Google is launching its new Pixel 9 line in India, marking the first time its foldable phone will be available in the country. To expand its sales channels, Google has partnered with two offline retail chains, Croma and Reliance Digital, in addition to its online partner Flipkart. The company has also introduced three walk-in service centers to improve after-sales support. However, Google faces challenges in India, where it currently has less than 1% market share. Premium product sales are growing in India, with Apple dominating the super-premium segment. Google aims to target this segment with its Pixel 9 series, which starts at 79,999 Indian rupees ($950) for the regular Pixel 9. The affordable Pixel A series has been successful in India, capturing a 65% share of Google’s sales in 2023. Despite this, Google needs to increase its marketing spending to compete with Apple and Samsung. Analysts believe Google should expand its sales channels to appeal to a broader consumer base and invest in offline retail stores. The pricing of Google’s phones in India has also been a challenge, with some experts considering it out of sync with market expectations. While Google offers AI features on its new phones, consumers are not making purchasing decisions solely based on these features. In the long run, AI features may play a more important role, especially if Apple introduces on-device AI to its iPhones.
