effect of closing it When I close mine, my dog immediately jumps up because he knows I'm done sitting down messing with my phone.
  - RamRodification 2y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clicker_training https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clicker_training
  - iknowstuff 2y ago
    This would destroy me. I’d avoid closing it so that I don’t disturb the pooch. Forever on my phone.
    - leptons 2y ago
      My dog sleeps most of the day. I get about 10% of the amount of sleep that he does. I'm fine disturbing his sleep once in a while, especially when he's the one that wakes me up early almost every day. I love my dog, but his comfort comes second to mine.
listless 2y ago
You and me both. I consider switching a few times a year just for this.

lancesells 2y ago

The Pixel and iPhone are really seeming homogenous with each other. The marketing seems similar, typefaces used, the naming conventions are close to the same, the airbrushed image generators, the photos app marketing that's turning your personal photos into a photoshoot with editing capabilities. On top of that you've got the same earbuds form factor, smart watches, etc.

echelon 2y ago
I wish we had more than two phone giants. This is aggravating. Unfortunately due to their market dominance and muddling of (hardware, OS, software distribution, and platform ecosystem), it's almost impossible to disentangle. It'd be amazing if the DOJ made these companies only offer one slice of those four things. There would be so much competition and a wild variety of new things being tried.
- hibikir 2y ago
  As far as the phone hardware goes, Google isn't much of a giant worldwide: Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei and probably a few more outsell Google. The pixel is downright rare outside of the US.
  - jsheard 2y ago
    They don't even sell Pixels in most places, the Pixel 9 series is launching in 32 countries, except the Pixel 9 Fold which is only launching in 19. Believe it or not that's a significant improvement from the Pixel 8 series and first Fold which debuted in only 20 and 4 countries respectively.
  - hotdeo 2y ago
    Pixels were the best selling android smartphone of 2023 in Japan. It's gained a lot of popularity recently here in Japan.
    - throw-the-towel 2y ago

JoshTriplett 2y ago

Sadly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold seems to have the camera of the base Pixel 9 (non-Pro), rather than the much nicer camera of the Pixel 9 Pro.

html5cat 2y ago
Thanks for highlighting! If anything, based on compare page, it seems that camera setup is closer to previous gen Fold rather than Pixel 9. Barely any changes.

knodi123 2y ago

And the XL has higher audio gain. But yeah, those are the only differences.