Google May Move Pixel Production Out Of China, India Could Gain

Google may shift Pixel production from China.

India could become a larger Pixel manufacturing hub.

Pixel shipments may increase despite rising chip costs.

Google is reportedly considering a major change to its hardware manufacturing strategy, with the company preparing to reduce its dependence on China for Pixel smartphones and other devices.

According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Google has informed suppliers about plans to move production of Pixel smartphones, smartwatches and wireless earbuds outside China from next year. The company has already been increasing its manufacturing presence in India and Vietnam as it looks to build a more diversified supply chain.

Vietnam has reportedly given Google confidence to take the next step. The company has successfully developed and manufactured flagship Pixel smartphones there, demonstrating that production can be expanded beyond its traditional Chinese manufacturing base.

India is also expected to play a bigger role. Google has been steadily building manufacturing capacity in the country, and the latest reported plan could further strengthen Indias position in the global smartphone supply chain.

The shift also comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions between Washington and Beijing. Unlike Apple, Google does not sell Pixel smartphones in China, which could make it relatively easier for the company to reduce its manufacturing dependence on the country.

Vietnam also offers an established smartphone supply chain. The presence of Samsungs manufacturing ecosystem could provide Google with access to suppliers and infrastructure needed to expand production efficiently.

If the reported plan goes ahead, Google could become one of the major smartphone makers to substantially move phone production away from China, following Samsung’s earlier efforts to diversify its manufacturing operations.

At the same time, Google appears to be targeting higher Pixel shipments. Reports suggest the company could increase shipments by around 8 percent to 10 percent this year from roughly 12 million units last year. Rising memory chip prices are expected to add pressure, but Google reportedly remains optimistic about demand for its latest Pixel devices and Gemini AI features.

The company is also said to be exploring ways to manage component costs by combining orders for smartphone memory with requirements from its cloud computing business. Discussions with major memory suppliers including Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix could help Google negotiate better pricing.

Google recently introduced its Pixel 11 series in India with a starting price of Rs 89,999. The new lineup uses the Tensor G6 chipset and includes a Titan M3 security coprocessor along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The company also unveiled the Pixel Watch 5 and Pixel Tag during its recent hardware event, while the Pixel Buds Pro 2 received a new color option.

For Google, expanding manufacturing in India and Vietnam could therefore serve two purposes: reducing reliance on China while creating additional capacity to support future Pixel growth.