Summary
- The Google Pixel series is gaining traction in Canada.
- Around 75% of Canada’s smartphone purchases are of phones with MSRPs of at least $700.
- Google’s US market share increased from 4.76% to 12.9% after the Pixel 9’s release.
The Google Pixel series is nearing its decade anniversary in 2026, with the first phone from the conglomerate being released in October 2016. With nine years under its belt, its market share across the world market has seen fluctuations, both good and bad, and in North America, Google’s realistic hope is that it can continue taking small chunks out of Apple and Samsung’s combined dominance. After the Google Pixel 9 was released in Q4 2024, the company’s market share in the US soared from 4.76% to 12.9%, helping it surpass Motorola and OnePlus. In Canada, the Pixel 9 line has helped Google continue to rise steadily, and recent numbers indicate a positive trend.
According to Counterpoint, a market research firm focused on consumer technology, the market share of smartphones that cost over $700 MSRP compared to those that cost under $700 is quickly rising, with 75% of Canada’s smartphone sales in 2024 stemming from the higher price point (via 9to5Google). The Google Pixel 9 line is perhaps the biggest winner from that fact, as it has made “significant inroads” in this segment. There are no hard numbers given to support that in Counterpoint’s brief blog post, but according to Statcounter and 9to5Google, it is estimated that the Google Pixel today holds around 8% — up from 6.5% in December 2024 — of the Canadian market, based on browsing data.
Rising tides lift all
It isn’t just in Canada where the Pixel line is seeing resounding success lately. The US market has obviously been a big focus for Google since its first phone launch, and we reported that it held around 12% of the market share in November 2024. The Pixel 9’s strong sales early on seemed to indicate to us that Google’s hardware success could be the key to Android’s survival. With Apple’s iPhone dominating the American share, and Samsung holding the biggest bite of Android’s divide, Google needed to really refine its stock operating system to convince iPhone users — and, really, users of other Android devices — to switch to Pixels. While Android 15 wasn’t an extremely exciting upgrade for longtime users, it has shone a light on the OS’ maturity over time. Pixels are good now, so we should let Google cook.
All that being said, the Google Pixel 10 could not only put a serious dent in Apple’s popularity in North America, but Samsung’s, too. With the Pixel 10’s release getting closer and closer, the leaks surrounding it grow more frequently by the day. We’ve started to see some Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro color options drip to the public. In other Android and Google news, the Google Store just went live in India, which is the second-largest smartphone market in the world. Previously, people from India needed to purchase their Google devices from third-party retailers, but that is no longer the case, as they can buy directly from the source. Speaking about Canada and Androids, Bell, the largest telecommunications company in the country, just released its own budget-conscious Android phone, the Ahlo 1.
