Despite the increasing competition in recent years, Samsung continues to maintain its leadership in the global smartphone market. Along with major players such as Apple and Xiaomi, Google is also trying to find a place for itself in the market with its Pixel series smartphones. However, it is observed that Samsung has not suffered any serious damage from this competition. Google’s Pixel phones are not considered a strong alternative, especially for Samsung users.
In an interview with analyst Ben Thompson, Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of platforms and devices, said that very few Samsung users are switching to Google’s Pixel phones, suggesting that Samsung is largely holding its own against the Pixel lineup.
Google and Samsung partnership grows stronger
As a company that develops the Android operating system and also sells Android-based devices, Google needs to maintain a balance with its partners, such as Samsung. This dual role in the Android ecosystem can sometimes lead to conflicts of interest. However, Google is taking important steps to strengthen its relationship, especially with Samsung.
After Rick Osterloh was appointed to his new position at Google, he met with Samsung MX President TM Roh. During this meeting, it was emphasized that the collaboration between the two companies is stronger than ever. Google’s new features in artificial intelligence (AI), such as Circle to Search, Gemini and Gemini Live, were introduced to Samsung devices before or at the same time as Pixel devices. This situation shows how strong the collaboration between the two giant technology companies is.
The collaboration between Google and Samsung is not limited to smartphones. The two companies continue to work together to expand the Android ecosystem and introduce new devices, features, and services. Google and Samsung combined their respective smartwatch operating systems to develop Wear OS 3 together. In addition, Google’s Nearby Share feature has been integrated with Samsung’s Quick Share system, providing users with a more seamless sharing experience. Similarly, integration has been achieved between Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings platforms.
These collaborations demonstrate that both companies aim to make the Android ecosystem stronger and more user-friendly. Google’s software and platform power and Samsung’s hardware expertise come together to offer more advanced and integrated solutions for users. For example, the two companies are also working together on an Android-based extended reality (XR) headset, which they plan to launch later this year.