When it comes to the field of technology, our collective eyes are almost always on the future, quick to forget what we already have. It happens every year when a new phone is rumored and gathers enough dust about whether the device will be, objectively speaking, good or bad.
For a long time, this was just the way the world worked, because there were enough compromises and caveats to make us want something new. But maybe it’s time to stand back and say “hey, my phone is fine, do I really need an upgrade?” Here’s how I feel about the Pixel 8, and frankly pretty much every other phone likely to be released in the course of 2023.
There are a few exceptions to that rule, as pointed out in Michael’s summary of “how we hope the Android world will improve in 2023.” As someone who slams the foldable phone as loud and as often as possible, the fact remains that there’s plenty of room for improvement across the board, which is where the exception comes in.
The market is struggling
Instead, I’m more focused on the state of the “tablet” market and how Google might be better served by waiting to launch a Pixel 8. A recent report from Canalys gave us a better understanding of what the smartphone market looked like at the end of 2022 .And frankly, the results were pretty damning.
According to the report, “global smartphone shipments fell 17% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2022.” While “2022 full-year shipments declined 11% to less than 1.2 billion, reflecting an extremely challenging year for all suppliers.”
Google’s Pixel series may hold a special place in our collective hearts, but it’s still not making much of a splash in the market. As has been the case for years, Apple and Samsung continue to battle for the top, while continuing to take more and more of the market share. Given that there simply aren’t as many smartphone manufacturers anymore, it doesn’t come as a shock. But the real question is Why are total smartphone shipments so dramatically down compared to 2021.
Part of this can be attributed to the feeling of a major economic downturn (read: recession). So far in 2023, we’ve seen Microsoft cut 5% of its workforce (about 10,000 employees), Amazon is said to be laying off 18,000 individuals, and Twitter is, well, Twitter. Google is even rumored to start laying off workers, which could amount to around 11,000.
You don’t need an upgrade every year
And while the possible incoming recession is one way to look at why people aren’t spending as much money, there’s another aspect to consider. Many of the best Android phones are more powerful than the computers you might use on a daily basis. These beasts are packed with upwards of 16GB of RAM and configurable with 1TB of storage, complete with gorgeous displays and extra features like being able to use your phone as a computer.
When Google released the Pixel 6, the company was praised for going in a completely different direction, as this was the first Pixel to use Google’s in-house processor. However, there were plenty of bugs and issues that caused many publications to basically keep track. The Pixel 7 has largely fixed those issues, without actually introducing too many new ones, culminating in a series of reliable phones that have lulled us back to sleep.
Apple and Samsung are just throwing lipstick at a pig with their 2023 flagship phones.
The Tensor G2 may not offer performance improvements similar to what we saw when Apple switched from using Intel chips to its own silicon in recent Macs. But it has provided a stable experience for, seemingly at least, the majority of its users. And even still, it falls just a little behind the latest Snapdragon smartphones, but Google makes up for it in things like excellent camera hardware and on-device imaging.
If we really want Google to succeed and stop fighting the likes of Apple and Samsung, it might be time for Google to take a year off now. The Galaxy S23 range is likely to launch in just a couple of weeks, dominating the first half of the year, before the Fold 5 and Flip 5 arrive this summer. Then Apple slaps lipstick on a pig and launches the iPhone 12 15.
But we’ve also already seen Apple and Samsung both struggle with sales across flagship lines. Apple decided to ditch the iPhone Mini in favor of the iPhone Plus, while Samsung is rumored to be getting rid of at least one of the Galaxy S24 models next year. And despite all this, both companies managed to gain market share between 2021 and 2022.
Where does Google fit into the scenario?
So where does that leave Google? Well, despite claims of the Pixel 7 being the “best-selling Pixel ever,” it still falls into the “Other” category in Canalys’ report. Google is still trailing the likes of Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo. And that’s largely expected given that these companies offer devices in more regions than Google.
My thinking is that Google should take 2023 off entirely, at least when it comes to the smartphone market. As much as it pains me to say this, push the Pixel Fold back even further because now is not the time to launch a new $1300-$1500 phone in a niche market. Hold back the Pixel 8 until the Tensor G4, and just let the dominoes fall where they may.
Instead of falling in line with the endless amount of device releases, give us the breath of fresh air we’ll need in 2024. Hell, Google could even switch up its release cycle and instead of teasing, just release its new lineup of hardware at I/O instead.
Undoubtedly the best
Google’s Pixel 7 isn’t too flashy and may not have the most powerful hardware. But it is true to many things and will be more than reliable for the next few years.
#Google #shouldnt #release #Pixel
