We meet Google’s head of phone design Claude Zellweger to explore the new Pixel 9 series

Google Pixel 9 XL and Pro in Rose Quartz.

We’re in a meeting room in Google’s current central London HQ, high up on the upper floors of the Renzo Piano-designed Central St Giles complex. Before us on the table is a spread of mobile phones, representing the full design evolution of Google’s dedicated, own brand, in-house Pixel smartphone. These range from the original 2016 device all the way up to the new suite of Pixel 9 phones.

Blast from the past: the original Google Pixel from 2016 (Image credit: Google)