Japan is now the biggest Google Pixel market

Google Pixel sales in Japan are going incredibly well, and the East Asian country is now the biggest market for Google’s smartphone in 2023.

If you are looking to buy a high-end Android smartphone, the Google Pixel is a solid choice thanks to its powerful hardware, outstanding camera quality, and software support from the company. Despite complaints about design defects like volume buttons falling apart, the latest statistics show that Pixel phone sales worldwide are skyrocketing.

According to 9to5google (via Counterpoint Research), Google Pixel global shipment soared 67% year-over-year as of Q1 2023. The Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro are the company’s best-selling smartphones. While the International Data Corporation (IDC) didn’t paint a rosy picture of global smartphone shipment in 2023, the Google Pixel is voraciously increasing its market share.

Japan has become the biggest hub for Google Pixel phones

The latest report also sheds light on the biggest markets for Pixel phones. Interestingly, Japan is now the biggest selling hub for Pixel devices, accounting for 34% of Google Pixel shipments in Q1 2023. Last year, Japan only made 10% of Pixel shipments. This shows Pixel phones could find their place in the Japanese market and surpass rivals from Samsung and Apple. Google now holds 9% of Japan’s market, placing itself second after Apple.

The Pixel 7a is also the most successful device in the Japanese market, with a 74% shipment jump. Likewise, Pixel 6a could keep its reign as the best-selling Android phone in the country for seven consecutive months.

In Q1 2023, the United States also made 31% of Pixel shipments, which is a significant decrease from 51% the previous year. Of course, Pixel sales in the US are still consistent, but Japan is driving the brand growth. The Pixel phones sales in other markets also soared from 14% to 18%.

The Pixel shipments in Western Europe dropped from 24% to 17%. Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi mainly dominate the European market. So Google has a tough time increasing its market share in this region. According to the latest reports, Google’s share of the Europe smartphone market is just 0.85%.