Google Pixel is a brand of consumer electronic devices powered by Chrome OS or Android. A Chromebook Pixel was introduced in February 2013 as the first product under the Pixel brand. Several accessories are available for Pixel laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Several years ago, we tested the first generation of Google’s Pixel phone and determined it had revolutionized the camera phone market. Each new model advances the quality of photos we can anticipate from our smartphones.
Google’s Pixel lineup has recently taken a slightly different direction; rather than attempting to match its competitors’ prices point, Google is heading towards a custom future, where its Tensor chipsets are expected to cause waves with their amplified reliance on on-device artificial intelligence and machine-learning.
What led Google to shift Pixel phones to India?
Following interruptions in China caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and Beijing’s escalating tensions with the United States, Alphabet Inc is considering shifting some of the production of Pixel phones to India, according to a source cited on Monday.
According to the story, Alphabet has requested bids from Indian manufacturers to produce between 500,000 and 1 million Pixel smartphones, or 10% to 20% of the device’s expected yearly manufacturing. Alphabet did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Sundar Pichai, the company’s chief executive officer, hinted to a plan to manufacture in India earlier this year, but no final decision has been taken, according to the article. If permitted, Chinese components must still be imported for India’s manufacturing operations.
Earlier decisions by Google Pixel
Previously from the data to Nikkei, Alphabet is also investigating Vietnam as a potential manufacturing facility.
Early this year, China shut down important IT hubs Shanghai and other cities as a result of an increase in COVID instances, causing disruptions to global supply chains. The United States most recently increased tensions with China by forbidding the export of some high-end semiconductors to that country.
On October 6, the business will host an event in the United States to introduce new Pixel phone versions and its first wristwatch.
Suppliers have been working with Apple to increase manufacturing in India, according to people familiar with the process. It is expected that the first iPhone 14s from the nation will be completed by the end of October or early November after the initial release in September.
Foxconn, an Apple supplier based in Taiwan, said that it had researched the logistics of receiving goods from China and assembling the iPhone 14 at its facility outside of Chennai, a city in southern India.
During Beijing’s disputes with Washington and nationwide lockdowns, production was hindered, causing the business to consider alternative options.
Contract manufacturers who supply American companies are increasingly relying on Mexico, Vietnam, and other nations in addition to China as they aim to diversify their production away from China.
In an earlier effort to slow China’s advancements in the semiconductor industry and safeguard US businesses, the US was considering restricting supplies of American chipmaking equipment to memory chip manufacturers in China.
South Korean memory chip giants Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and SK Hynix Inc, both of which have large factories there, may be adversely affected by such action if taken by US President Joe Biden’s administration.
Google is now shifting production of Pixel phones to Vietnam
According to a New York Times article that cited people familiar with the situation, Google is moving the production of its most recent Pixel gadget to Vietnam in an effort to lessen its reliance on China for production. This occurs in the midst of escalating geopolitical unrest, COVID-19 lockdowns, and Chinese supply chain restrictions.
China’s industry activity is still declining
China has reported that industry activity decreased for the second consecutive month in August. Beyond the makers of smartphones Apple and Google, Amazon is also producing its Fire TV sticks in the Indian state of Chennai, and Microsoft is shipping its Xbox game consoles out of Ho Chi Minh City. Several years ago, all of these products were produced in China.
In order to start manufacturing the Google Pixel 7 in Vietnam, Google is attempting to move the assembly of its Pixel devices from Foxconn facilities in southern China. Vietnam is apparently expected to create up to half of next year’s high-end Pixel gadgets, according to the US-based tech giant.
According to Lior Susan, the founder of Eclipse Venture Capital, which invests in hardware and manufacturing start-ups, “the empire of manufacturing in China is being challenged.” “An alternative will be sought as more and more capital pulls production out of China.”
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Foxconn, Apple’s partner in contract manufacturing, will supply the iPhone 14 from its manufacturing plant in India for the first time ever virtually concurrently with China. Kuo, an analyst at TFI International Securities, recently tweeted, “My latest study indicates Foxconn’s iPhone production plant in India will ship the new 6.1″ iPhone 14 almost concurrently with China for the first time in 2K22 (India being one quarter or more behind in the past).”
The India-made iPhone 14 is expected to debut alongside the China-made iPhone models for the first time in the second half of 2022, says a prominent Apple expert. September saw Apple’s announcement of the iPhone 14 series along with airpods smartwatches.
Are Google phones made in India?
While the majority of Chinese firms, including Xiaomi and Oppo, currently produce their phones in India, companies like Google still rely only on China for the production of hardware.
The impact on Indian buyers
Under the government’s Make in India plan, prices of Google’s products sold in India may decrease if the company chooses to manufacture a sizable portion of them there. However, even if this occurs, we cannot guarantee price reductions. Although Apple intends to produce the iPhone 14 series in India, the whole cost is still roughly 40% higher than it is in other regions, such as the US.
Google has mostly released its entry-level Pixel 4A series in India. After skipping the Pixel 5A, the company has now unveiled the more expensive Pixel 6A. For more such updates read here.
Also read: Google Pixel 6A is a new budget phone, It’s time for Apple to fix texting: says Google
