A Google executive dismissed the idea of an affordable Pixel phone, saying a low-end phone would require too many compromises.
With the new Google Pixel 8 phones available for pre-order ahead of their launch this month (and now at a higher price than in previous years), the question of whether the company will fall into the budget end of the market has been raised again.
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Mobile business vice president Nanda Ramachandran told the Austrian newspaper: Der Standard He said the hallmarks of the new Pixel phones – cameras, AI and security – wouldn’t be possible in a device selling for a few hundred pounds.
“It’s unlikely we’ll go in that direction,” he told the newspaper. “We’re going to have to make a lot of compromises for that.”
It remains to be seen whether there will be demand for an affordable Pixel phone, given that the Pixel 7a and its predecessors have done a good job of keeping most of the experience without sacrificing too much in the mid-range. Google also believes the Pixel 8 series is a good value despite the price increase this cycle.
“If you look at Pixel 8, we have revamped almost everything compared to Pixel 7,” Ramachandran added. “And of course, seven years of update support is also a significant investment.”
The promise of longevity is important. The phone will be supported with access to Android updates until 2030. Google is also promising to sell replacement parts so users have a better chance at repairing their phones and keeping them active this decade.
Pixel 8 phones also feature a brand new Tensor chip, better displays, and more.
