Google intends to repeat the process in 2024.
In 2016, Google made a significant shift to the way it manufactures smartphones, and according to a recent report, the new strategy is finally beginning to bear fruit. In the year 2023, the Android manufacturer achieved a significant milestone by selling ten million Pixel phones. There is little doubt that these numbers are significantly higher than sales from the previous Nexus phone programme; but, Google is still a very long way from becoming a big participant in the competitive market for smartphone hardware.
Despite the fact that the report originates from Nekkei Asia, Google does not normally make public announcements regarding the official quantity of Pixel phones. The news outlet Nekkei asserts that it has a source that has direct knowledge of Google’s objectives. This source claims that not only has Google attained 10 million sales, but it has also established a “ambitious” target of achieving the same level of success in 2024.
There is no information provided by Nikke regarding which smartphones accounted for the majority of Google’s sales; however, it is likely that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are at the bottom of the list. We are willing to bet that the biggest sellers were the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7a. Although the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro did not become available for purchase until October 2023, Google’s intentions to reach 10 million units for the year indicate that the company is enthusiastic about the sales of its most recent Pixel product up to this point.
On the other hand, when compared to the other companies in the industry, Google’s achievement of 10 million units is a mere drop in the bucket. According to other statistics, Samsung sold approximately 226 million mobile devices in 2023. This figure is amazing, but it is slightly lower than the 234 million units that Apple sold. This marks a slight increase for Apple, while the majority of other companies, including Samsung, have experienced a decline. On the other hand, Google does have potential for expansion. Google Pixel phones are only accessible in 19 countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Taiwan. This is in contrast to Samsung and Apple, which sell their phones in practically every country. Google services are mainly unavailable in China, which is one of the countries where Pixels are not available.
A big component of the approach that Google expects will bring it to 10 million and beyond in 2024 is the diversification of its supply chain and manufacturing operations. At the moment, the majority of Google’s mobile devices are manufactured in China, with a tiny number being produced in Vietnam. However, India’s smartphone market is one of the few in the world that is still continuously expanding. Even China, which is the largest buyer of cellphones in the world, had a reduction of five percent in 2023.
It has been stated that Google intends to construct a production line in southern India and get it operational within a few weeks. It is anticipated that the facility will initially concentrate on the Pixel 8 Pro, which is Google’s most advanced Android smartphone. As early as April or May, several pieces of equipment might be available for purchase in the country.