Like previous years, fans of the Pixel series have been waiting for the new devices for months. It’s a rather fortunate circumstance that the Pixel series even made it to the seventh generation. Regardless, it’s not because of the sales figures.
Google has reportedly sold less than 30 million units of the Pixel series since its launch in 2016. That’s about a tenth of what Samsung sold in Galaxy phones in 2021. It would take Google 60 years to sell as many Pixel phones as Samsung sells in a year.
Android desperately needs Google references
But Google does not directly compete with Apple and Samsung. Google is only relying on its own devices for a decent Android device that works as the company envisions. Especially in the home market. Google makes Pixel devices for itself, a small community, and many other manufacturers for reference.
If we look at Samsung in particular, the group has only broken new ground with its Galaxy phones after Google established it with its Pixel line. Today, Samsung has relatively light software to begin with, delivers new Android updates fairly quickly, and offers the best update guarantee among Android OEMs.
During the Nexus era, the Android ecosystem had a disastrous run
If we remember the wild days of the Nexus series, the Android world was truly a complete disaster and Google simply could not implement its own ideas for an Android smartphone. Completely different hardware every year, irregular updates, numerous sub-versions like Android 4.4.2, sometimes bad quality etc.
It has been greatly modified and improved with the now clean lines of the Pixel series, which is being developed entirely in-house. For example, a large part of HTC was bought and consolidated a few years ago. Today there is a very clear strategy for updates and Android versions.
I love the Pixel series and believe in its long-term continuity. But Google doesn’t stick with it because it has overwhelming sales figures or makes money with devices. It is not soEven if something is going a little better for a long time.
The ending of Pixelbooks and Stadia spoils the mood
More recently, however, we’ve seen with Pixelbooks that Google can suddenly take a completely different direction when developing new devices. We were sure that Google trusted Chromebooks. This is by no means a threat to Pixel smartphones at this point, Google is clearly committed to the devices.
Still. With the Pixel tablet, another project will follow in the near future, where the future is difficult to predict.
The Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Watch are next in line
Our new test of the Pixel 7 Pro clearly shows that Google has perhaps the best Android smartphone on the market. But we’ve said the same thing about the Pixel 6 Pro, regardless of initial missteps, and sales have been reasonably good there. Especially compared to the previous Pixel line.
With the Pixel 7 smartphone, Google is making another attempt to at least reach the old sales figures again. There’s also the first Pixel Watch, which is also getting a lot of push. However, open pre-sale campaigns show that Google sometimes seems desperate to get devices to people.
In any case, in the past three years, the Pixel series has not been put up for sale, it is very obvious to see and be recognized by fans. Huge amounts of money for these devices can be put directly to partners to continue pushing their own apps and services out there.
