Google has taken a significant step in expanding its presence in India by launching direct online sales of its popular hardware devices, including Pixel phones, watches, and earbuds. This move comes ahead of the anticipated launch of its first physical stores in the South Asian nation.
The Alphabet-owned company announced that Indian users can now make direct online purchases through the official Google Store website. Previously, Google products were sold in India through authorized retailers and the e-commerce platform Flipkart, which is backed by Walmart.
In comparison, Apple, Google’s main competitor in the premium smartphone category, already sells its phones directly to Indian users and operates its own retail stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. Google is reportedly close to finalizing locations for its first physical retail stores in India, following a similar retail strategy to Apple, which has been highly successful in showcasing its products through its stores worldwide.
Pixel phones in India are priced between approximately $360 to $1,900 for the top-end models, while Apple’s iPhones range from about $520 to $2,100. Google has also begun manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India to cater to the growing demand in the market.
According to estimates from research group Counterpoint, in 2024, Apple dominated the local market for premium phones priced above $520, with a market share of around 55%, compared to Pixel’s 2% share. The Indian smartphone market is rapidly expanding, with approximately 712 million smartphone users currently.
Google’s move to expand its direct online sales and open physical retail stores in India is seen as a strategic effort to increase its market share and compete more effectively with Apple in the lucrative Indian market. Stay updated with The Business Standard for more developments on Google’s expansion in India.
