Main topic: Sale on Google Pixel products
Key points:
1. Google Pixel 7a smartphone is currently 11% off, priced at $444.
2. The Pixel 7a offers similar features to the Pixel 7 at a lower price.
3. Other Pixel products, such as the tablet and Buds, are also on sale.
Xiaomi reported a decline in revenue and smartphone sales for Q2 2023, with overall revenue decreasing by 4% and smartphone shipments dropping by 15.8%, attributed to weakened global market demand; however, the company maintained its position as the third-largest global manufacturer and ranked second in Europe and the Middle East.
The global smartphone market continues to decline, with a 6.6% drop in Q2 2023 and a 13.3% decline in the first half of the year compared to 2022, affecting different companies in different ways, with Samsung still leading but facing challenges from Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones from Google are expected to have a significant price increase of over $300, which may disappoint customers hoping for an affordable high-end device.
Google has revealed the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2 ahead of their upcoming Made By Google event.
Google India has announced the launch of the Pixel Watch 2, which will be available for pre-order from Flipkart on October 5, marking the first release of a Pixel Watch in the country.
Apple's iPhone sales in China surpassed the United States in the second quarter of 2023, becoming the largest market for iPhone shipments, while Qualcomm announced that it will continue to supply Apple with 5G modems through 2026.
Google has revealed details about its upcoming flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, as well as teasing the release of the Pixel Watch 2, all set to launch on October 4 with advanced cameras, AI capabilities, personalized help, safety features, and health insights.
Google's next major OS upgrade, Android 14, is being delayed until October, with the beta program for Android 14 QPR1 now available and the official debut expected in December as the Pixel Feature Drop.
Google will be raising the prices of its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices in the US market, with the Pixel 8 costing $699 and the Pixel 8 Pro costing $999.
Google is expected to announce the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2 at its upcoming event in New York City, with leaked details revealing features such as improved cameras, a new processor, and extended software updates.
The North American smartphone market experienced its worst quarterly performance in over a decade, with a 22% decline in Q2 2023, but Google's Pixel phone sales increased by 59%, earning the company 4% of the market and making it the only company that survived unscathed.
Google's Pixel smartphones have seen a significant rise in popularity in Japan, with sales increasing six times compared to the previous year, causing Apple's market share to fall below 50% for the first time in two years, attributed to rising smartphone prices and the lack of must-have features on recent iPhones.
Google has set trade-in value limits for its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones, with trade-ins of older Pixel phones or iPhones getting higher values than other devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Google unveiled its Pixel Watch 2, featuring an improved heart rate sensor, personal safety options, a more powerful processor, and a longer battery life compared to its predecessor, with a starting price of $349.
Google has unveiled new Pixel smartphones infused with more artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, including an AI assistant that can generate captions for photos and perform tasks through AI chatbot Bard, while also improving editing tools and cameras; the AI features will justify a price increase, with starting prices for both models increasing by $100.
Google has launched the Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2, released the stable version of Android 14, and is already preparing for the December Pixel Feature Drop with a new beta release, which includes fixes for minor issues and the introduction of a new Software Updates page.
Google has confirmed that it has no plans to release a low-cost Pixel smartphone in the future due to the compromises that would be required to meet that price point.
Google Pixel has shipped around 40 million phones so far, with sales steadily growing, making it a minor player in the global smartphone market.
Google has released its new Pixel Watch, which features more battery life, advanced sensors, and Fitbit software, making it a strong competitor to the Apple Watch in the Android market.
Google's Pixel phones, despite facing some issues with bugs and hardware, have seen a rise in sales with nearly 38 million units sold since 2016 and are known for their AI-based features and software advantage.
The Google Pixel 8a is expected to have a rounded design and slightly smaller dimensions compared to its predecessor, the Pixel 7a, with a launch expected around Google I/O in 2024.
Google has no plans to release a budget-friendly Pixel phone due to the compromises it would require, according to Google's VP of mobile business Nanda Ramachandran, but the upcoming Pixel 8a may offer a balance between price and performance.
The biggest hardware upgrade on the Pixel 8 series is Google's new "Actua" displays, which surpasses its competitors in terms of brightness, colors, and panel quality, earning them the top ranking for smartphone displays by DXOMark.
Overall global smartphone sales fell 8% in Q3, with Apple and Samsung losing market share to competing brands, but a rebound is expected in Q4 with the launch of the iPhone 15 and other holiday sales, according to Counterpoint Research.
Google's latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones justify their $100 price increase with significant improvements in display brightness, battery life, and extended software support.
Google has significantly reduced the trade-in values for the Pixel 7 series, punishing users who did not pre-order the Pixel 8 series.
Google plans to manufacture its Pixel smartphone lineup in India, with the intention to start local manufacturing next year, in a move that supports its commitment to expanding production to meet the growing demand for Pixel devices and reinforces its commitment to the Indian market.
Google has released the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2, which have received positive initial reviews for their performance, design improvements, and AI features, making them promising launches for Google.
Samsung maintained its position as the biggest smartphone brand in the Indian market during Q3 2023 with 7.9 million shipments and an 18% market share, while most other brands experienced significant declines due to uncertain economic conditions and rising inflation.
Google's Pixel 8 Pro falls short of its competitors, including the iPhone 15 Pro series and Huawei P60 Pro, despite its impressive camera system, according to DxOMark.
Alphabet's Q3 earnings beat estimates, propelled by strong ad revenue, but the stock slid due to a slowdown in Google Cloud growth.
Despite a decline in the smartphone market, China's shipments rose in Q3 2023, with Honor leading the market, followed by Oppo and Apple, as companies focus on closer collaborations with retailers to stimulate consumer upgrades and brand switches.
