Technology

Do you have a favorite Pixel 9 color? Good luck trying to buy

Published

6 days ago

August 25, 2024

Google’s Pixel 9 series is here, and if you’re thinking of buying one, chances are you have a specific colorway in mind.

Whether it’s the vibrant Wintergreen or the more muted Rose Quartz, there are many interesting finishes to choose from.

Or so it may seem. Disappointingly, color availability varies wildly depending on the model you choose. In fact, Porcelain (off-white) and Obsidian (black) are the only ones offered on all four phones.

With the 9 Pro Fold you’re limited to those two, while the 9 Pro and Pro XL add Rose Quartz (light pink) and Hazel (gray) to the list. The regular Pixel 9 also gets two additional colors, but they are different: Peony (darker pink) and Wintergreen (light green).

Googling

So frustrating so far. If you wanted that Rose Quartz finish but don’t want a huge phone, you’re out of luck. You can find a case with a similar color, but it is not the same.

If you opted for the Pixel 9 or 9 Pro Fold, that’s where the annoyances end. Both storage options (128 or 256 GB for Pixel 9, 256 or 512 GB for 9 Pro Fold) on those phones are available in all colors.

However, things get even more complicated if you want one of the other handsets. Do you want the porcelain or rose quartz versions of the Pixel 9 Pro? You’ll have to make do with 128 or 256GB of storage in the UK, or just 256GB in the US. The 512GB version is exclusive to Hazel or Obsidian finishes.

But it’s the Pixel 9 Pro XL that wins the unfortunate prize for most complicated purchasing process.

The Rose Quartz model is bizarrely limited to just the 256GB model, despite the fact that Porcelain and Hazel finishes are also offered with 128 or 512GB of storage.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

If you want 1 TB of storage space, then go for it to have to get an Obsidian model. It’s only available on the 9 Pro XL in the UK, but also on the 9 Pro in the US.

Why offer such interesting colors if they will only be available in a limited number of configurations? We’ve reached out to Google for clarification on this and will update this article if we receive a response.

But assuming nothing changes, you could be in for a nasty surprise when you go to buy your Pixel 9 phone.

The situation is explained in our best Pixel 9 deals guide, which includes several outright and contract options in the UK and US.

You may also want to know the truth about Pixel 9 charging speeds.