It seems that I am not the only one that thinks that a more expensive set of Nexus devices will lead to higher sales. Google’s VP of Android also thinks the same thing. Yes, a couple of weeks ago I wrote up a headliner piece that went through some basic reasons as to why I felt and believed that even though the Nexus devices were more expensive this year, that ultimately it would probably lead to higher sales, regardless of the fact that people would pay more. Sure people would whine and moan about things at first, but in the end those people would probably still end up buying the products anyway. There will be no way to prove that of course, but I would bet money that a good portion of people complaining about the price of the Nexus 6 compared to last year’s Nexus 5 will end up getting one. My reasoning is simple and I think it can be summed up in one word. Value. That’s it. The Google Nexus 6 and the Google Nexus 9 will evoke more value.
People will see the value in the device because the Nexus devices were already on their radar, and amazing specifications will be hard to ignore. Many were likely considering buying one before they heard the price, and maybe had already told themselves that “this was the phone for them.” This value breaks down to specs and hardware. The Nexus 6 this year is the most premium built Nexus phone ever made. It uses high quality build with excellent, top tier hardware like the Snapdragon 805 processor and the Quad-HD AMOLED screen. It comes in either 32GB or 64GB size models, offering up more base storage than last year’s model. It offers what legions of people flock to other well known brands like Samsung for to pick up the latest flagship Galaxy device, paying top dollar because it comes with powerful specs like a better CPU and GPU and a better camera. The Nexus 6 is also available officially on all four major carriers here in the U.S. with T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T, something that no other Nexus has ever offered. This again can be compared to something like Samsung’s popular selling Galaxy line of devices. They’re available everywhere, they cost hundreds more than previous Nexus phones, and yet they sell way more devices.
Google’s VP of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer mentions that they are “selling the Nexus 6 in a way most people are used to buying it,” which is true. It’s available through the Play Store like past Nexus devices, and it’s available through T-mobile like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, but also expands to other carriers too. The different factors here are that Google has chosen to finally step up to the plate and offer something that the masses of average consumers generally care more about, and that’s specs/hardware and features. That unfortunately comes at a higher cost. This time around Google and Motorola made the decision to put their efforts and focus into delivering something that was top tier to appeal to a wider audience of the average consumer before they thought about pricing, and in the end it just might pay off. Google did the same thing with the Nexus 9 tablet, opting for HTC as the OEM because they build a stellar high quality feeling device, and together this year the Nexus 9 features higher end parts and build materials than previous Nexus tablets. Google’s always been about pushing the boundaries of technology and that’s what they’ve done here, as stated by Sandeep Waraich who is a Product Manager working on the Nexus 6.
It’s clear that Google felt adding a higher price tag to these devices would help to boost sales, and perhaps it will even convince certain people that the devices are worth looking into. Many people associate price with the quality of a product, although high prices don’t always equate to something good quality. Charging more will also allow Google to potentially make a little more money back on the development of these devices, which was likely not happening with previous products due to their extremely low cost. Since the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 have yet to really be open for orders(we’re not counting pre-orders)or arrive in carrier retail locations, it’s still way too early to see how the sales will go. The devices are more widely available now though, so they’ll reach a vastly larger amount of people and, the better hardware will allow the devices to compete heavily against other high end devices. The prices may be higher, but since they’ll be carried in wireless carrier stores, they’ll come with contract based pricing too, which is how the majority of people are used to paying for new phones. The Nexus line has always been decent, but this year it feels like Google has truly gone above and beyond, and they seem to think so too.