Google Pixel phones are still a relatively small player in the smartphone market overall, but they are growing in popularity, especially in Japan. A new report from Bloomberg, citing data from Counterpoint Research, shows that Google Pixel phones now make up 12% of the smartphone market in Japan, up from just 2% in Q2 2021. During the same time period, Apple’s iPhone market share dropped from 58% to 46%.
This is a significant shift, as Apple’s iPhones have long been dominant in the Japanese smartphone market. However, Pixel phones are likely gaining popularity in Japan for their competitive pricing, strong camera performance, and deep integration with Google services.
Another factor contributing to Pixel’s success in Japan is the weak yen. This makes them a good deal for people outside of Japan who want to buy a Pixel phone. The Pixel is only sold in a few countries, and the yen’s fall to its lowest level in over 3 decades has made Japan the cheapest place to buy one.
Google is also benefiting from the decline of other Android brands in Japan. For example, Sharp saw its market share jump from 8% to 11%, and Sony went from 5% to 6%. However, Samsung held its line at 6%, while Oppo actually slipped from 6% to 5%.
That said, Apple’s latest iPhone 15 series may boost its market share, despite the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s $100 price increase due to the removal of a smaller storage tier. Google is set to launch its latest Pixel devices at an event next Wednesday.
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(Via)
