Google’s Pixel smartphones are apparently doing quite well. According to a report by Counterpoint Research (via 9to5Google), Google is now the third highest ranking premium smartphone manufacturer in the US as of the end of 2018. The first and second spots are taken by Apple and Samsung respectively.
Coming in at third, even if just within North America, is quite an achievement for Google. They displaced LG from their third place in the 2018 Q3 market report. Google also takes the 5th place in Western Europe.
The Pixel smartphones are not anywhere close to the success of other premium flagships, but their growing popularity has not gone unnoticed. A Strategy Analytics research finds that Google Pixel is the fastest-growing major smartphone brand in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2018. The brand grew 43% from Q4 2017 to Q4 2018, outperforming all Google’s top-ten rivals, including Apple and Samsung.
When your market share is small, there is of course the potential to grow faster, compared with another company that has reached nearer market saturation. Google may still face plenty of competition from smaller manufacturers, but their market position, especially being the company behind Android and other mobile technologies, gives them a distinct advantage.
Google still has a long road, but it’s good to hear that their Pixel devices are at least gaining some noticeable traction in some parts of the world.
Made by Google profit is estimated at US$3B for 2018, on revenue of US$8.8B. This is still a small portion of the company’s total profit/revenue, but this is expected to grow to US$6.1B profit on US$20B of revenue by 2021.
Google has a great opportunities on their hands. The upcoming Pixel 3a launch expected in May this year is not going to be a game-changer, but I hope Google can wow us with the Pixel 4 in the later part of this year!