Google is lastly promoting refurbished Pixel telephones by itself net retailer like many different cellphone makers do. That is nice to see as a result of the very last thing this world wants is one other 500 grams of e-waste in a landfill when it may be repaired and resold. It will be even higher if Google have been severe about it.
I like the concept of shopping for a refurbished cellphone. You get a guaranty from the producer and you may belief that something incorrect with the {hardware} was addressed by somebody who is aware of what they’re doing so it really works like it’s purported to work. You aren’t getting that if you purchase a used cellphone, so a variety of of us will spend a little bit extra for a cellphone that was made entire as soon as returned.
There is a proper approach to do it, after which there may be the way in which Google is doing it.
A take a look at the telephones presently on the market highlights the issues with Google’s technique. We see the Pixel 6a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Professional. You may already discover the primary concern: three of those 5 telephones is not going to get up to date to Android 16.
The Pixel 6 collection telephones will cease seeing platform updates in October 2024, or inside days after this text was written. They’ll nonetheless get safety updates till 2026, which I feel are extra essential than model updates, however most individuals do not see it that means. Shopping for a “good as new” cellphone instantly from Google and not getting access to among the new options we see only a yr later with the brand new OS improve will bitter a variety of patrons on this system.
It is robust as a result of these telephones are doubtless very usable and could be nice for lots of people. Simply not the individuals shopping for a cellphone direct from Google, who’re more than likely tech lovers and care about new options and Android variations.
I do not know what Google ought to do with these telephones. I do know what I might do if I have been independently and fabulously rich like Google’s government management: donate them. Repair them, and provides them to individuals in want internationally. Then once more, I am not making an attempt to earn a living promoting telephones, so perhaps my opinion would not matter right here.
The opposite, and probably greater, drawback is the costs. I would not purchase a refurbished cellphone from Google for the quantity it’s asking as a result of it is an excessive amount of.
You should buy a model new Pixel 7 Professional cheaper than what Google is asking for a refurbished Pixel 6 Professional. Model new, nonetheless within the wrapper, and a mannequin yr newer. Oh, and it is going to be up to date to Android 16, too. If you wish to spend $539 purchase the Pixel 7 Professional for $399 and a few good earbuds as an alternative of spending it on a refurbished cellphone that is a yr older.
It is simple to giggle and suppose that is simply Google being Google once more, however this can be a major problem. By pricing these telephones so excessive, individuals aren’t going to purchase them. Google is not going to maintain them endlessly, and in the long run, they find yourself being stripped of any materials that is straightforward to get whereas the remaining goes right into a landfill.
I do not find out about you, however I need to depart this place higher for my grandchildren. There isn’t a stopping the consumerism mindset that is overtaken so many individuals, so we’ve got to determine one thing. We love to purchase stuff, even once we can nonetheless use the stuff we have already got. The businesses that entice us into shopping for the stuff have a duty to try to work out what occurs to all of it as soon as we’re achieved with it. Fixing it up and reselling it’s a nice thought, however doing it this fashion is not.
Google can afford to promote these refurbs grime low cost and it will get much more eyeballs on Google’s providers so Google makes much more cash promoting adverts. I do not know why the corporate will not do it, however it ought to.
