The Google Pixel 9 series is scheduled to launch globally on August 13th. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a number of leaks hinting at various specifications of the upcoming smartphone, from the display to the processor to the battery. Ahead of the official launch, a new report suggests that Google’s flagship device may not ship with Android 15 at launch, but instead run on an older operating system, bucking previous trends. However, the Pixel 9 series will be upgraded in terms of charging speed. Meanwhile, the storage configuration of the phone has also been leaked.
Google Pixel 9 operating system
The Google Pixel 9 series is expected to consist of four models: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 9 Pro XL, with the latter expected to launch later this year. As Android Headlines reports, all devices in the range will run last year’s Android 14 operating system.
Over the past few months, several Android 15 beta updates have been released to developers, reaching “platform stability” in June, but the update was delayed because it was not yet fully ready. According to reports, this is the first time that Google is introducing a flagship smartphone with an older operating system.
The Android 14 update was also delayed last year due to reported bugs that needed to be fixed. However, Google previewed the Pixel 8 series in September 2023 and launched it a month later. Therefore, this phone was launched with the Android 14 update. This most likely won’t happen this year as the Pixel 9 will be announced earlier. Models shipping in the first few days will apparently ship with Android 14, while models purchased after that may run Android 15 after the official announcement.
Google has promised seven years of software support for its future smartphones, including security patches for operating system updates and the removal of Pixel features. Google first announced this for the Pixel 8 series last year and is expected to expand to its flagship model in 2024. This means that the Pixel 9 series smartphones will enjoy original equipment manufacturer (OEM) software support until 2031.
Google Pixel 9 series charging and storage details
According to another report, the Pixel 9 series will come with 128GB of storage as standard. The standard model is available with 128GB and 256GB storage options. Both Pro models are now said to be available in four configurations: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB.
Last year’s Pixel Fold’s successor, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, will also be available in 128GB and 256GB storage variants, but only the latter will be sold in India, according to the report.
The base model Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM, while the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL models have 16GB of RAM. The report also suggests that Google could improve the charging speed of its upcoming smartphones. It’s estimated that the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro can be charged “up to 55% in about 30 minutes” using Google’s 45W USB Type-C charger. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, arguably the largest non-foldable smartphone in the Pixel 9 series, is said to “charge up to 70 percent in about 30 minutes.”
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
