Analyst predicts Google will sell 3-4 million HTC-build pixel phones this year

There’s a lot to like about the HTC-build Pixel and Pixel XL, but according to a report by a Digitimes Research analyst, the new devices will account for 40-50% of HTC’s smartphone shipments in the second half of 2016 — resulting in sales of 3-4 million units. That number doesn’t come close to the tens of millions of iPhones that Apple will likely sell within the same timeframe, but it would go a long way in establishing the Google brand in the smartphone space.

More importantly, sales of 3-4 million Pixel and Pixel XL smartphone would have a lasting impact on HTC’s smartphone business and could likely turn 2016 into a profitable year for HTC. For now, no one knows how much of a profit HTC will make for each Pixel phone that it builds. HTC will likely not reveal the details of its Pixel contract in its annual financial report, but we should be able to track the impact of Pixel sales to HTC’s monthly revenue reports. With the Pixel and Pixel XL hitting store shelves on October 20, we should see a bump in HTC October revenue report which will come out in early November.

Since the HTC brand isn’t present on the Pixel phone, it will be hard for HTC to gain any positive consumer mind share if the Pixel phones turn out to be a hit. Hopefully, HTC will be able to use the increased revenue to turn its own smartphone business around and regain market share for itself.

Source: Digitimes