“Alphabet Inc’s Google launched more affordable versions of its Pixel smartphone on Tuesday at about half the price of its current models, and dropped an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with Verizon Communications Inc, signaling a major shift in the tech giant’s hardware strategy,” Reuters reports. “Since hitting the market three years ago, the Pixel has been a slow seller compared to phones from Apple Inc… Google is now moving to close the gap.”
“The new Pixel 3a is priced as low $399, compared with $799 for last year’s Pixel 3,” Reuters reports. “The cheaper version will have one front camera instead of two and no wireless charging option, Google said. The phone will sell in the same 13 countries as the Pixel 3.”
“And while Pixel devices currently work on T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellular networks, those U.S. wireless carriers will also begin to sell the phones starting Wednesday, along with Verizon,” Reuters reports. “Google had discussions with AT&T, another major U.S. carrier, but could not overcome some differences, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“The Pixel 3a and its 0.4-inch larger cousin, Pixel 3a XL, which starts at $479, could upset Android partners, analysts said,” Reuters reports. “‘It’s like walking a tightrope,’ said Wayne Lam, an analyst with IHS Markit. ‘You don’t want to upset your licensees but you have to go where the money is.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: In their mad dive to the bottom, they began to eat their own.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “TJ” for the heads up.]
apple, take note!
Google knows the market is not at 1k
That is not Apple’s market – as has been explained by MDN and others ad infinitum.
As per those who settle for Windows and Android: Apple serves premium customers who have discretionary income and the proven will to spend it. Those who settle for pretend iPhones and fake Macs have always proven to be cheapskates; not the type of user who’ll spend on subscription content. They want cheap/free. Therefore, they deserve what cheap/free delivers. — MacDailyNews, March 28, 2019
What are you going to advise Apple to do next, ship a netbook?
Apple doesn’t play in the low-end. Apple is a maker of high-end devices. Even Apple’s mid-priced wares are quote high-end.
You can have a premium, high end device that doesn’t cost $1,000. They’d been doing it successfully for 10 years.
“You can have a premium, high end device that doesn’t cost $1,000.” As is plainly obvious:
iPhone XR, plus multiple older, still high-end, iPhone models from years past, still on sale, new, for far less than this $1,000 that jealous people who can’t afford it bitch about.
Signed,
iPhone XS Max (256GB, Unlocked and SIM-Free) Owner
P.S. $1,000 is nothing. My iPhone cost $1,449 and is worth every single penny!
@superior These are mid range – not high end, which is what the XR is aiming at which is priced still more than top end iPhones used to be and almost double these.
@brutal Apple’s netbook is iPad but it absolutely needs to sort mac pricing out too. Macbook air used to be £749 entry now the older model is £949.
Only since X did an iPhone cost more than a mac.
Apple recently reported the fastest falling sales of iPhone ever
If it wasn’t thinking about a price correction already it should be.
Doesn’t matter what’s in the phone or what it costs, a Pixel is just a voluntary surveillance device.