Google Pixel 4, the tech gaint's new flagship smartphone, could take advantage of Huawei's troubles to gain market share, but a lack of relationships with mobile carriers could hold back its path to becoming a mass market player, analysts say.
“With Huawei facing huge challenges, particularly in Europe, now is the time for Google if it’s serious about moving the needle with Pixel,” Geoff Blaber, vice president of Americas research at CCS Insight, said in a note.
However, headwinds remain and could make it tough for Google to challenge Huawei, even with the Chinese technology giant’s current issues.
“The consequences of Huawei’s entity listing has left a vacuum in Europe and a huge opportunity for share gain. However, given the Pixel’s limited operator support in Europe, it’s far more likely to be Samsung that benefits,” Blaber told CNBC in an email, referring the the U.S. blacklist.
At its launch event Tuesday, Google announced the Pixel 4 would be carried by a number of U.S. networks including AT&T and Verizon. But very few European carriers have the phone.
“We have to keep in mind that these two vendors (Google and Huawei) compete on two different battlegrounds: three out of four Pixel phones are sold in the U.S., whereas Huawei is effectively non-existent there,” Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research, told CNBC.
“Conversely, a key beachhead in Huawei’s overseas momentum is in Europe, where Google’s Pixel line has had a limited presence.”
“Most of the carriers that were announced last night were U.S.-based. So if Google’s priorities are still focused there, then it’s unlikely that they would take much share from Huawei,” Ma said.
