By far the biggest launch this week was the arrival of the Google Pixel 9 SeriesThe search giant unveiled two new flagships, a new almost-flagship phone and a new foldable phone, all of which are currently up for pre-order.
In the UK, the phones come with a free storage upgrade – typically this means you get a 256GB model for the price of a 128GB model. However, for higher-tier phones you can get the 512GB model for the price of a 256GB model (the new Fold starts at 256GB, so 512GB is the only option at present).
First, let’s look at the Google Pixel 9. Both Google and Amazon are offering a £150 bonus for trading in an old device – and that’s a good thing, because the trade-in valuations are abysmal. A Pixel 8 in good condition is worth just £165, which works out at £315 with the bonus thrown in. An iPhone 15 will fetch a more respectable £463 (including the bonus), while a Galaxy S23 is worth £310, less than the Pixel. For older devices, like the Pixel 7 or Galaxy S22, the trade-in bonus is typically higher than the trade-in value.
Google Pixel 9
coming august 22nd
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
£150 extra trade-in value
The Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL both get a slightly higher trade-in bonus of £200, as well as a free year of Gemini Advanced (normally £19 per month).
Google Pixel 9 Pro
coming september 16th
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
£200 extra trade-in value
Keep in mind that there is some limited availability when it comes to color and storage choices. The Pixel 9 Pro XL in Rose Quartz, for example, only comes in 256GB. The little Pro maxes out at 256GB if you’re looking at the Porcelain and Rose Quartz variants, but if you step up to Hazel or Obsidian you’ll also see a 512GB option. Google may be stocking up on more color/storage combos, but keep in mind the free storage upgrade offer ends on September 5.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold bumps the trade-in bonus to £300, and you get a free upgrade to the 512GB model. The original Pixel Fold is worth £581 (including the bonus), a Galaxy Z Fold4 (the most recent option in the trade-in menu) will set you back £491 (again, this includes the £300 bonus). As we said, the trade-in deal is largely driven by the bonus, as the value for old phones is pretty poor. You do get a free year of Gemini Advanced, for what that’s worth.
Google has launched a new 45W charger, which you’ll need to get maximum charging speeds with the Pixel 9 Pro – the old 35W charger just won’t cut it. That said, if you have a USB-PD charger you’re happy with, you can skip this one.
The new Google Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, while the Watch 2 was only available in 41mm. The 45mm option gets you a larger 1.4” display (vs 1.2”) and a larger 420mAh battery. We’ve linked the Wi-Fi watches below, but you can get an LTE version for £100 more.
Finally, Google unveiled the new Pixel Buds Pro 2. This is the first time its custom Tensor chips have ventured into the TWS-buds form factor, but they promise huge improvements in noise cancellation (2x in the 400Hz to 2kHz range). And ANC that automatically adjusts to your environment. The buds are stem-free (cough, Samsung, cough) and promise long battery life (8 hours with the buds on with ANC on, up to 30 hours with the case).
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