Google is spending big on its marketing campaign for the Pixel and Pixel XL

By Christian de Looper October 7, 2016

google pixel advertising campaign phone hands on 9 — Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Google’s not taking it easy in its push to market the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones — according to recent reports, the company has already spent $3.2 million in TV ads since it announced the device, and some ad executives suggest that Google will spend hundreds of millions in an effort to keep up with the likes of Samsung and Apple.

The advertising budget makes sense for Google. The release of the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones puts the company in direct competition with Samsung and Apple, so Google needs to make a big push if it expects to make waves.

Recommended Videos

While Google has declined to offer specific numbers about its marketing campaign for the Pixel, it has said that it is running a “very significant marketing campaign,” according to a report from Reuters. Not only that, but the report states that the company may even buy ads during Thanksgiving football games, which can run into multiple millions of dollars.

It will be interesting to see how Google approaches its advertising campaign. So far, its ads are very similar to ads made by Apple, including things like white backdrops and slowly moving closeups of the phones.

Google isn’t the only one that will be spending the cash to try and promote the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. Verizon, which has a carrier exclusive on the phones, will invest its own money in TV ads, internet marketing, social media, and more. These campaigns will start when the phone launches on October 20, and will likely run through the holiday season, according to Jeff Dietel, vice president of device marketing at Verizon, in an interview with Fortune.

The Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are also probably just the start for Google. It’s likely that if the company can get the Pixel off the ground, the Pixel 2 will be an even bigger deal.

Topics

Christian de Looper

Contributor

Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…

Mobile

We already had a Pixel Tablet 12 years ago — you just forgot about it

The back of the Google Pixel Tablet.

The Google Pixel Tablet isn't the first time we've tried this. It didn't end so well then and likely is going to disappear with a whimper again. And that's a shame.

The year was 2011. It was an exciting time for Android, with the manufacturers almost tripping over themselves to release new devices faster than those of us who covered the things for a living could keep up. It wasn't uncommon for a device announcement to actually see several new products drop at the same time. Between the evolution of the Android software, the progression of hardware it ran on, and the competition of the U.S. carriers to have the "fastest" network in all the land — things were moving fast.
Motorola already tried this 12 years ago

Mobile

The Pixel 8 may fix two of my biggest complaints about the Pixel 7

The back of the Pixel 7 Pro held in a person's hand.

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are expected to arrive later this fall, and despite being months away from their release date, we're already learning a lot about them. Most recently, a new report has shed some light on various specs for the two phones — and it looks promising.

Over the weekend, Android Authority shared a few exclusive details about the Pixel 8 family, citing a "source inside Google" from which they came from. There's plenty to dig through here, but the most interesting has to do with the reported battery life and charging upgrades.
Upgrades to battery life and charging

Mobile

I’ve used an iPhone for 14 years. The Pixel Fold made me want to stop

Google Pixel Fold in Obsidian open on Pixar Pier portrait mode.

When Steve Jobs took the stage on January 9, 2007, to unveil the original iPhone, everyone was amazed at the little piece of technology he held in his hand. Then in June 2007, people could buy and get their hands on the very first iPhone — and the scope of the cell phone industry changed forever.

I personally didn't get the original iPhone on launch day, believe it or not. Instead, I received it as a birthday present in 2008 (my very first Apple product), but my clumsy self eventually dropped it on cement four months later, and the screen shattered. But instead of getting it fixed, I figured I might as well just get the iPhone 3G since it was just a few weeks away from release.