Google prepping mid-tier Pixel phone for India: Should OnePlus be worried?

Depending on the response to the mid-range Pixel phone in India, Google has plans to expand the availability in the emerging global market. This move by Google may spell doom for OnePlus in the sub-continent.

Xiaomi's sub-brand Poco had earlier launched a feature-rich Poco F1 to take on its Chinese peer OnePlus, which is currently ruling the niche premium (above Rs 30,000) smartphone market in India. Now, a report has emerged that search engine giant Google also wants to have big a chunk of the pie in the subcontinent.

Google, which is reported to have sold less than 100,000 units of Pixel 2 series phones since its debut in October in India, has less than a one per cent share (including first gen Pixel) in the country. In a bid to attract price-conscious consumers, it plans to bring a mid-tier Pixel phone in India.

Earlier reports had indicated that the rumoured mid-range Pixel phone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 770 octa-core processor would debut around July-August in India, but it never materialised. Now, sources have tipped The Economic Times that it will be coming in early 2019 and would be priced anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000, which also happens to be the OnePlus' target segment.

Depending on the response in India, Google has plans to expand the availability of the mid-tier Pixel phone to other global emerging markets.

US-IT-LIFESTYLE-GOOGLE — The new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones are seen at a product launch eventELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP/Getty Images

Though there is no valid proof to validate the aforementioned report, we believe this to be a real deal, as Google has been very bullish in terms of making a mark in India, the world's second biggest and fastest growing smartphone market. Add to the fact that more than half the 1.3 billion population of the country are yet to migrate to touch-screen mobile phones. So, there is a huge potential for Google to make inroad in India.

It can be noted that the mid-range Pixel is not the first 'Make for India' attempt by Google, it had previously worked with third-party mobile makers for Android One series. Initially, it was met with lukewarm response, but in 2017, the arrival of Xiaomi Mi A1 Android One changed things for good.

And I believe Google has really good chance to make the breakthrough with mid-range Pixel phone in India next year, provided it incorporates top-end Pixel phone-like intelligent camera app Google Lens in addition with dedicated Visual Core processor. Even if the processor is a little underpowered compared to the OnePlus phone, the pure Android OS will make the Pixel phone work efficiently and make the battery last longer. Most importantly, it will be one of the first to get the latest Google mobile OS update.

Former market leader, Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy A8 Star, but it's no competition to the OnePlus 6. But, it won't be the last, as the former is expected to bring more affordable flagship phones to take on OnePlus in coming months.

OnePlus is slated to bring OnePlus 6T with new design language in a couple of months. OnePlus will have a tough time to sustain the lead with increasing onslaught from Xiaomi, Samsung and Google. But, if it continues to invest funds to improve the off-line retail business and aftersale service in India and also bring a low-cost Android phone (like the OnePlus X), OnePlus might possibly beat the odds, at least in India.