Google Pixel sales have plummeted, while key executives exit the team

Google's line of Pixel smartphones were once promising flagship competitors to Samsung Galaxies and Notes as well as Apple iPhones, but now it seems that interest and sales of these devices is cratering. Recent reports state that Google has sold only 2 million Pixel devices in the first two quarters of the year. There have also been defections within Google's Pixel team as two key executives, camera expert Marc Levoy and general manager Mario Queiroz have departed the team signaling some unrest within the smartphone division.

This does not bode well for Google or its Pixel product line which has really not resonated well with Android users despite offering some of the best camera technology in the market and one of the cleanest Pure Google user interfaces. Pixels are popular for stellar photo quality and unparalleled night mode performance. The first three generations of Pixels espoused a sleek but minimalist design language and innovative features. The Pixel 4, however, looked like a derivative of other devices and its high-price and poor battery perfomance were significant issues. 

“Google shipped around 2 million units of the Pixel 4 in the first two quarters it was available, at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, according to IDC’s estimates, a drop from the 3.5 million Pixel 3 and nearly 3 million Pixel 3a models that shipped in the first two quarters of their availability,” a new report in The Information claims. “In the U.S., Google’s largest market, it had just 3 percent market share of the smartphone market last year, said IDC.” There's been an onslaught of compelling competition from all sides for Google. Apple's dominance of the high end as well as its surprising but welcome release of the iPhone SE 2, a product that competes with the cheaper Pixels, could be one reason for weak sales. Samsung's new line of 5G-enabled flagships as well as solid options from companies like OnePlus and even Motorola seem to have eclipsed any excitement for new Pixels. 

Source: The Information