6 design details in the new Pixel devices

The Pixel 9 phones, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Watch 3 are here, and they each come with beautiful new designs and plenty of helpful updates. When work began on the new products, the design team was tasked with advancing the categories while also delivering what people have come to love and expect from Pixel. “We took the approach of what we called ‘radical refinement,’” says Isabelle Olsson, VP of home design and wearables at Google. “We wanted to build on the foundational design elements that people have come to love.” Each product category is unique, Isabelle explains, but at the same time their designs are cohesive across the portfolio, and all products share the same level of craftsmanship.

There was a desire to ensure that the form factors felt as advanced as their capabilities. "As AI transforms our mobile experiences, the tactility, durability and beauty of the objects that enable it matter more than ever,” says Director of Industrial Design Claude Zellweger.

Here, the two Google designers give us the download on some details in the new Pixel launches worth a closer look.

1. The Pixel’s form is reimagined with a more sculpted design and luxurious finishes.

For the first time, Pixel 9 Pro comes in two sizes — Pixel 9 Pro is 6.3” and Pixel 9 Pro XL is 6.8”. All the new Pixel 9 phones feature an elegant, new sculpted form with more rounded corners and a flat glass front and back — which Claude says follows “a logical progression of size, comfort and strength.” The sculpted new design not only looks great, but feels great in hand. The phones are crafted with beautiful materials and finishes: The satin matte back on Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL is complemented by the dual-finish camera bar and gleaming, polished metal sides. With the completely re-engineered design, the phones are now twice as durable than prior generations so they can better withstand the inevitable drops. And the phones were designed with the cases in mind, so they blend beautifully into the phone’s design.

2. Pixel meets three new colors: Wintergreen, Rose Quartz and Peony.

“We always strive to create colors that make the product’s design shine while also delivering a range of options that appeal to different preferences,” Isabelle says. Part of the team’s inspiration for creating new shades comes from everyday items, and that was no exception while developing this year’s new colors — Wintergreen, Rose Quartz and Peony. The two pink shades were inspired by Japanese candies, a sneaker, a Cosmopolitan — yes, the cocktail! — and a leather bag, Isabelle says. “For Wintergreen, a few things we drew inspiration from were a candle from Santa Fe, a nail polish and a silk sock,” she adds.

3. The Pixel gets a tailored new camera design.

Pixel is known for the incredible photos it takes — which is why in recent generations, the design has spotlighted the device’s camera. And this year, Pixel 9 is evolving the much-loved camera bar design along the camera. Designers describe the new camera bar as the most elegant and efficient way to package the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL’s powerful multi-camera module. “It looks more purposeful and modern, evolving the signature element that people have come to associate with Pixel,” Claude says.

It features a strikingly simple geometry, in a nod to high end photography. Pixel 9 Pro Fold has an additional camera bar update, too: Claude says its new stacked lens layout is optimized for its foldable architecture, both mechanically and aesthetically. “This layout enables a larger camera module, so there’s more space for a larger battery,” he says. “And it complements the Fold’s asymmetry while still keeping a strong visual tie to the new Pro camera design.”

4. Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s new hinge gives it a satisfying feel — and enhanced durability.

“We’ve made big changes for our second-generation foldable,” Claude says. “This made it a truly ‘pro’ device.” Pixel 9 Pro Fold is more than 1.5mm thinner and 26 grams lighter than its predecessor. Part of that downsize is thanks to its totally redesigned hinge system, which is housed inside a new polished aluminum enclosure. To create this new system, engineers and designers worked together to study foldable objects of all kinds, Claude explains. “Our objective was to provide stability, precision, smoothness and, ultimately, satisfaction for the users,” he says. “After living with prototypes in our hands and pockets for weeks, the team zeroed in on the ideal hinge system, departing significantly from our first generation.”

The new hinge is more durable and offers a more fluid open-and-close interaction. And the precisely-machined enclosure provides the best possible hand feel — whether you’re right-handed or left-handed. It also makes the phone more durable by helping disperse the impact on drop.

5. Pixel Watch 3 brings the beautiful water droplet design to a new, larger size.

One big change for Pixel Watch 3 is that it now comes in two sizes: 41mm and an all-new 45mm option. Designers crafted the 3D cover glass that is central to the watch’s water drop design, reducing the bezels by 16% for our biggest (and brightest) displays yet. On the 45mm size, the new Actua Display has a 40% larger screen. This larger size comes to life with an exclusive new matte Hazel housing paired perfectly with a matching Hazel band, inspired by the outdoors and nature. The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 has a new band color option as well: Rose Quartz, pairing beautifully with a polished silver housing for a delightful pop of color.

6. Pixel Buds Pro 2 fit your ears even better — and have a striking new aesthetic.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature a new colored mesh for the buds’ caps. It’s a simpler, more approachable look that gives the buds a seamless effect. This more refined appearance also draws attention to the buds’ familiar circular shape.

Engineers, researchers and designers who worked on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also thoroughly researched how to build the new shape: They collected 45 million data points by scanning the ears of more than 3,200 people from all around the world to get a more comprehensive picture of diverse ear shapes and sizes.

“It really helped us understand how unique each ear is across a variety of dimensions — cavum width, height, depth, ear canal shapes, for example — and how small changes in geometry can make a tremendous difference in comfort, fit and stability,” Isabelle says. This research led to the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s updated “yoyo” form and more ear tip sizes, so the new Pixel Buds will fit a wider range of ears even more comfortably.