Made-In-India Pixel 8 Phones Begin Production, Google Thanks IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Google is expected to launch four new phones tonight - Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Fold.

Google has commenced manufacturing its Pixel 8 smartphones in India, marking a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to the "Make in India" initiative. This development was announced by Google India through a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The announcement highlighted Google's excitement as the first batch of India-manufactured Pixel 8 devices began rolling off the assembly lines. The company also expressed gratitude towards the Indian government for its support, particularly thanking Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his role in facilitating the production process.

Google's move to produce the Pixel 8 in the country reflects its strategic focus on the Indian market, one of the most significant smartphone markets globally. Local manufacturing is expected to streamline Google's supply chain, potentially lower production costs, and allow the tech giant to offer more competitively priced products to Indian consumers.

This announcement comes just ahead of Google’s highly anticipated Made by Google event, set to take place later today on August 13. The event is expected to showcase a range of new hardware, including the Pixel 9 series, which will feature four models: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Fold. Additionally, new iterations of the Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds are also expected to be unveiled. 

Google Pixel 9 Series Price (Expected)

As the official launch of Google's Pixel 9 series approaches, new leaks have provided insight into the expected pricing for the upcoming models. The standard Pixel 9 Pro is likely to start at $999, maintaining the same entry-level price as the previous Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is expected to be the flagship of the series, could see a notable increase in price.

Rumours suggest that the Pixel 9 Pro XL might be priced around $1,200, a $200 jump from last year's top-tier model. This model is anticipated to come in 256GB and 512GB storage variants, offering users a choice between two high-capacity options.

These figures are based on leaks specific to the US market, where pricing is often more competitive. In other regions, like India, the pricing structure may vary. For example, while the Pixel 8 Pro was priced at $999 in the US, it launched in India at Rs 1,06,999. This indicates that the Pixel 9 series could have different pricing in international markets, depending on regional factors and currency exchange rates.