Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL not coming to India, here’s why

Google unveiled its new Pixel smartphones, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL at a Made by Google hardware event held in New York. However, these new flagship Pixel phones will not be launching in India.

Google spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch:

Google has a wide range of products that we make available in different regions around the world. We determine availability based on a variety of factors, including local trends, and product features. We decided not to make Pixel 4 available in India. We remain committed to our current Pixel phones and look forward to bringing future Pixel devices to India.

The new radar-based ‘Motion Sense’ feature is the reason behind these devices not launching in India. Google has failed to get permission to use the ’60GHz frequency band’ from the local Indian Authority as commercial usage hasn’t been allowed yet. Project Soli is a radar-based motion sensing baked chip inserted in the new Pixel phones, which relies on a frequency band of 60GHz mmWave.

Google has been launching Nexus and Pixel phones in India since the beginning, and this will be the first time when Pixel phones will not be available in the second-largest mobile phone market in the world.

The radar sensors in Pixel 4 are used for gestures navigation in different apps and in the facial unlock process. For example, the user can reject a call by just gesturing at the phone or snooze an alarm with just a gesture. The sensors are also used to start the facial recognition process once a user picks up the phone.

Also read: Google Pixel 3 Review: Consistently Unbeatable Camera Lord

The failure of Google to launch Pixel 4 in the Indian market doesn’t seem to affect the company financially as the previous Pixel phones haven’t been accepted in the country like other flagship phones because of hefty prices, although the fans of the Pixel brand will be disappointed.

For now, Pixel 4 users in Japan will not get the ‘Motion Sense’ feature. The feature will be available in Spring 2020. Google’s support page says:

Currently, Motion Sense will work in the US, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, and most European countries. If you travel to a country where it’s not approved, it won’t work.

The phones in Japan will go on sale soon, but the same could not be said about India as Google has not released any statement regarding when Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be released in India.