What Google Needs to Do For Android to Overcome Apple and iPhone in 2023

For the first time in over a decade, Google came in second to Apple in the Android vs. iPhone war. The free and open source operating system still powers the majority of mobile phones in the world and is available for Samsung, OnePlus and Motorola devices. Even with low-end brands like Nokia, TCL and Blu, no Android-powered phone can beat the iPhone in the US.

From a global perspective, Apple’s dominance is an anomaly. The United States, Canada, and Japan are the only countries where Apple has an edge over Android. Everywhere else Android leads, usually by a large margin.

Android’s delay speaks to the notoriety Apple has built around its iPhone franchise. From celebrities photographed in cafés with iPhones to their ears, to late-night hosts attending parties with Apple Watches wrapped around their wrists, Apple products are America’s aristocracy, both function and fashion. And thanks to iMessage, Apple created the messaging partition. Those who “have” enjoy the blue bubble his garden, and those who “have not” are relegated to the green hustle and bustle. Even movie villains can’t be shot with an iPhone.

But there’s reason to be optimistic about Android’s attempt to reclaim the US throne. Google is building an ecosystem around the Pixel 7, including the introduction of the Pixel Watch. Pixel tablets are coming next year. And Android has its own cult following, even if it’s not on a Hollywood set.

So what can Google do to make Android available in the US again? Here are some ways.

Double your ecosystem

Google took too long to release the Pixel Watch, causing the Apple Watch to act as a Trojan horse and keep people trapped in Apple’s garden.

Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said: Google didn’t have it until this year. “Still, that first watch is really his 1.0 product.”

Google’s slowness to bring the Pixel Watch to market means the Apple Watch is way ahead. At least for now, Pixel owners have options to make sure they don’t feel left out.

The US market is different from the rest of the world in that there is far less competition in the Android space. Concerns about Chinese tech companies tracking US consumers have essentially made it impossible for brands like Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo to do business in the US. As such, there are only a handful of brands outside of Samsung and Google that can sell alternatives.

Moor Insights & Strategy analyst Anshel Sag said:

Lack of manufacturer diversity is just one of the problems facing Google. The iPad series continues to be a popular second screen device, serving as an Internet gateway for both young children and seniors. There’s only one quality Android tablet that comes to mind, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, but its software isn’t as polished as the iPad OS and often feels like a big-screen version of Android. Apple has already announced its “premium” Pixel tablet, but it needs to really impress in order to attract the masses of consumers trained to see the iPad as a tablet.

Unfortunately, one area where Google may not be able to offer Apple a competitive competitor is laptops and home computing. Google’s Chromebooks are great affordable laptops for basic tasks, but they lack the horsepower and flexibility to offer features found in MacOS and Windows. It’s an already fragmented market, making it difficult for Google to create viable alternatives. Even if it did, the install base would be so small that it wouldn’t be able to attract top developers. To keep the product better integrated with Mac and Windows machines.

important subjects

One area where Google has an edge over Apple is the smart home. Cupertino rarely jumps into new product categories right away. This is evidenced by longstanding rumors surrounding Apple’s supposed VR/AR headset and his Apple car. Apple tried to power home devices with his HomeKit, but it was largely forgotten. Meanwhile, Google has a big presence in smart homes with displays powered by voice assistants, including Nest Hub, Nest WiFi, Doorbell, and camera products.

Unfortunately, the smart home industry is bogged down by a dizzying array of competing products that confuse consumers. Amazon Alexa Smart Anyone who owns his speaker may not be sure if it works with the Google Nest doorbell.

Matter is a universal smart home standard that allows new home devices to communicate with each other, regardless of brand. Even Apple, which enjoys creating walled gardens, has joined the Connected Standards Alliance, along with Amazon, Google, Samsung, Ikea, Lutron, Signify, and more.

“This is an area where Google could build more of these controls or expose more of them on Android to some advantage,” said Greengart. This includes building personal homepages, widgets, and creating connections across multiple devices. Greengart said it’s up to Google to let people know that smart home interoperability is best achieved with Android.

Beat Apple to innovate

Google’s product events continue to improve, bringing greater production value and fanfare, but still fail to capture the same magic as Apple’s. Based in Cupertino, California, the company still has the ability to excite its family of products and services. Enthusiastic executive rhetoric mixed with high production values ​​can convince you that Apple is bringing you the latest in technology and innovation.

High-refresh screens for optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, and all the other features Apple is breathtakingly obsessed with are coming to Android first.

But there are consumers who see flashy macro shots and want to get their hands on new tech first.

Rumors have already surfaced of a Pixel foldable device that could compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

“In my opinion [Samsung’s] It’s starting to gain momentum there. And I think it shows, the question is the price, right?” Sag said. If Samsung can continue to bring down the price of its foldables, it will make the category more popular and bring in more competition. Perhaps more sales and more competitive pricing. ”

Google is also actively promoting Pixel features such as live translation in 2022 World Cup commercials. The Pixel 7 is also his official NBA “fan phone” this season, with commercials featuring player Giannis Antetokounmpo and actor Simlieu. Google has also reportedly placed the largest order for Pixel 7 devices. Regardless of sales or celebrity endorsements, Google needs his Pixel to be premium and exclusive. This is largely at odds with Android’s core vision as a free and open source operating system. If Apple’s success is any indication, it’s because people like to feel like they’re in the “crowd.”