Why Google Pixel failed: What happened wrong with Google, Pixel failed as a flagship device
Google Pixel was introduced in October 2016 as a replacement for Google's Nexus smartphones. The Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL were the two smartphones in the Pixel lineup. The Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor and 4 GB of RAM were used in both Pixel smartphones, which had limited storage options of 32 GB and 128 GB. The Android version at the time was 7.1, and it was supported all the way up to Android 10. Most highlighted feature of the Google Pixel was its camera, the primary camera on Pixel Smartphones has a resolution of 12 MP and can record up to 4K videos, while the selfie camera has an aperture of 8 MP and can record full HD videos. A 5-inch full-HD Amoled QHD panel served as the display.
Nexus devices were quite popular at the time, but as a Nexus replacement, Google Pixel did not reap the same benefits. When the Pixel was first released, it was titled "the Apple of Android" or "the best Android you can buy," but it did not happen in reality. Despite being the creator of Android, Google continues to struggle in the smartphone industry to make Pixel smartphones as popular as the iPhones and Galaxys.
In this article we’ll see what happened wrong with the Google Pixel and why Google Pixel failed in the smartphone business. Shall we?
Best-in-class Google Pixel
First, let's look at which features in the Pixel smartphones are truly superior; there aren't many. Google Pixels are known for their camera and stock Android user interface. Because UI is subjective, we won't discuss it. Instead, we'll focus on the camera.
Google is doing an amazing job in the camera department with the integration of hardware and software, and the Pixel camera is considered one of the best smartphone cameras in the industry. The Google Pixel camera takes well-balanced photos and videos that are also visually appealing.
Pixel users, on the other hand, have free unlimited access to Google Photos, which is one of the major advantages Pixel users have over other Android users.
When it comes to software and security updates, Pixel smartphones are unrivalled; no other Android smartphone outperforms Pixel when it comes to updates. Google is concerned about the security and stability of their own smartphones, and sends regular software and security updates to keep them up to date.
Flagship vs. Flagship
Google has always aspired to be the Apple of Android, but the story is different. Google charges a premium price and considers its smartphone to be the flagship model. Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Sony, and Oneplus are the major players in the flagship smartphone segment, while Google Pixel is present but not as a favourite among most flagship smartphone users.
When we compare the latest Pixel 5 to its competitors, we can see that it falls short in a number of areas. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 G (7nm) processor that we get in the Google Pixel 5 is a very capable processor that can easily handle day to day tasks with moderate gaming, but Pixel competitors like the Galaxy S20 Fe, Oneplus 8Pro, iPhone 12, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy Note 20 can all perform better in daily usages and heavy gaming, and this is where Pixel devices fail to impress buyers.
Pixel devices were the best in terms of camera from 2016 to 2018, but that is no longer the case in 2021. Pixel's picture quality is still quite good, but other brands are improving their camera performance day by day, whereas Pixel's camera performance appears to be a little out-of-date when compared to its competitors. You can watch camera comparisons of Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a on YouTube to see how Pixel’s cameras are underperforming compared to its competitors.
In 2021 even Oneplus camera quality is better than Pixel 5 in many lighting situations.
The camera setup on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4 is fairly basic, whereas other brands offer fancy camera setups with the most up-to-date sensors.
Let's talk about the design. While device design is subjective, most people would agree that the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a design does not resemble a flagship device. Samsung, Apple, Sony, Huawei, and a few other Chinese smartphone makers design their phones to be attractive, slim and modern looking whereas Pixel phones are designed to look like they were built in 2016.
According to Google Pixel 5 is made of aluminium, there's no doubt that Google Pixel smartphones are durable and long-lasting, but with its basic camera setup, small screen size and simple back design as a flagship device, it doesn't look like a modern flagship device from 2021, which is why, even in terms of design, Google Pixel falls short of its competitors.
Negative customer review
Despite the fact that Pixel devices have a huge following around the world, the device has received numerous negative reviews. When the Pixel smartphone was first released and users began to use it, there were frequent complaints about bluetooth connectivity, poor RAM management, network connectivity issues, and numerous bugs reported at the time, and these types of negative reviews were a deal breaker for many customers, affecting Google Pixel sales in their early stages.
Negative customer reviews continue to affect Google, so updates and security patches for Pixel smartphones are released on a regular basis.
So, these are the major issues why Google Pixel failed despite being a great overall smartphone with amazing camera and software experience.
Google Pixel 6 is all set to launch and according to leaks and some official reports, Google Pixel 6 will be very different from previous Pixel phones in terms of design and features, so we hope it will be a game changer for Google.
Google must focus not only on software but also on hardware, as well as improve their market strategy, in order to compete in the flagship smartphone market with brands like Samsung and Apple
