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 Germany, 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 right now).
First, let’s look at the Google Pixel 9. Both Google and Amazon offer a $150 bonus for trading in an old device – and that’s a good thing, because their trade-in valuations are terrible. A Pixel 8 in good condition is only worth $186, which goes down to $336 with the bonus thrown in. An iPhone 15 brings a more respectable $510 (including the bonus), while a Galaxy S23 is worth $325, less than the Pixel. For older devices, like the Pixel 7 or Galaxy S22, the trade-in bonus is typically more than the trade-in value.
Google Pixel 9
coming august 22nd
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
€150 extra trade-in value (ends September 5)
The Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL both get a slightly higher trade-in bonus of €200. You also get a free year of Gemini Advanced (normally €22 per month).
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. The Obsidian Pro XL even has a 1TB option. Google may be stocking up on more color/storage combos, but keep in mind the free storage upgrade offer ends on September 5.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
coming september 16th
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
€200 extra trade-in value (ends September 5)
Another perk to look out for is the discount if you buy a Pro phone with the new Google Pixel Watch 3 – you’ll get €100 off the watch with a Pixel 9 Pro, and €150 with a 9 Pro XL. We’ll dive into the Pixel Watch pricing separately in a moment.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
coming august 22nd
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
€200 extra trade-in value (ends 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 €632 (including the bonus), a Galaxy Z Fold4 (the most recent option in the trade-in menu) will set you back €512 (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 Pixel 9 Pro Fold
coming september 4th
free storage upgrade (ends September 5)
€300 extra trade-in value (ends September 5)
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 only came 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 marks the first time its custom Tensor chips have ventured into the TWS earbud form factor. It promises huge improvements in noise cancellation (2x in the 400Hz-2kHz range). And ANC automatically adjusts to your environment. The earbuds are stem-free (cough, Samsung, cough) and promise long battery life (8 hours for the buds with ANC on, up to 30 hours with the case).
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