Google’s Pixel/Nexus phones have come a long way from being devices for Android enthusiasts. They were for the people who wanted to be on the front line to receive the latest features coming to Android. Well, that’s changing, and Pixel phones are gaining ground in the US market, according to How-To-Geek.
This is a welcome surprise because Google proved that it can create a powerful smartphone experience. In fact, it was able to tackle the Japanese market recently. It shot up from about 4% of the Japanese market last year to 9%. It’s now the highest-selling Android phone in the country. That’s no small feat.
Now, the Pixel phones are gaining ground in the US market
The numbers are in for the first quarter of 2023, and it doesn’t show much change with the higher-selling brands in the US. Apple took home 59% of the market with Samsung conquering 23%. Motorola actually saw a bit of a slip YoY and dropped from 10% to 7% of the market. However, we’re not sure if the recently-launched Moto Razr+ will have an effect on its numbers this quarter.
Now, Motorola might need to watch its back, because Google is basically on its tail. Google ran away with 4% of the market. That’s a 1% increase YoY. That might not seem like much, but just getting out of the dreaded “Other” category on the chart is hard enough. Google managed to ship about 1.4 million units.
Again, this refers to the numbers up to the first quarter of the year. This means that it’s not accounting for Pixel Tablet, Pixel 7a, or Pixel Fold sales. If we take those into account, especially the Pixel 7a, we are bound to see some higher numbers.
Under Google, we see that TCL was able to push 1.2 million units itself. That’s a major feat, as it’s mostly known as a TV brand.
So, Google is slowly becoming a household name. It’s been able to differentiate itself from other Android OEMs with its phone’s design and its focus on powerful AI features. While it won’t be any challenge for Samsung or Apple any time soon, it’s still nice to see Google gaining ground.