With the announcement of launch date for the hardware products, Google has fueled the tipsters to spread even more rumors for its upcoming Pixel smartphone lineup. This time, however, the leaks aren’t about the product specifications or the design, but about the relatively high price at which the Pixel could probably be sold.
Google’s Nexus lineup(which is now being revamped to Pixel) has been a relative bargain for users as compared to flagship devices by other OEMs. But, AndroidPolice is now reporting that users might need to shell out much more when compared to the previous generation. The Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones which are currently being speculated to be manufactured by HTC, will probably be distributed by Google. The tech giant will also be the one to set the pricing for its new model launching on 4th of October.
There have previously been rumors that Google is likely to keep prices similar to the previous gen flagship devices Nexus 5X and 6P, where the higher-end Pixel XL would start at $649. But, now a source aware of the development claims that the smaller 5-inch Pixel will start at this price point. The $649 price tag will be applicable for the basic 32 GB model, and is expected to go much higher with each storage+model iteration.
It now seems that Google is phasing out its image of a relatively cheap yet sturdy smartphone provider, and taking a strong stance against other third-party manufacturers. The pricing for the Pixel XL is expected to be in the Apple iPhone or Samsung S7/S7 Edge flagship category. We’re are also still hearing looming rumors of three colors variants for the Pixels—blue, aluminum, and black.
But with the rise in the cost of its upcoming smartphone offerings, Google is also planning to make Pixel financing options available to users — a good alternative for those looking to snag the more expensive Pixel XL. In addition to this, the source says that Google will also provide accidental damage coverage plus another year of warranty for — $99 for Pixel and $119 for Pixel XL.
Well, like always, we would recommend you not to dwell on rumors and take them with a grain of salt. Nothing about the pricing of the devices is confirmed until the official release. One could, however, question the possibility of Google mulling over the increment in prices and thinking of itself as a ‘premium’ smartphone seller.
Do you think it would be an apt decision for Google to raise prices of the Pixel line-up? Comment your thoughts down below.
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