Google is the best when it’s affordable, so why is it chasing the premium market?

If you’ve been following any of Google’s hardware launches for the past decade, a rocky start is hardly surprising. The company has a well-known reputation for hit and miss hardware; The Pixel 6 is the latest in a long list of problematic devices that are in no way limited to smartphones. With launches slipping from time to time, we must expect better from Google, especially when the 512GB Pixel 6 Pro model costs up to 1,099.

Our verdict: Google Pixel 6 Pro Review | Google Pixel 6 Review

Don’t get me wrong, I still rate the Google Pixel 6 Pro highly and it’s my daily driver (for now). But when it comes to spending your hard-earned money, there’s no doubt that Google’s more affordable options have become more popular in recent years. Similarly, if you are talking about premium cash, there are often better phones to choose from than Google’s most expensive option.

Google Pixel: History of caution

Pixel 6 Pro is pretty much right in the hardware department, in fact, it’s Google’s best flagship package to date. But with fingerprint scanners, good but not surprising cameras, limited 5G mmWave support, and somewhat lagging performance from industry leaders, the Pixel 6 Pro has never been in the same league as the most expensive handsets in the hardware business. The software serves as Google’s unique selling point, the last thing the phone needs is a bungled update.

Looking back, we can find similar complaints about other premium-level pixels from Google. $ The battery life of the 999 Pixel 4 XL is poor, limited storage and its sole radar unique selling point is not misused. It also prevents the phone from being sold in India, a key market for Google. Not to mention a camera package that was already lagging behind its competitors.

The $ 999 Pixel 3 XL of 2019 was definitely more expensive than the competition, as it didn’t offer much bigger changes than its predecessor. And before that, the Pixel 2 suffered from screen issues, microphone dropouts, and a selection of earpiece bugs. Even the first Pixel XL was not perfect, with only an IP53 rating and no wireless charging or OIS for its camera.

While Google’s best has been good, it has never been super-premium. Each model has some obvious flaws that Google fiduciaries may overlook, but compared to the Apple and Samsung flagships that offer a significant list of warnings. Of course, Google’s focus on software is a major factor in helping the series punch above its weight. But it’s only once we’ve dropped a few hundred dollars from a premium price tag that suddenly Google’s Pixel series offers some of the best phones to consume the market.

Affordable phones have been fixed

Back to Google’s more affordable portfolio, it’s stacked on rafters with highly recommended phones. The $ 299 Pixel 3a budget phone introduces consumers to Google’s camera skills and software ecosystem, though compromises with waterproofing and wireless charging. But while other budget makers often forget about their phones after they leave the factory, Google promises a flagship-tire update that makes its phone a better long-term purchase.

Google has paired this formula with the Pixel 4a, with a nice display, camera and more memory for a very reasonable 350, whereas the 4a 5G is priced at $ 499. It must have been a good pick, like Apple’s $ 399 iPhone SE, which was a popular seller in the 2020s. The most recent Google Pixel 5a and 5a 5G (pictured above) continue the same trend, mixing solid hardware with excellent quality.

Our verdict: Google Pixel 5a Review

The company was confident enough to fully roll out the Pixel ‘flagship’ lineup in 2020 as a more affordable option. While enthusiasts have lamented its lack of sophisticated processing power and aged cameras, the Pixel 5 offers solid battery life in a package equipped with wireless charging, an IP68 rating, great display, and Google’s excellent software and update promise. This is what you need for a great smartphone experience and it has been well reviewed as a result. That seems to be the key to Google’s mid-range success – hardware at a compelling price, with premium software and enhanced ecosystem experience.

At $ 599, the Pixel 6 ticks in the same box, with the bonus of a more powerful processor, improved rear camera and faster charging features that fans were screaming for. Not to mention a cheap price tag, so why make it Android authority 2021 Editor’s Choice. The Pixel 6 is a more powerful phone versus Samsung’s entry point as well as affordable flagships like Oneplus and the like. At this price, it’s so easy to ignore so many fingerprint scanners and weird software bugs, unless they’re reasonably patched immediately.

Related: Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 5 – What’s the Difference and Should You Upgrade?

The subsequent success of the value-for-money and Google’s more affordable products has garnered rave reviews from both consumers and pundits. But it takes only a weak release to undo the praise year after year.

Why does Google insist on trying premium?

With that in mind, Google’s mid-range phones offer just about anything you want. Enough decent performance, a good camera, tough battery life, and updated support that will last as long as you want to keep the phone. All in all a price that the bank will not break. But the same cannot be said for its premium phones, which do not have the best performance, camera, charging or other bells and whistles. So why doesn’t Google double down on that and focus exclusively on the middle ground?

See also: Google Pixel 6a – All rumors

After all, Google still feels the need to compete with top-tier players, especially in the United States where premium brand recognition is king. Apple is cementing its leadership with this strategy, and Google doesn’t want to see it as a “cheap” alternative, although it probably has already. While the Pixel 6 Pro may not be sophisticated, it’s a showcase for Android 12 and what Google can do with a big budget. It should not be forgotten that it talks about the unique features of the phone, such as Live Transcription and Magic Eraser, which are also available in the more affordable Pixel 6. Will the industry pay as much attention to Google if it only sells budget phones? Probably not.

But launching a product is one thing, making it successful is another. Google’s hardware issues and software bugs, especially its top-end Pixel 6 Pro, are tarnishing its image. Customers don’t want to buy premium phones that require months of software patches to speed things up – just ask OnePlus. The Pixels are already known for so much hardware but the buggy software could be nailed to the coffin for Google’s premium and perhaps more affordable ambition. Plus, would anyone be confident enough to buy an expensive Google Foldable phone in the future?

I’m not talking about completely bailing out Google’s expensive hardware, but if the company wants to continue, the segment needs to get extra attention and resources to make its products truly premium and uncompromising – or as close as possible. The Pixel series redefines what a great mid-range phone looks like, but perfecting the premium combination of hardware, software and support is less forgivable.

One day, Google could deny history and nail an impeccable premium-level smartphone. With its new custom processor and unique approach to machine learning integration, Google is still in the same league as Apple and Samsung in terms of innovation. But premium products also have to offer an uncompromising high-end experience. While we’re within five premium pixels, Google still has a lot to learn