Serial leaker Steve ‘OnLeaks’ Hemmerstoffer recently posted apparent renders showing off the Pixel 9. This meant that the two earlier devices he leaked were actually the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

In other words, we could be looking at three Pixel 9 series flagships coming later this year. This would be in line with our own leaked roadmap from 2022, which found that Google would introduce a smaller Pixel 9 Pro.

This is nevertheless a major shakeup to Google’s high-end phone line, which has long stuck with two models maximum. But it turns out that polled Android Authority readers really like the idea of a three-tier Pixel flagship family.

Are three Pixel flagships better than two?

Roughly 62% of polled readers said three Pixel 9 flagships were indeed better than two. It looks like one of the main driving factors for this result is that people want a pocket-friendly phone that still delivers Pro-level features. In fact, a couple of comments specifically pointed to the telephoto camera.

User linuxsensei was one of these readers:

I definitely look forward to the Pixel 9, as I would like the telephoto without a bigger size.

“Have had no interest in either the smaller Pixels without optical telephoto or phablet slabs over 6 inches,” user albin noted, adding that a small but “full spec” Pixel 9 Pro would be in the running to replace their current handset.

Trepidation for a Pixel 9 trio?

User Kira suggests that Google could be inspired by its rivals, which offer ultra-premium prices for their top-end models:

Basically, Google just wants to sell (a) $1K+ flagship like Samsung and Apple with all the bells and whistles.

In any event, 27.5% of respondents reckon that this three-tier Pixel setup could result in even more feature disparity. After all, the company neglected the Pixel 8 at first.

However, 10% of polled readers haven’t made up their minds yet. That’s understandable as we still don’t know much about these three Pixel 9 phones. Pricing will be an important factor here, as the Tensor-powered Pixels have generally been aggressively priced. But the cynic in me is worried that Google is laying the groundwork for a hyper-premium (~$1,100+) Pixel XL down the line.

Either way, it looks like we should expect a massive shakeup in Q3 this year. So fingers crossed that Google indeed delivers a pocket-friendly Pro phone with all the Pro features you expect. And here’s hoping that the company still takes an aggressive approach to pricing.