Two key Pixel executives, including the computer researcher who led the division that developed the lineup's impressive camera, have left Google in recent months, according to a new report. The execs who left are former general manager Mario Queiroz and engineer Marc Levoy.
According to The Information, Levoy left Google in March, a move that was confirmed based on his LinkedIn profile. Queiroz, meanwhile, has long left the division, specifically two months before the official launch of the Pixel 4. He now works for Palo Alto Networks.
The exits come after Google found itself in a difficult spot in the smartphone field. While the Pixel lineup has been generally well-received, the Pixel 4, in particular, received quite some flak for its poor battery life. The software giant also couldn't reach the height of popularity its competitors, such as Huawei and Samsung, are currently enjoying.
The report also detailed some criticisms of the Pixel 4 from Google's hardware lead Rick Osterloh: according to two people who were present at the meeting. In particular, he was disappointed in its battery power.
The Information's report also details Pixel 4's poor sales, which was dismal compared to its predecessors. During the first two quarters of the phone's sale, Google only shipped around 2 million Pixel 4 devices. For context, the Pixel 3 phones had 3.5 million devices shipped during its first two quarters. It only goes to show that the recent sales of Pixel phones haven't been that healthy compared to its competitors.
By comparison, Apple sold 73.8 million iPhones in the same period the Pixel 4 was released in 2019, according to IDC.
Google undeniably struggled to break into the smartphone market, and it had been for quite a while now. The tech giant previously partnered with Nexus, as well as the short-lived Motorola Mobility acquisition, which lasted two meager years.
By far, the Pixel smartphones are the most successful in these Google projects, but its struggles have coincided with an overall flattening of the market.
Google did find some success with 2019's Pixel 3A. The followup Pixel 4A was rumored for a May launch, but due to the current circumstances, the device has been delayed.
The main camera of the Google Pixel 4a will reportedly be 12MP, while the front camera is likely to be an 8MP camera. It appears that the selfie camera might be housed in a punch-hole design in the top left of the screen, which would be a first for a Pixel phone.
