Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (Google Confused me)

Google pixel series (not to be confused with the pixel a series) has always been one of the most premium android smartphone one can get in the market.

Google usually launch two models of their premium smartphone one being a smaller model while other being the XL.

But this year is different and confusing TBH.

Along with Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G was launched and not an XL model with bigger screen.

The confusion didn’t stop there. The Pixel 5 have smaller screen than the Pixel 4a and running the same processor (Snapdragon 765G!?!?).

And obviously, with a 700 series processor, came down the price (Pixel 5 starting at $699).

Let’s talk about the specifications first, then we’ll go on to what’s Google might be banking their money on and a little bit about Pixel 4a.

Specifications (Pixel 5)

Processor: Snapdragon 765G
Display: 6 inch OLED display (Pixel 4a 5G have 6.2 inches display!!!!)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB (Not expandable)
Cameras: 12.2MP main shooter with a 16MP ultrawide (I am very excited about this!!) and an 8MP selfie camera.
Battery: 4080 mAh
Wireless charging: YES!! (I don’t know how with that aluminium build but I sure would love to know!). Reverse wireless charging also available.

Google has dropped “Project Soli” from Pixel 5 which was responsible for Pixel 4’s facial recognition and also the reason why the phone didn’t come to India.
So, no face unlock for Pixel 5.

So, no “Project Soli” huh. Which means Pixel 5 is coming to India?YAYY!!

More confusion!

So, Pixel 4a (the 4G version) will go on sale starting 17th October on Flipkart.

But… Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 aren’t coming to India (At least with the rest of the world)!

I’ll talk about the (supposed) reason later but let’s all just agree that 2020 really sucks.

What is going on with Google pixel? (in the Indian market)

From here on forward, these are my personal views. Maybe I am wrong and maybe I am not.

Google launched Pixel series almost 4 years back in 2016 and they have not been doing good in India.

I bought my Pixel 2 XL back in May 2018 and recently broke my screen.

As the official replacement would cost me a hefty amount which I am not willing to pay for a 2 years old phone, I went to some local shops and to my surprise, most of them didn’t even know that Google make smartphones.
These are people who make their living out of repairing smartphones.

Something doesn’t feel right so I decided to check the statistics.

These are the supposed sales for Pixel and Pixel 2 all models in 2017 and 2018.

I am not sure if the numbers are correct and if the source is trustworthy but I’ve heard and read about numbers for pixel phones on similar lines so I’ll take it forward from here only.

THE NUMBERS ARE BARELY THERE!!!

To sell only 2,00,000 units in two years in India (second largest smartphone market in the world) was not something to brag about.

Pixel 2 and 2 XL sold a combined of 75000 units in the first year they were launched.

Pixel 3 and 3 XL were a flop worldwide.

And it’s not about the hardware, the phones are amazing. The hardware is top-notch but the competition is fierce.

Even though the pixel’s camera and stock android experience is what tells them apart from the rest, they are not able to capitalize on their.

Pixel 3a should have done better then, right?

Sadly, NO.

The Pixel 3a might have done better worldwide (doubled the sales for pixel devices) but I am unsure about the Indian market.

Why, you ask??

Pixel 3a was prices at ₹ 30,999 and 3a XL at ₹34,999. And guess which smartphone manufacturer’s stronghold is this segment?

Yes, you guessed it right. OnePlus.

Pixel 3a and 3a XL were launched in May 2019 and on 1st June 2019, OnePlus 7 was launched at ₹ 29,999.

For majority of users in India, Oneplus 7 was a clear winner in terms of on paper specs and for an average user, OnePlus 7’s camera was good enough.

And then there were phones like Xiaomi’s Poco F1 which blew Pixel 3a out of water with their staggering specifications in the ₹ 20,000 – ₹ 30,000 range.

How does it look for future Google Pixels in India?

Being a Google fanboy, I hate to say it but things aren’t looking good at the moment.

Pixel 4 wasn’t launched in India due to security regulations in place (Letting people carry a sonar in their pockets in never a smart idea).

Pixel 4a 5G not coming to India is still somewhat understandable (India isn’t exactly 5G ready and Pixel a series devices aren’t exactly future proof).

But if Google will not launch Pixel 5 in India, they are looking at losing whatever brand equity they’ve built over the past 4 years.

I understand that they’re having a tough time to market their product when the competition is so well established.

And the price they’ve been charging for their smartphones doesn’t reciprocate on the spec sheets and India is full of consumers which showcase utilitarian behaviour.

We are making a shift towards hedonic values and that’s why the ₹ 51,000 ($699) price would have been optimal for Google.

Google would have been able to bank on the current sentiment and gain some market share in that top mid-tier segment.

Samsung is going all in with the S20 Fan Edition hopefully at the same price point. And I am serious considering at as my next smartphone.

Conclusion

Google need to revisit their marketing strategy for developing countries instead of just backing out or providing just the base inexpensive model.

They have to be more feature intensive in their advertisements. Maybe take a page from OnePlus and Samsung.

Don’t just bank on your name, tell the user base why you’re a better alternative or at least on par with Samsung and OnePlus despite what looks like a total loss on the basis of spec sheet.

If you’re looking at buying a great (best) camera, stock android and 3 years of confirmed updates, you can still look at buying the Pixel 4a (4G) which is coming on 17th October 2020.

But it lacks the lacklustre of a flagship and the processor is snapdragon 730g.

In majority cases, one would be better off buying a Samsung M51 which got the same processor and a much bigger battery (7000 mAh!!!!).
Probably cheaper as well.

Anyway, I hope Google realize that despite India not being a 5G enabled country yet, we do deserve actual flagships at a decent price point.

On a completely unrelated note, I see how tech influencers hype $1000 price in the US.
Somebody go tell them that we’ve been buying $1000 smartphones in India since forever.

Thanks for reading me Rant about the Pixel series.

Read my previous blog about Google Pixel 2 here.

If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.

I will try to answer them as soon as I can.

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See you in the next one.