As a fan of Google and user of Apple phone, I sat down to think about the reasons as to why I am an Apple user, and what would it take for me to go back to Pixel phones (Android).

Quality Control of the Apps in Android:
There is a reason as to why the number of apps in iOS are way too less in comparison to Android. The scrutiny that iOS does with respect to the quality of an app is far superior than that on the iOS. Better scrutiny brings in even better quality to an app, hence for a certain app, the crash rate is very low in iOS compared to Android. So for Android to be successful, the quality control process has to become tighter thereby reducing the crashing of the apps and in general have a fluid performance.

Improved Software Integration with Hardware:
Now that Google builds their own phones (not like the Nexus series), Google has to bump up their game in terms of software integration with the hardware which in my opinion pixel phones have been lacking so far. Instead of treating software and hardware as a separate aspect of a product, Google should come up with software features more specific to hardware which brings a fluidity between apps and hardware. App continuity is something that Google can easily streamline now that chrome is so far ahead as a web browser in comparison to the competition.

Future Proof, Hardware and Software:
One of the primary complaint with Pixel 3 handset is 4GB RAM. In 2019, for a common Android user, he would need at least 3GB of RAM to get through his day to day activities. With 4GB RAM, medium to heavy users ran into memory issues which one cannot expect in a Pixel device. I understand they wanted to undercut Apple in terms of price but the option they chose to cut to make the undercut work is not correct.

Also, A normal Pixel user who spends $900 on his phone would expect to get android updates at least for 3 years (though Google warrants for only 2 years), considering Oneplus is still giving out android updates to Oneplus 3 users and Apple sending out iOS 12 updates to iPhone 5S. Google, for 2019, a 64GB base variant would be a terrible idea, no matter if you give free storage for two years, users would have to opt for one of your plans and pay a price after the free period.

Standout Features:
In 2019, everyone agrees that Google has the best camera in a smartphone. But the competition is now catching up with Huawei closing the gap in. Google can no longer just rely on its cameras as the main selling point. It has to come out with standout features that can compel an average user towards Pixel devices which is not happening currently. Google, being the innovative company that it is, should focus on actual consumer problems and come out with innovative solutions, not on gimmicks.

Improved Overall Build Quality:
While the overall build quality has improved over the last few years for Google, they are still playing catch up with the likes of Apple and Samsung in terms of overall build quality. They need to employ market leaders to deliver hardware parts and even more so, better integrators of the hardware. When a user spends his hard earned cash, those small little touches which make a phone feel premium become ever so important.

Competitive Marketing Strategy:
An area of expertise any company should possess to keep the sales going on is marketing. Apple, Samsung and Huawei have found a customer base who find their products appealing and in my opinion, marketing played a huge role in this regard. For example, LG who has decent products failed to capture market share primarily because of a failed marketing strategy. So for Google to be successful, it’s not just having a quality product, but marketing has to be spot on to target the customer base they want to capture.

Before its too late, Google has to get its act right as the world of technology rapidly evolves at lightning speed. They cannot always rely on catching up with the competition and I am very sure if there is any company who can do that, its definitely Google. With users demanding more technology within a limited price range, to compel a user to go and buy a Pixel phone would be a challenge I do not want to see Google lose. I can happily go to Google as my daily driver once the act gets right for Google.

My Ideal specifications for Pixel 4:
Snapdragon 855 processor
8/12GB RAM
128/512GB storage
4100 mAh battery with fast charging.
Wireless Charging
6 Inch and 6.4 Inch models with 90HZ refresh rate
Front facing dual stereo speakers
Improved Video recording capability, both on camera and mic.