Google’s announcement of a new "Pixel" smartphone and a suite of consumer electronics products has planted itself firmly in the hardware business and put forward a strong challenge to Apple iPhone at the high end of the $400 billion global smartphone market.
However, its biggest casualty could well end up being Samsung. Any gains Google makes with the Pixel, may come not at the expense of Apple, but also Android phone manufacturers, majorly Samsung.
Google Pixels are pretty undifferentiated compared to Samsung and iPhone seventh generation phones.Patrick Moorhead, Industry analyst
While the new phones are clearly aimed at competing with the iPhone, Google executives took several swipes at Apple in their on-stage remarks. Analysts said Android rivals like Samsung Electronics could be the biggest victim if the Pixel takes off.
A premium Android strategy is really a strategy to take market share from Samsung... Obviously Google doesn’t want to explicitly compete with its own partners, but this product is much more likely to compete with Samsung than Apple.Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research
However, it’s clear that Google clearly has its sights set on the luxury consumer base that Samsung and Apple command.
Company executives, echoing Apple's longstanding philosophy, said they were striving for tighter integration of hardware and software.
"The thinking is that if we can work on hardware and software together, we can innovate much better," Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh said in an interview with Reuters, citing a recent reorganisation that united once-disparate hardware teams.
Pixel to Impact Indian Markets
Google's newly-launched artificial intelligence-powered premium device Pixel is set to heavily impact Apple and Samsung devices in India.
India is among the first six countries where Pixel is being launched. Starting at Rs. 57,000, the device will be available on pre-order in the country starting 13 October.
Pixel comes in two sizes – 5 and 5.5-inch – with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protected super AMOLED display.
Pixel is the first smartphone with Google Assistant – a built-in AI programme that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator like Apple's "Siri".
With powerhouse specifications, both the devices have similar hardware under the hood. Pixel smartphones are fitted with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 821 Quad core (2x 2.15 Ghz and 2x1.6 Ghz) processors and 4GB RAM.
Pixel has a 2770 battery, while the 5.5-inch device has 3450 mAh battery. Both devices support "Quick Charge" technology, promising seven hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging.
(With Reuters and IANS inputs.)
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