Why do you think people aren't buying the "pure" Android experience?

[GKDAIR]

I was looking at some market shares for various android devices, and it seems as if "pure" devices, like the ones offered by google, seem to have the worst share of the market, while "locked" devices like the Kindle Fire HD have the most.


It seems to me that people aren't really buying pure android devices, but instead buying devices that are locked down or by specific brands like HTC, Amazon, and Samsung. Nobody is really purchasing Google products, in fact the Nexus 10 only sold around 680,000 units.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Because they aren't marketed at all. Few outside the enthusiast crowd even know what a nexus is or what stock android even looks like.

 

[Explicitic]

Google's marketing for their Nexus products is crap, or nonexistent. I don't think most people even know of the Devices section on the Google Play website. Google should at least release an app for it...

There's also Google's history of making Nexus phones unavailable to most consumers who don't buy it online. The Nexus One was sold online only for T-Mobile and AT&T. The Nexus S was only on Sprint (may have been on AT&T, I don't remember). The Galaxy Nexus was only on Verizon. The Nexus 4 is only sold online on the Google Play Store and with T-Mobile.

Honestly, Google just needs better marketing. They don't advertise their products at all. Keeping their devices away from carriers is actually a good thing but they won't sell any if they don't let people know these things exist.

 

[blackhand1001]

The nexus 7 sells very well and I have seen many at my college. I actually have seen more nexus 7s than ipad minis.

 

[Augustine864]

Because most of androids market share isn't even aware they are buying an "android" device. They are just buying a "phone" or a "tablet", which android owns the market on the low end. It isn't about android loyalty or preference, it's just that every piece of cramp cheap non flagship smart phone IS android since apple doesn't participate at that price or quality level. Same reason that iOS dominates in generating revenue through apps etc after the phones are bought. Most of androids market share are people that don't really know what they are buying, just that they are buying "the free phone that came with the contract".


Google sells its nexus on its site unsubsidized so that only attracts a very specific market. Those are the knowledgable and/or high end users that are deliberately buying android and putting money into it like iPhone users, but there are far fewer.

For every 2 iPhone models a store carries, there are like 20 android variants, but 17 of those models are bought by people who have no real interest in putting money into the ecosystem beyond that. There just aren't many flip phones left.

So android runs market share but i think it still lags in actual market share of active user base, as evidenced by the amount of shopping and surfing and App Store revenue seen on iOS vs android. Isn't even close.

 

[Assault]

I was looking at some market shares for various android devices, and it seems as if "pure" devices, like the ones offered by google, seem to have the worst share of the market, while "locked" devices like the Kindle Fire HD have the most.


It seems to me that people aren't really buying pure android devices, but instead buying devices that are locked down or by specific brands like HTC, Amazon, and Samsung. Nobody is really purchasing Google products, in fact the Nexus 10 only sold around 680,000 units.

Average joe q public couldn't tell you the difference between vanilla android, touchwiz, HTC Sense or Motoblur, much less know what a Nexus device is. And carriers in the U.S. don't (or at least haven't up to this point) sold them. So why is it surprising to you or anyone else that sales are low? Answer is, because only Google has sold it on their webpage.

Has nothing to do with preference. By the way, Android devices aren't locked down. Anyone can buy a non-branded, pure vanilla Android device. Additionally, carrier branded devices are easily rooted within days/hours (and even before) public release.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Because there's no point in buying a phone outright, especially when you're not going to switch carriers. The $200 or less deals to us AT&T people is a better deal than the $400-500 and having to pay the same price. I can root my phone anyway.

 

[Vegastouch]

As mentioned they arent marketed. And again....the Nexus phones are really for development purposes and not given the best specs anyways. Tough to sell a lot of phones when you only sell them either through your playstore or through 1 carrier and not even offer it for use with two others.

If they really cared to be a huge seller, they wouldnt do those things.

 

[SpaceKitty]

I had no idea what was special about the Nexus 4 that I was ordering on the T-Mobile website other than the fact that I was getting it for free. It was my first Android phone and if T-Mobile had any other Android phone that was free on the night I was ordering, I may have gotten it instead.

When I got it, I knew what they meant by pure Android. A few weeks later, a friend at my job also got one from T-Mobile. I never asked her why she picked it other the other phones.

 

[Dontazemebro]

I was looking at some market shares for various android devices, and it seems as if "pure" devices, like the ones offered by google, seem to have the worst share of the market, while "locked" devices like the Kindle Fire HD have the most.


It seems to me that people aren't really buying pure android devices, but instead buying devices that are locked down or by specific brands like HTC, Amazon, and Samsung. Nobody is really purchasing Google products, in fact the Nexus 10 only sold around 680,000 units.

The nexus line is not advertised like other android devices to the general public. In fact, its original intent was for developers not regular ol' Joe Bloe. Eventually though it gained popularity and most android diehards made this their go-to device.

Slowly but surely it's gaining traction which is why HTC, Samsung and others are focusing on Google edition devices to cater to that sector.

 

[MRU]

Many nexus range phones are simply not available in many countries. If you don't give people the opportunity to buy a phone, they wont buy it. simples.

 

[mattopotamus]

Every has pretty much already nailed it.

-people want to buy subsidized b.c they tend to stay with the same carrier, and currently t-mobile is the only one of the big 4 that lowers your plan if you bring your own device.

-marketing is poor and the general public does not know about the phone.

-a lot of people prefer the added features of sense/touchwiz and do not even know what those terms are.

 

[adder7712]

Many nexus range phones are simply not available in many countries. If you don't give people the opportunity to buy a phone, they wont buy it. simples.

The Nexus 4 is sold by LG here. Also sold for a higher price.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

First off, the only people interested in a "pure" Android experience are likely those that already know how to, and have been, rooting their Android devices for months/years. And that same crowd tends to be more influenced by phone features and the ability to tinker/play with their phones than someone that just wants the phone as-is to use as a smartphone.

So basically, anyone that would be attracted to a pure Android experience has already created a pure Android experience with a device richer in core features. Namely, almost any same-gen device offered by HTC or Samsung.

What's left is a tiny market.

This is why I think the "Google Editions" announced for each of the major handset providers made sense.

 

[ChrisTX]

Google Experience devices aren't marketed much by Google, and no one wants to pay full price for a device like the GS4 Google Edition. A subsidized Google Experience device might sell more depending on how it's marketed. However I'm convinced that to the average everyday user, things like "bloatware" are a non issue.

 

[2298754]

They just need more carrier support from VZW and AT&T. Both GE one and GS4 would sell very well with both carriers. Also gives them more options. AT&T is already carrying most S4 variants, why not this one? Lol

 

[tbayrgs]

Google's marketing for their Nexus products is crap, or nonexistent. I don't think most people even know of the Devices section on the Google Play website. Google should at least release an app for it...

There's also Google's history of making Nexus phones unavailable to most consumers who don't buy it online. The Nexus One was sold online only for T-Mobile and AT&T. The Nexus S was only on Sprint (may have been on AT&T, I don't remember). The Galaxy Nexus was only on Verizon. The Nexus 4 is only sold online on the Google Play Store and with T-Mobile.

Honestly, Google just needs better marketing. They don't advertise their products at all. Keeping their devices away from carriers is actually a good thing but they won't sell any if they don't let people know these things exist.

Perfect proof of Google's poor job marketing as half your info isn't quite accurate. The Galaxy Nexus was sold via Google Play (AT&T and T Mobile compatible) and later on Verizon. The Nexus S was also sold via Google initially for T Mobile and AT&T and then later for Sprint. And as other's mentioned, international availability has varied for all Nexus devices.

I don't ever expect the Nexus line to receive a huge push from Google. I can't imagine they make much, if anything from selling the hardware and risk stepping on their Android partner's toes if they do. And as previously mentioned, most people couldn't differentiate between stock Android and any of the skinned versions available. To be honest, I suspect most would find it rather boring and bland. The 'blank canvas' of stock Android is far more appealing to the tech geek looking to fiddle to their heart's content (myself included ).

 

[maxosx]

Pure Android is Great!

It all comes down to the fact that Google is a very different company, one that does not specialize in hardware, but rather has just gotten into this aspect of the tech sector.

That in no way indicates that "people aren't buying the "pure" Android experience. The massive demand upon release of the Nexus 4 is proof positive that worldwide demand is there, but Google simply did a very poor job of the launch and getting enough devices in the pipeline to fill the thousands upon thousands of orders.

At the end of the day the best thing about Google and the Nexus project is that it exists, it brings variety to the market, and it's an opportunity for Google to learn how to properly market and sell hardware.

Personally I really like my Nexus 4, 7 & 10 devices.

 

[otismotive77]

i think marketing is the issue, i've seen many ipad commercials but i don't usually see a nexus tablet commercial, another thing is that many people(including all of my friends) prefer skins over the pure andoid, skins allow more functions features etc.

 

[MeatRocket]

The reason I haven't embraced it is because Nexus devices aren't always the top-spec'd piece of hardware. The beauty of Android, like others have mentioned, is that you can buy virtually any high-end Android phone, take it home and root it or flash a completely different ROM (Vanilla Android, CyanogenMod or any of the countless varieties thereof) in a matter of a few hours. That's why a Google Experience phone isn't as unique as say, a jailbroken iPhone. Every Android phone is essentially a Google Experience phone if you know what you're doing.

 

[Dontazemebro]

The reason I haven't embraced it is because Nexus devices aren't always the top-spec'd piece of hardware. The beauty of Android, like others have mentioned, is that you can buy virtually any high-end Android phone, take it home and root it or flash a completely different ROM (Vanilla Android, CyanogenMod or any of the countless varieties thereof) in a matter of a few hours. That's why a Google Experience phone isn't as unique as say, a jailbroken iPhone. Every Android phone is essentially a Google Experience phone if you know what you're doing.

Just to play devil's advocate. I've flashed many a cm, aosp rom since cupcake and donut days. No matter how stable the build, you'll always encounter issues with other oems (HTC, Samsung) because the original build is based of the Nexus device. These Google editions will be based off its high end counterparts. If you've ever owned a Nexus device, you'll know the difference.

 

[torana355]

Because they aren't marketed at all. Few outside the enthusiast crowd even know what a nexus is or what stock android even looks like.

THIS. When people at work ask what phone i have and i tell them i have a Nexus 4 they stare at me with a glazed over look lol. When i actually show them the phone and how smooth it is they are usually quite surprised and shocked they have never heard of it before. Also like others have said the Nexus brand is made for developers and hardcore enthusiasts, they are made to be rooted and to flash custom roms and kernels.

 

[torana355]

Just to play devil's advocate. I've flashed many a cm, aosp rom since cupcake and donut days. No matter how stable the build, you'll always encounter issues with other oems (HTC, Samsung) because the original build is based of the Nexus device. These Google editions will be based off its high end counterparts. If you've ever owned a Nexus device, you'll know the difference.

Exactly right. For example CM were struggling bigtime to make a stable Vanilla Android port for the S4, now Google and Samsung are working together to make Vanilla Android to suit the S4 hardware it will run much better then CM ever could.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Exactly right. For example CM were struggling bigtime to make a stable Vanilla Android port for the S4, now Google and Samsung are working together to make Vanilla Android to suit the S4 hardware it will run much better then CM ever could.

And they won't just port it over? All you need is the correct hardware.

 

[torana355]

And they won't just port it over? All you need is the correct hardware.

CM will use Samsung and Googles work for a base to create a CM rom.