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Like them or not, Google's Pixel phones will be the iPhone competitor we've demanded for years
- Thread starter Tig Bitties
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Wasn't this the same sentiment that the Nexus line was started as?
iPhone competitor doesn't really say much since the hardware is relatively mediocre. Google devices have had clean up-to-date software but hobbled by less than top rate hardware. Google need to define their strategy. Either go for high end hardware and potentially hurting their partners or go value but be seen as second class. Personally, I think they should focus on 'choice' by offering both high end Samsung hardware that can dual boot Touchwiz and GPE and value with something like $100 ZTE Zmax Pro GPE edition.
Not unless they dramatically makeover their sales strategy. To have even a remote chance, they need a significant retail presence and heavy marketing, 2 aspects missing from all past Nexus releases. So unless they plan on partnering with carriers in a big way 
, there is no chance this will happen. Samsung has only done so by selling their soul to the US carriers over many years. Having a little kiosk in Best Buy won't make a damn difference---they need to be everywhere. And sadly, that means front and center at all US carriers.
, there is no chance this will happen. Samsung has only done so by selling their soul to the US carriers over many years. Having a little kiosk in Best Buy won't make a damn difference---they need to be everywhere. And sadly, that means front and center at all US carriers.Thanks for the troll post.
This has the potential to be what android users have always wanted. It will take time, but it could become a real contender. Google is a powerful and has deep, deep pockets.
I applaud it and hope for the best. While the Note 7 fiasco has forced me to move to the new iPhone, I will keep a steady eye on the pixel phones. Come next year, when the iPhone gets its be redesign, and the Pixel phones are moving into their second year....it could make for some interesting comparisons.
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Not unless they dramatically makeover their sales strategy. To have even a remote chance, they need a significant retail presence and heavy marketing, 2 aspects missing from all past Nexus releases. So unless they plan on partnering with carriers in a big way
They partnered with carriers with the Moto Nexus 6. That might have been a bit of a test run.
Google can do it, and google is powerful enough to eventually muscle the carriers around, assuming they can get enough traction with customers.
This is the key...it's going to take a big investment (money AND time) by Google to make this happen. All too often, Google lets stuff just die on the vine. This cannot be one of those cases.
Exactly. I kind of thought this was coming when Google became Alphabet. Combine that with Samsung constantly trying to move away from android, or google services, it makes sense.
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It might be realistic for the first year. But android itself dwarfs iOS in market share, and Google is a company that can do this, if they choose to. The ingredients are there, but it won't happen over night.
I'm hoping Nexus was just a beta program, and Pixel is Google ready to go primetime.
I'm as skeptical as anybody, though, at this stage. Especially given what little we know from leaks/rumors. Though my feelings based on these rumors are lukewarm, it's all still very interesting nonetheless. We'll see come October.
I'm as skeptical as anybody, though, at this stage. Especially given what little we know from leaks/rumors. Though my feelings based on these rumors are lukewarm, it's all still very interesting nonetheless. We'll see come October.
My comment has always been the same about the Nexus phones. Google has the cash and engineering team to put together a top of the line nerds wetdream stock Android phone.
As Jordan used to say "Just do it"
They got very close with last years 6P, as far as a well designed, higher end phone, but sold for a more budget price. Imagine if the 6P instead of being at the $499 price point, was instead at the Galaxy or iPhone pricing, meaning the phone was just as high end as those. The Pixel phone would be a no brainer to buy.
But I'm the wrong guy to discuss this, I love my Nexus 6P, and for a 2015 phone, I'd take the 6P last year over the iPhone 6S Plus or Galaxy Note 5 all day long, and twice on Sunday, and it's not because of pricing, but I just find the 6P the best phablet period of 2015. Now imagine if the 6P did cost a little more, but then also had better camera, and better screen for the increased price. Who the hell wouldn't want that phone over the competition ?
Google has the money, they just need the Pixel phones in U.S Carrier stores, which according to rumors, will indeed be in stock at all 4 Carriers this Fall. And then market the frigging crap out of these new Pixel phones, just like Samsung started doing a couple years ago, I think spending like $500 million on advertising each year, worldwide.
As Jordan used to say "Just do it"
They got very close with last years 6P, as far as a well designed, higher end phone, but sold for a more budget price. Imagine if the 6P instead of being at the $499 price point, was instead at the Galaxy or iPhone pricing, meaning the phone was just as high end as those. The Pixel phone would be a no brainer to buy.
But I'm the wrong guy to discuss this, I love my Nexus 6P, and for a 2015 phone, I'd take the 6P last year over the iPhone 6S Plus or Galaxy Note 5 all day long, and twice on Sunday, and it's not because of pricing, but I just find the 6P the best phablet period of 2015. Now imagine if the 6P did cost a little more, but then also had better camera, and better screen for the increased price. Who the hell wouldn't want that phone over the competition ?
Google has the money, they just need the Pixel phones in U.S Carrier stores, which according to rumors, will indeed be in stock at all 4 Carriers this Fall. And then market the frigging crap out of these new Pixel phones, just like Samsung started doing a couple years ago, I think spending like $500 million on advertising each year, worldwide.
I'm sure they have all the talent in the world to do that.
However, as far as the business model of Android goes Google going vertical may seriously tick off some of their partners and if Google doesn't have some immediate massive success they may cut off their entire mobile search revenue while their bread and butter (desktop search) continues it's precipitous decline.
Business-wise this may be a risky move.
But where are their OEM partners going to go if they decide to not use Android? Only Samsung has a feasible option with Tizen and even then, they're leaving the Google Play store behind. Everyone else would fall into obscurity if they decided to forgo using Android. It would be the equivalent of Dell saying 'screw you' to Windows and putting Linux on all their PCs.
Google now has the leverage and likely seeks to get some of the benefits Apple sees by having complete vertical control. That's a way to help diversify their revenue away from so heavily relying on ads and search.
I'm not saying any of the OEM partners have the ability to turn on a dime, but if this new initiative from Google doesn't fail spectacularly then I'd imagine that Tizen is going to get one hell of a push to be developed over the next 3 or so years.
Stay tuned folks!
So it is the Google-branded although still being manufactured by HTC. Okay. Google Pixel products from the past rarely sell. No different than Nexus devices but worse. Just wishful thinking from the writer.
Google can try. But without profits, they may not try for very long. People don't make movies without a budget to spend on. You don't just build products to waste money. You bleed money or it seems too niche, you back out like what Google did to Google Glass. Swept it under the rug just like what they did to Project Ara recently.
I'm curious where Samsung goes with Tizen while breaking away from Android and also Qualcomm Snapdragon chips by 2018. Samsung can finally control their own destiny too with software. Americans can finally enjoy the Exynos variants of their hero devices. It is fascinating to read Note7 owners on Android Central already entrenched into Samsung's ecosystem. Another reason why they don't want to leave the Note7 since they own multiple Samsung products and not just smartphones.
Google can try. But without profits, they may not try for very long. People don't make movies without a budget to spend on. You don't just build products to waste money. You bleed money or it seems too niche, you back out like what Google did to Google Glass. Swept it under the rug just like what they did to Project Ara recently.
I'm curious where Samsung goes with Tizen while breaking away from Android and also Qualcomm Snapdragon chips by 2018. Samsung can finally control their own destiny too with software. Americans can finally enjoy the Exynos variants of their hero devices. It is fascinating to read Note7 owners on Android Central already entrenched into Samsung's ecosystem. Another reason why they don't want to leave the Note7 since they own multiple Samsung products and not just smartphones.
Doesn't seem likely. Google makes money on search, not phones. They're not going to aggressively pursue a market that requires so many OEM partners. This will remain a niche device. Probably be an awesome phone on its own, but iPHone level marketing and success is not in the cards.
If they can get it into carriers globally and subsidised then it stands a chance of competing not necessarily with the iPhone but with the myriad of other Android handsets and more over Samsung.
If you want iOS - no android phone will give you that. But if you want android, you have a plethora of devices easily available and heavily subsidised by mobile carriers. Until Google begin competing in that retail commercial space, their device will always be a niche commodity.
Asking users to part with €550-700 for a phone without seeing it in person will always be a tougher sell than a device where someone can feel and hold it in a retail store and then upgrade at a subsidised pricing.
Why would regular Joe buy a Pixel for €700 when they can get a new s7/S7e for €0-150 on a contract....
If you want iOS - no android phone will give you that. But if you want android, you have a plethora of devices easily available and heavily subsidised by mobile carriers. Until Google begin competing in that retail commercial space, their device will always be a niche commodity.
Asking users to part with €550-700 for a phone without seeing it in person will always be a tougher sell than a device where someone can feel and hold it in a retail store and then upgrade at a subsidised pricing.
Why would regular Joe buy a Pixel for €700 when they can get a new s7/S7e for €0-150 on a contract....
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"Google will, of course, fail in most meaningful metrics (e.g., sales, media attention, ad visibility)"
Man, even the author of that article isn't real hopeful. I know he's talking more about a significant change in how Google views the hardware market, but still will they really sell a significant amount? Google loves having such a huge market share because they could care less about hardware profits, so they should be happy even if Android phones only sold for $1, they want the eyeballs. That's why I'm confused why they want the flagship market, Apple's marketshare is much less because they have such high priced products and make their money off of hardware. Does Google want to compete in that space and base some of its profits off hardware sales? It kind of doesn't add up in Google's business model. It seems like Google will try to straddle the line between an Apple flagship and an Android $1 phone, and in the end create something that really no one will want. It reminds me of something like the 6p which could have been incredible, but was hamstrung by cheapness. Even the hard core Nexus crowd must be having its gaze stolen with all the "cheap flagships" popping up and the inevitable onslaught of Chinese oems.
The only possible strategy I can see is freeing their phones from the clutches of the carriers, but is this an issue outside of the US? I genuinely don't know. But if that's the case they should strategize with their oems instead of pulling the rug out from under them.
Hardware
Software
Services
^ Apple is the only one that balances those three the best. Not Google and Samsung.
Hardware - Samsung
Software - Apple
Services (apps) - Google
Which company has been the most important company throughout Android's history? Google or Samsung?
If you can answer it, then you will know how I feel with a Google-branded phone. No retail store infrastructure. No marketing budget. No third-party accessories. No aftercare services. Nomore MVP. No thanks.
Google's Most Valuable Partner = Samsung
Google is my favorite service company and they have my favorite ecosystem. Good at services and software. Weak at hardware. Needs a partner to help them. Where is the Google retail stores? Xiaomi tried living off online flash sales. Two years ago, they were #1 in China. Now OPPO is #1. You can order Xiaomi products online and nobody wants them if they can't see it and has no marketing. Look at Amazon Fire phone as well. Consumers need to see ads. They need to see the products first. If they have issues, they can go to a store and get it fixed.
If Samsung decides to leave Android, the impact will be similar to LeBron James (Samsung endorser) leaving Cleveland in 2010 and Miami in 2014. Those teams sucked or went to mediocrity once he left. Blame Samsung's own custom software for ruining Android's reputation and being pigeonholed as laggy. But Samsung contributed the most to Android's current 86% marketshare now. Moreso than Motorola, HTC, LG, Sony, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Google themselves.
Samsung is the only OEM that can control their fate and make their phones completely in-house. They are the least one-trick pony when it comes to several industries beyond computing. Apple and Google still need their partners and Samsung is usually one of them.
Prediction if Samsung leaves Android -
Android - 50%
Tizen - 30%
iOS - 20%
Especially if Tizen is compatible to Android apps. I don't think Samsung wants Google to live off them anymore and plans to cut ties with Qualcomm soon. A Tizen-based Exynos Samsung could very well happen in a few years.
Software
Services
^ Apple is the only one that balances those three the best. Not Google and Samsung.
Hardware - Samsung
Software - Apple
Services (apps) - Google
Which company has been the most important company throughout Android's history? Google or Samsung?
If you can answer it, then you will know how I feel with a Google-branded phone. No retail store infrastructure. No marketing budget. No third-party accessories. No aftercare services. Nomore MVP. No thanks.
Google's Most Valuable Partner = Samsung
Google is my favorite service company and they have my favorite ecosystem. Good at services and software. Weak at hardware. Needs a partner to help them. Where is the Google retail stores? Xiaomi tried living off online flash sales. Two years ago, they were #1 in China. Now OPPO is #1. You can order Xiaomi products online and nobody wants them if they can't see it and has no marketing. Look at Amazon Fire phone as well. Consumers need to see ads. They need to see the products first. If they have issues, they can go to a store and get it fixed.
If Samsung decides to leave Android, the impact will be similar to LeBron James (Samsung endorser) leaving Cleveland in 2010 and Miami in 2014. Those teams sucked or went to mediocrity once he left. Blame Samsung's own custom software for ruining Android's reputation and being pigeonholed as laggy. But Samsung contributed the most to Android's current 86% marketshare now. Moreso than Motorola, HTC, LG, Sony, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Google themselves.
Samsung is the only OEM that can control their fate and make their phones completely in-house. They are the least one-trick pony when it comes to several industries beyond computing. Apple and Google still need their partners and Samsung is usually one of them.
Prediction if Samsung leaves Android -
Android - 50%
Tizen - 30%
iOS - 20%
Especially if Tizen is compatible to Android apps. I don't think Samsung wants Google to live off them anymore and plans to cut ties with Qualcomm soon. A Tizen-based Exynos Samsung could very well happen in a few years.
Now that the iPhone 7/Plus have caught up to Samsung in terms of camera, it makes the camera all the more important to nail on the Pixel phones. If the camera can't compete out of the gate with the likes of Samsung and Apple, then this device stands zero chance at "competing."
It's not so much that Samsung and Apple offer great camera experiences, it's more if Google want to charge a similar premium for the pleasure of using their pixel devices that they should offer same quality for the pricing value'..