Over the past five years or so, the smartphone industry has been criticized for its perceived stagnancy in design, and it’s easy to see why. Every new phone is essentially a glass slab with rounded corners and an edge-to-edge display. That, of course, ignores new concepts like foldable phones, but for the vast majority of customers simply looking for a do-it-all phone, there aren’t really all that many distinct looking devices. But since the launch of the Pixel 6 in 2021, Google has been trying to do something about that. The Pixel 6 was the first of a new generation of Pixel phones, culminating in the latest and greatest Pixel 9 series.
Google Pixel 9
These devices are slab phones, to be sure, but they make use of design elements largely exclusive to the Pixel. For example, in a world of square back-left camera modules, Google instead uses a long pronounced camera bar on the back of its devices – except the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which does indeed have a rectangular camera module.
“[A unique looking phone is] what our users expect – they want a phone design that is on the cutting edge in terms of size, comfort, and performance, but they want it to be recognized across the room,” said Claude Zellweger, Director of Design at Google, in an interview with Design Milk. “That said, our design follows a clear progression of camera technology.”
Google Pixel 9
The series is the most impressive slate of Pixel phones to date. It’s made up of not one or two devices, but a hefty four new phones, ranging in price and functionality, essentially offering something for everyone willing to spend around $800 or more. There’s the base Pixel 9 (available in Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, and Obsidian) with its dual camera array and solid display, and then there’s the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL (both available in Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, and Obsidian), which have upgraded displays and a third camera on the back. Lastly, there’s the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (available in Porcelain and Obsidian), which is the spiritual successor to the original Pixel Fold, and offers a taller build and similar high-end performance as the Pixel 9 Pro.
Indeed, the now-famous camera bar is perhaps more pronounced on the new phones than it ever has been before. Sure, the changes to the camera bar’s design are minute, but they also contribute to a more modular feel to the phone. For this generation, the camera bar stands alone, avoiding blending into the frame of the phone in favor of a protruded, emphasized look. But it’s not all about look, says Zellweger.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
“Our aim was to improve every aspect of our phone – Evolve the camera design to reflect our commitment to photography and AI. Increase screen while reducing device size, improving grip and comfort, increasing durability and repairability,” he continued. “The new phone profile helps all aspects of the user experience. The camera bar helps in-hand and on-table stability.”
Of course, many other phones out there aim to distinguish themselves in design too, but for the most part they do so with different build materials and color options. There’s nothing wrong with that. Higher-end build materials are always good, and I love a colorful phone. But the fact is that the majority of people put a case on their phone immediately, making such a device unrecognizable. That’s where the new phones differ a little, again, namely through the camera module.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
“With Pixel 9 we designed a case that truly completes the phone,” said Zellweger. “The camera opening is perfectly tailored to complement the volume of our best-in-class camera.”
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Obviously, simply making the camera a bar instead of a rectangle isn’t going to radically shift smartphone design in the long run, but it’s great to see companies at least experimenting a little with the tried-and-true smartphone shape. Google, of course, is perhaps experimenting a little more than others, both by making slab phones that look a little more distinctive, and by building foldable devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (even if the foldable device, for some reason, has a more traditional camera module). Hopefully, that tradition continues with the next iterations of the Pixel series, but for now, it’s great to see an expansive, unique-looking lineup in the Pixel 9 series.
Camera on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
You can now order the Pixel 9 series straight from Google. The Pixel 9 comes at $799, while the Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999 and the Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold costs $1,799. for more information, visit store.google.com.
