Google will move Pixel production from China

Google is preparing to completely cease production of Pixel devices in China. According to Nikkei Asia, the company has already notified suppliers of plans to move the remaining production lines to Vietnam and India starting in 2027.

This is not just about smartphones. China must leave the production lines for Pixel Watch and Google wireless earbuds. Thus, the company aims to finally reduce its hardware business’s dependence on Chinese factories amid ongoing tensions between the US and China.

Production in Vietnam

Google has been preparing the ground for relocating production for several years. In 2026, the company for the first time organized a full cycle of development and preparation for mass production of flagship Pixel devices in Vietnam, including the Pro and Fold models.

Previously, the most complex stages of launching a new generation of smartphones were still closely tied to Chinese enterprises. Successful production of the Pixel 11 family in Vietnam has shown Google that this part of the supply chain can also be moved outside China.

India is simultaneously becoming the second major production base for Pixel. Google smartphones are manufactured there by the company’s partners, and a portion of the produced devices is sent for export.

Google Pixel sales

Restructuring of production is occurring simultaneously with the growth of Google’s hardware business. In 2025, the company shipped approximately 12 million Pixel smartphones, and in 2026 it plans to increase this figure by another 8-10%.

This corresponds to approximately 13 million devices per year.

Therefore, relocating production must not only reduce geopolitical risks but also provide Google with sufficient capacity to further increase shipments.

Dear memory

A separate problem for smartphone manufacturers remains the memory shortage caused by the sharp increase in demand from the AI industry. It has already led to an increase in component costs and has become one of the reasons for the price hike on the new generation of Pixel.

However, Google has an advantage over most smartphone manufacturers. According to Nikkei Asia, the company is combining memory orders for mobile devices with massive procurement of components for its own cloud servers.

Thanks to significantly larger order volumes, Google can expect more favorable pricing and supply terms than companies that purchase memory exclusively for smartphones.

If the plan is implemented, starting in 2027, China will cease to play a significant role in the production of Pixel devices. The main part of Google’s hardware supply chain will be concentrated in Vietnam and India.