14 DAY TRIAL // Google wants to take full advantage of the crisis Apple is going through with the iPhone lineup, so the search giant will bet big on hardware in 2019.
This is according to a report from Nikkei, who cites sources familiar with Google’s plans as saying that the company wants to roll out its own smartwatch, a cheaper Pixel phone that would cost less than Apple’s iPhone XR, and even a security camera.
Google wants to become a more important player in terms of hardware, and it all starts with the smartphone portfolio. The Pixel lineup has until now been positioned as a premium phone, with the cheapest Pixel 3 available for $749.
But Google now wants to create a more affordable model that would hit the shelves as an alternative to the iPhone XR and cost less. No specifics on the target price are available right now, though it’s believed this would be a non-premium model specifically aimed at emerging markets.
In addition, Google wants to launch its very own smartwatch to compete against the Apple Watch. Rumors of a potential Pixel Watch have been around for a couple of years, and a first-generation model was originally expected in the fall of 2018.
However, Google is now projected to release it this year, most likely with an increased focus on activity and health tracking.
Plans to build products outside China
Google will also debut a new security camera based on tech developed by Nest Labs, the company that it purchased in 2014. New smart speakers will be announced as well, the report adds, especially as Google wants to compete against Apple’s HomePod.
All these hardware efforts are backed by a long-term plan that Google reportedly embraced more than two years ago when it started its silent offensive against Apple. The company hired hundreds of hardware engineers and supply chain specialists from Apple, Nikkei reveals, and is working with a series of Apple suppliers for the production of components that would be used on its devices.
Many suppliers see a collaboration with Google as a breath of fresh air, especially because the weak demand for the iPhone affected their revenues.