Roger Fingas
Google is having a hard time matching production to demand for its rival to Apple's iPhone 7, the Pixel — and particularly 5.5-inch Pixel XL models, according to a report.
All colors and configurations of the XL — sold in 32- and 128-gigabyte capacities — are currently out of stock at Google's online store, The Verge said. Indeed the 128-gigabyte model hasn't been in stock since Nov. 30.
Verizon, Google's carrier partner for the Pixel, is quoting shipping times in the second week of March for the 128-gigabyte XL. In-store the option has been almost totally unavailable.
While the standard 5-inch Pixel is easier to find, both from Google and Verizon, its 128-gigabyte model is reportedly low in stock at Verizon outlets, and the carrier's online shipments may still take weeks to arrive. Black ones won't ship until February, and white ones are due as late as March.
"We're aware about the inventory issues on the Google Store and Verizon," a Google spokesperson told The Verge. "Honestly, demand has exceeded our expectations. We're doing our best to restock on an ongoing basis."
Third-party retailer Best Buy has also been dealing with short inventory, despite only selling 32-gigabyte Pixels.
"Demand for the Pixel isn't a tenth of that for the iPhone 7, and we were close in our guesses," AppleInsider was told by a source within Best Buy's corporate headquarters. "But, we underestimated demand anyway."
The Pixel is Google's first self-designed phone, but manufactured by HTC, which may not have the capacity to keep up with Google's orders at the same time as it works on its own devices. If so that could severely hamper Pixel sales, since people faced with waiting a month or two might opt to buy something like the iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy S7 instead.
Google's phone already has small but significant marketshare in the U.S, though it's still vastly outmatched by Apple and Samsung.
The Pixel hasn't benchmarked as well as the iPhone 7, but has been critically praised for features like Google Assistant and its high-quality camera.
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101 Comments
That is because Google is using most of the same suppliers as every other cellphone company including Apple and they are on the bottom of the priority list to get parts during constrain supply situation like exist right now. Plus apple has invested in manufacturing capacities at their suppliers so they get first priority on parts. This is what happens when you have Software/Ad company trying to get into the hardware business and does not understand the challenges of the supply chains.
Sold out is code for they do not have supply it does not mean people are actually buying it like crazy.
I wonder how this is playing with the other Android phone manufacturers. They build up the market and Google takes the profitable part. It must leave a bitter taste in their mouths.
I'm quite surprised that it's selling somewhat well for a first release, particularly one that wasn't what Google had actually planned to do and at a relatively high iPhone-like price for all versions. A similar story at another site showed the Pixel making up 8% of Verizon's new smartphone activations.
I would imagine that Samsung's difficulties would benefit Pixel sales amongst Android loyalists.