[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"nav-categories":3,"article-google-s-pixel-phones-persisting-in-a-smartphone-market-dominated-by-giants":70},{"data":4},[5,37,57,64],{"name":6,"slug":7,"categories":8},"Productivity","productivity",[9,13,17,21,25,29,33],{"id":10,"title":11,"slug":12},17,"Branding","branding",{"id":14,"title":15,"slug":16},19,"Marketing","marketing",{"id":18,"title":19,"slug":20},20,"Work","work",{"id":22,"title":23,"slug":24},34,"Community","community",{"id":26,"title":27,"slug":28},21,"For newbies","for-newbies",{"id":30,"title":31,"slug":32},24,"Investment","investment",{"id":34,"title":35,"slug":36},22,"Finance","finance",{"name":38,"slug":39,"categories":40},"Tech","tech",[41,45,49,53],{"id":42,"title":43,"slug":44},28,"Technology","technology",{"id":46,"title":47,"slug":48},32,"Artificial Intelligence","artificial-intelligence",{"id":50,"title":51,"slug":52},26,"Security and protection","security-and-protection",{"id":54,"title":55,"slug":56},31,"YouTube Blog","youtube-blog",{"name":58,"slug":59,"categories":60},"News","news",[61],{"id":62,"title":58,"slug":63},18,"quasanews",{"name":65,"slug":66,"categories":67},"Business","business",[68],{"id":69,"title":65,"slug":66},16,{"post":71,"published_news":94,"popular_news":153,"categories":217},{"title":72,"description":73,"meta_title":72,"meta_description":74,"meta_keywords":73,"text":75,"slug":76,"created_at":77,"publish_at":78,"formatted_created_at":79,"category_id":42,"links":80,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":85,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"category":88},"Google's Pixel Phones: Persisting in a Smartphone Market Dominated by Giants","As of February 2026, the global smartphone landscape remains a tale of titans, with Apple and Samsung commanding nearly half of all active devices worldwide.","why does Google continue pouring resources into hardware that barely registers on the global stage?","\u003Cp>As of February 2026, the global smartphone landscape remains a tale of titans, with Apple and Samsung commanding nearly half of all active devices worldwide. Yet, amid this duopoly and a cadre of rising Chinese manufacturers, Google's Pixel line lingers as a curious outlier — capturing less than 1% of the active installed base.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>With data from Counterpoint Research highlighting stark disparities in market penetration, one can't help but wonder: \u003Ca href=\"https://counterpointresearch.com/en/insights/Active-Installed-Base-8-Smartphone-OEMs-Top-200-mn-Nearly-1-in-4-is-an-iPhone\">why does Google continue pouring resources into hardware that barely registers on the global stage?\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The Global Smartphone Hierarchy: Apple and Samsung Reign Supreme\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-left\" height=\"169\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2026-02-15T201239.614.jpg\" width=\"300\" />According to recent analytics, the active installed base of smartphones grew modestly by 2% in 2025, driven by lengthening replacement cycles and the proliferation of second-hand devices.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>At the pinnacle stands Apple, whose iPhones now constitute nearly one in four active smartphones globally — surpassing 1 billion devices. Remarkably, Apple added more net new active devices in 2025 alone than the next seven leading OEMs combined, underscoring its unparalleled user loyalty fueled by the iOS ecosystem, seamless services integration, and premium hardware longevity.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Samsung, the Android heavyweight, follows closely with about one in five devices, also exceeding the 1 billion mark. Together, t\u003Ca href=\"https://www.phonearena.com/news/apple-leads-smartphone-market-in-active-devices-samsung-second-place_id178086\">hese two giants control 44% of the world's active smartphones\u003C/a>, a dominance built on broad portfolios spanning budget to flagship models, extensive global distribution, and robust software support.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The 200 Million Club: Rising Challengers from China and Beyond\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>Below the billion-device threshold, a competitive mid-tier emerges. Eight OEMs boast over 200 million active devices each, collectively accounting for more than 80% of the global installed base.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-right\" height=\"236\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/photo_2026-02-15_19-58-19.jpg\" width=\"400\" />This elite group includes:\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cul>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Xiaomi\u003C/strong>: A leader in affordable, feature-packed devices, targeting emerging markets.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>OPPO\u003C/strong> (including OnePlus): Focused on mid-to-high segments with innovative cameras and fast charging.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>vivo\u003C/strong>: Strong in photography and design, appealing to younger demographics.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Transsion\u003C/strong> (encompassing Infinix, Tecno, and itel): Dominating price-sensitive regions like Africa with budget options.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>HONOR\u003C/strong>: A newcomer to this list, leveraging independence from Huawei to expand globally.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Huawei\u003C/strong>: Resilient despite U.S. sanctions, thriving in China with its HarmonyOS ecosystem.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\u003Cp>Motorola and Realme hover just shy of the 200 million milestone, poised for potential breakthroughs through aggressive pricing and carrier partnerships.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>These manufacturers thrive by catering to underserved segments, emphasizing value, localization, and rapid iteration — strategies that have eroded the "others" category where smaller players reside.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Google's Pixel: A Statistical Footnote\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-right\" height=\"298\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2026-02-15T201154.315.jpg\" width=\"200\" />In stark contrast, \u003Ca href=\"https://piunikaweb.com/2026/02/12/google-pixel-market-share-growth-pixel-10a-facetime-vpn-update\">Google's Pixel series occupies a minuscule sliver of the market\u003C/a> — estimated at around \u003Ca href=\"https://www.accio.com/business/google-smartphone-market-share-2025-trend\">1%\u003C/a> of active global smartphones, \u003Ca href=\"https://9to5google.com/2026/02/11/google-pixel-one-percent-of-active-smartphones\">translating to roughly 20-40 million devices\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Despite impressive growth in shipments — up \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pressreader.com/usa/apple-magazine/20260116/281900189603843?srsltid=AfmBOoqo916fR4E9SLgzpXpZtJwRum0PFH6WaC6RaqfsyVu6d0yY1skM\">25%\u003C/a> year-over-year in 2025, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel/googles-pixel-had-a-good-2025-but-it-still-trails-the-big-phone-makers\">driven by the Pixel 9 and 10 series' AI features and expanded carrier deals\u003C/a> — Pixel remains firmly in the "others" bucket. In the U.S., Pixel fares better, claiming a low single-digit share, but globally, it's dwarfed by the competition.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>This marginal presence raises questions about Google's commitment. Pixel sales pale compared to Samsung's Galaxy line or Xiaomi's volume-driven approach.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Production issues, limited availability in key markets, and a focus on premium pricing without the brand cachet of Apple have hampered broader adoption.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Why Does Google Persist with Pixel?\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>The rationale for Google's ongoing investment in Pixel hardware isn't immediately obvious, especially given the financial outlay for R&D, marketing, and supply chain management.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-left\" height=\"447\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2026-02-15T201152.663.jpg\" width=\"300\" />However, several strategic imperatives emerge:\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Col>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Showcasing Android Excellence\u003C/strong>: As the steward of Android, Google uses Pixel to demonstrate "pure" Android experiences, highlighting features like Material You design, timely updates, and AI integrations (e.g., Gemini AI in Pixel 10). This sets a benchmark for other OEMs, indirectly bolstering the Android ecosystem that powers 70-80% of smartphones.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>AI and Software Innovation\u003C/strong>: Pixel serves as a testbed for Google's cutting-edge tech, such as advanced computational photography and on-device AI. Successes here trickle down to the broader Android world, enhancing Google's software dominance and data collection capabilities.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Ecosystem Control and Revenue Streams\u003C/strong>: By owning hardware, Google can integrate services like Google One, YouTube, and Search more seamlessly, driving subscription revenue. It also counters Apple's walled garden, potentially attracting users disillusioned with iOS.\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Long-Term Ambition\u003C/strong>: Despite current modesty, Pixel's growth trajectory — 35% YoY in Q3 2025 shipments — suggests Google is playing the long game. Expanding into foldables and wearables could eventually carve out a niche, especially as AI becomes a differentiator.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ol>\n\n\u003Cp>Critics argue this is a vanity project, with resources better allocated to cloud or ads. Yet, in a market where hardware-software synergy drives loyalty (as seen with Apple), Google's persistence may be a calculated bet on future relevance.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Cp>Also read:\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cul>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/the-crypto-winter-of-2026-2027-an-ice-age-for-digital-assets\">The Crypto Winter of 2026-2027: An Ice Age for Digital Assets\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/mini-scandal-erupts-on-kalshi-over-bernie-sanders-rally-bets\">Mini-Scandal Erupts on Kalshi Over Bernie Sanders Rally Bets\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/how-to-set-up-a-party-company-with-second-hand-materials\">How to Set up A Party Company With Second-Hand Materials\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/best-5-key-predictions-for-business-technology\">Best 5 Key Predictions For Business Technology\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The Road Ahead: Evolution or Extinction?\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>As replacement cycles extend to four years and consumers prioritize durability and ecosystems, the smartphone market favors incumbents like Apple and Samsung. For Google, breaking out of the statistical margins will require bolder moves—wider distribution, competitive pricing, or revolutionary features. Until then, Pixel remains a testament to Google's tech prowess, even if it's not (yet) a commercial juggernaut.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>In an industry where every fourth phone is an iPhone and giants like Transsion conquer emerging markets, Google's tiny footprint underscores a key lesson: market share isn't everything when your goal is influencing the entire ecosystem.\u003C/p>","google-s-pixel-phones-persisting-in-a-smartphone-market-dominated-by-giants","2026-02-15T19:14:34.000000Z","2026-02-26T11:00:00.000000Z","26.02.2026",{"image":81,"thumb":82},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/TkVvCtBKn899cSoAuxY9jkS0LU3iBBg88An9L7Oz.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/TkVvCtBKn899cSoAuxY9jkS0LU3iBBg88An9L7Oz.jpg","small",null,908,0,"en",{"id":42,"title":43,"slug":44,"meta_title":89,"meta_description":90,"meta_keywords":91,"deleted_at":84,"created_at":92,"updated_at":93,"lang":87},"Quasa media blog about growth hacking in Tech","All the most interesting and useful about technologies. Exclusive articles from technologies you won't find anywhere else.","Technology, tech, business, ai, gadget, gadgets, life hacks","2023-03-23T08:15:32.000000Z","2024-08-25T15:37:57.000000Z",[95,108,120,131,142],{"title":96,"description":97,"slug":98,"created_at":99,"publish_at":100,"formatted_created_at":101,"category":102,"links":103,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":106,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Pokémon Go’s 10-Year Legacy: How Millions of Players Accidentally Trained Robots to Deliver Your Food","Ten years after its explosive launch, Pokémon Go continues to deliver surprises — this time, not in the form of rare Pikachu, but in the form of a powerful new navigation system for delivery robots.","pokemon-go-s-10-year-legacy-how-millions-of-players-accidentally-trained-robots-to-deliver-your-food","2026-03-25T20:06:36.000000Z","2026-04-09T06:59:00.000000Z","09.04.2026",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":104,"thumb":105},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/ceiFSOJQ3diMLwMI4POUSJwIjscAuwf5TWE2DXlN.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/ceiFSOJQ3diMLwMI4POUSJwIjscAuwf5TWE2DXlN.jpg",38,false,{"title":109,"description":110,"slug":111,"created_at":112,"publish_at":112,"formatted_created_at":113,"category":114,"links":115,"view_type":118,"video_url":84,"views":119,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Jaxx Liberty for Cross-Device Crypto Management","A practical article about Jaxx Liberty as a cross-platform blockchain wallet with portfolio tools, exchange access, and block explorer features for daily crypto management.","jaxx-liberty-for-cross-device-crypto-management","2026-04-08T12:21:43.000000Z","08.04.2026",{"title":35,"slug":36},{"image":116,"thumb":117},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/2BoYmDUS7F9wHE0dwpD2KUpX702LkL1Spp2KC5Vm.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/2BoYmDUS7F9wHE0dwpD2KUpX702LkL1Spp2KC5Vm.jpg","large",725,{"title":121,"description":122,"slug":123,"created_at":124,"publish_at":125,"formatted_created_at":113,"category":126,"links":127,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":130,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Proposes Paying Engineers with AI Tokens","Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has put forward a radical new idea for compensating tech talent: paying engineers part of their salary in AI tokens.","nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-proposes-paying-engineers-with-ai-tokens","2026-03-25T19:56:16.000000Z","2026-04-08T11:48:00.000000Z",{"title":19,"slug":20},{"image":128,"thumb":129},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/KL5Yqt5ZzW3R4cu7XmE15grrRHdKZ1WBoKbC6Zu3.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/KL5Yqt5ZzW3R4cu7XmE15grrRHdKZ1WBoKbC6Zu3.jpg",776,{"title":132,"description":133,"slug":134,"created_at":135,"publish_at":136,"formatted_created_at":113,"category":137,"links":138,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":141,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"The AI Scientist Hits Nature: Scaling Scientific Discovery Like Code","The dream of a fully autonomous laboratory has moved from the realm of \"experimental demo\" to a validated scientific reality. The AI Scientist, a pioneering system designed to automate the entire lifecycle of research, has officially been published in Nature.","the-ai-scientist-hits-nature-scaling-scientific-discovery-like-code","2026-03-25T19:23:02.000000Z","2026-04-08T09:15:00.000000Z",{"title":47,"slug":48},{"image":139,"thumb":140},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/QZJ74ZuxTmCA52qWq4HZkP2WikrOYpg6WBusDdyn.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/QZJ74ZuxTmCA52qWq4HZkP2WikrOYpg6WBusDdyn.jpg",847,{"title":143,"description":144,"slug":145,"created_at":146,"publish_at":147,"formatted_created_at":113,"category":148,"links":149,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":152,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Nostalgia Is Still King: Retro Video Rental Store Simulator Is a Massive Hit on Steam","In the age of instant streaming, it turns out a surprising number of people — including many who were born after Blockbuster went bankrupt — are craving the simple joy of renting physical movies.","nostalgia-is-still-king-retro-video-rental-store-simulator-is-a-massive-hit-on-steam","2026-03-25T18:41:36.000000Z","2026-04-08T06:35:00.000000Z",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":150,"thumb":151},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/VvOooYMc2244q5hTV6Or5OMgr8schTPlzU8b4HXY.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/VvOooYMc2244q5hTV6Or5OMgr8schTPlzU8b4HXY.jpg",850,[154,167,180,192,205],{"title":155,"description":156,"slug":157,"created_at":158,"publish_at":159,"formatted_created_at":160,"category":161,"links":162,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":165,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur","Entrepreneur is a French word that means an enterpriser. Enterprisers are people who undertake a business or enterprise with the chance of earning profits or suffering from loss.","the-anatomy-of-an-entrepreneur","2021-08-04T15:18:21.000000Z","2025-12-14T06:09:00.000000Z","14.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":163,"thumb":164},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp",67829,2,{"title":168,"description":169,"slug":170,"created_at":171,"publish_at":172,"formatted_created_at":173,"category":174,"links":175,"view_type":118,"video_url":84,"views":178,"likes":179,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Advertising on QUASA","QUASA MEDIA is read by more than 400 thousand people a month. We offer to place your article, add a link or order the writing of an article for publication.","advertising-on-quasa","2022-07-06T07:33:02.000000Z","2025-12-15T17:33:02.000000Z","15.12.2025",{"title":58,"slug":63},{"image":176,"thumb":177},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg",67198,4,{"title":181,"description":182,"slug":183,"created_at":184,"publish_at":185,"formatted_created_at":186,"category":187,"links":188,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":191,"likes":179,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"What is a Startup?","A startup is not a new company, not a tech company, nor a new tech company. You can be a new tech company, if your goal is not to grow high and fast; then, you are not a startup. ","what-is-a-startup","2021-08-04T12:05:17.000000Z","2025-12-17T13:02:00.000000Z","17.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":189,"thumb":190},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp",65500,{"title":193,"description":194,"slug":195,"created_at":196,"publish_at":197,"formatted_created_at":198,"category":199,"links":200,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":203,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":204,"is_pinned":107},"Top 5 Tips to Make More Money as a Content Creator","Content creators are one of the most desired job titles right now. Who wouldn’t want to earn a living online?","top-5-tips-to-make-more-money-as-a-content-creator","2022-01-17T17:31:51.000000Z","2026-01-17T11:30:00.000000Z","17.01.2026",{"title":19,"slug":20},{"image":201,"thumb":202},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg",39985,1,{"title":206,"description":207,"slug":208,"created_at":209,"publish_at":210,"formatted_created_at":211,"category":212,"links":213,"view_type":118,"video_url":84,"views":216,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"8 Logo Design Tips for Small Businesses","Your logo tells the story of your business and the values you stand for.","8-logo-design-tips-for-small-businesses","2021-12-04T21:59:52.000000Z","2025-05-05T03:30:00.000000Z","05.05.2025",{"title":15,"slug":16},{"image":214,"thumb":215},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg",39399,[218,219,220,221,222,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230],{"title":23,"slug":24},{"title":47,"slug":48},{"title":55,"slug":56},{"title":43,"slug":44},{"title":51,"slug":52},{"title":31,"slug":32},{"title":35,"slug":36},{"title":27,"slug":28},{"title":19,"slug":20},{"title":15,"slug":16},{"title":58,"slug":63},{"title":11,"slug":12},{"title":65,"slug":66}]