5 ms·

Even in countries were Pixel phones are distributed, they are "hard" to get. Google is doing something wrong. I don't know anybody who owns a Pixel phone, despi

Even in countries were Pixel phones are distributed, they are "hard" to get. Google is doing something wrong. I don't know anybody who owns a Pixel phone, despite Android market share being something like 70% here in Germany. It's all Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Oppo

paxys 6y ago
It's crazy to me that despite working on it for more than a decade, devoting entire company divisions, buying multiple companies and more, Google just hasn't been able to crack the smartphone hardware game. Microsoft has been so much more successful with its Surface line in a fraction of the time.
- detaro 6y ago
  In some European markets Microsoft even had a decent shot at the smartphone game with the Lumnias, but it didn't work out globally and they didn't double down on it in the key moments.
hocuspocus 6y ago
I think there are several reasons: - The pricing for their flagship models made absolutely no sense given the specs, poor battery life and questionable QA. - Samsung and the big Chinese manufacturers advertise everywhere, you can get their phones at the shop around the corner. At least now in Germany you can find the Pixels at Saturn and Mediamarkt (and often at a discount). - Most people don't care about software updates. They might notice the custom Samsung UI and be annoyed by pre-installed bloatware, but they won't know which version of Android the phone is running, let alone its latest security patch. Even a 200€ phone will get Google Play services updates and be able to install almost anything for 5+ years. So in the end, you see Pixels in the US where Google does advertise them a bit, and also because there are still a lot of people who get subsidized phones from their carriers (or Google Fi for that matter). But yeah in Europe... I do remember people getting the Nexus 4, 5, the 5X once it got cheaper. But the Pixel 1/2/3/4, not so much. The 3a has probably done better lately as resellers tried to get rid of their stock, I think I've seen it sold as low as 239€. I think it's good if Google goes back to mid-range models. I don't think they'll ever be able to make a good flagship. But I really wonder why they aren't trying harder (or at all, in most countries). For now Android One phones are lagging behind in the camera department, but I cannot believe it'll be the case forever. Once Nokia has caught up, what's going to be left to overpriced Pixels?
- detaro 6y ago
  Always seemed weird that they didn't continue a Nexus series below the Pixel. Those had a good reputation as solid phones, whereas the Pixels didn't seem worth the money - and probably got anchored as that in peoples mind, even when their prices fall.
  - hocuspocus 6y ago
    I've had many Nexus models and honestly they weren't any better. But I saw it as a trade-off. I agreed to do the beta testing in exchange of good specs for the price. Hardware QA was also shit but the customer service would send you a new device before you'd return yours, almost no questions asked. I've heard it's gotten worse with the Pixels even though they're much more expensive. And some models have shown insane bugs/defects, for instance calling issues (!) with the Pixel 3.
  - thaumasiotes 6y ago
    > Always seemed weird that they didn't continue a Nexus series below the Pixel. That was weird, but the criticism obviously stuck -- the #a series is a continuation of the Nexus series.
    - detaro 6y ago
      I mean, I haven't been in the market for a new phone recently, but I didn't even know those existed, while still remembering lots of people said good things about their Nexus'. Branding failure IMHO
  - AdrianB1 6y ago
    Except for Nexus 5X that was a great, but defective phone. I had 3, the first died of the famous 5x death a month after the warranty expired, the second died in warranty and it was replaced with a third that is in use even these days. Not too solid in 2 cases of of 3.
  - symlinkk 6y ago
    The average person doesn’t even know what a Pixel is.

paxys 6y ago

It's crazy to me that despite working on it for more than a decade, devoting entire company divisions, buying multiple companies and more, Google just hasn't been able to crack the smartphone hardware game. Microsoft has been so much more successful with its Surface line in a fraction of the time.

detaro 6y ago
In some European markets Microsoft even had a decent shot at the smartphone game with the Lumnias, but it didn't work out globally and they didn't double down on it in the key moments.

hocuspocus 6y ago

I think there are several reasons: - The pricing for their flagship models made absolutely no sense given the specs, poor battery life and questionable QA. - Samsung and the big Chinese manufacturers advertise everywhere, you can get their phones at the shop around the corner. At least now in Germany you can find the Pixels at Saturn and Mediamarkt (and often at a discount). - Most people don't care about software updates. They might notice the custom Samsung UI and be annoyed by pre-installed bloatware, but they won't know which version of Android the phone is running, let alone its latest security patch. Even a 200€ phone will get Google Play services updates and be able to install almost anything for 5+ years. So in the end, you see Pixels in the US where Google does advertise them a bit, and also because there are still a lot of people who get subsidized phones from their carriers (or Google Fi for that matter). But yeah in Europe... I do remember people getting the Nexus 4, 5, the 5X once it got cheaper. But the Pixel 1/2/3/4, not so much. The 3a has probably done better lately as resellers tried to get rid of their stock, I think I've seen it sold as low as 239€. I think it's good if Google goes back to mid-range models. I don't think they'll ever be able to make a good flagship. But I really wonder why they aren't trying harder (or at all, in most countries). For now Android One phones are lagging behind in the camera department, but I cannot believe it'll be the case forever. Once Nokia has caught up, what's going to be left to overpriced Pixels?

detaro 6y ago
Always seemed weird that they didn't continue a Nexus series below the Pixel. Those had a good reputation as solid phones, whereas the Pixels didn't seem worth the money - and probably got anchored as that in peoples mind, even when their prices fall.
- hocuspocus 6y ago
  I've had many Nexus models and honestly they weren't any better. But I saw it as a trade-off. I agreed to do the beta testing in exchange of good specs for the price. Hardware QA was also shit but the customer service would send you a new device before you'd return yours, almost no questions asked. I've heard it's gotten worse with the Pixels even though they're much more expensive. And some models have shown insane bugs/defects, for instance calling issues (!) with the Pixel 3.
- thaumasiotes 6y ago
  > Always seemed weird that they didn't continue a Nexus series below the Pixel. That was weird, but the criticism obviously stuck -- the #a series is a continuation of the Nexus series.
  - detaro 6y ago
    I mean, I haven't been in the market for a new phone recently, but I didn't even know those existed, while still remembering lots of people said good things about their Nexus'. Branding failure IMHO
- AdrianB1 6y ago
  Except for Nexus 5X that was a great, but defective phone. I had 3, the first died of the famous 5x death a month after the warranty expired, the second died in warranty and it was replaced with a third that is in use even these days. Not too solid in 2 cases of of 3.
- symlinkk 6y ago
  The average person doesn’t even know what a Pixel is.