Google is preparing to fully remove the production chain of Pixel devices from China and, according to reports, none of the brand’s phones, smartwatches, or headphones will be manufactured in China from 2027 onward. The company has increased its manufacturing capacity in Vietnam and India in recent years and now plans to reduce its dependence on China more than before.
According to Nikkei Asia, Google has informed its suppliers that it intends to move production of all Pixel products out of China starting next year. The bulk of Google’s product manufacturing still takes place in China, but developing production capacity in other countries has enabled the company to pursue an exit from China more quickly.
Vietnam becomes the main production base for Pixel
Google has made significant investments in recent years to develop production capacity in Vietnam. Nikkei Asia earlier reported in January 2026 that Google intends to develop and manufacture the Pixel 11 series phones in Vietnam.
Launching production of new phones in that country for Google meant investing in testing equipment, machinery, and required infrastructure as well as redesigning and fine-tuning manufacturing processes. The apparent success of this project has given Google confidence that it can also transfer production of other Pixel products to Vietnam.
This is important because manufacturing smartphones requires more complex processes compared to products like wireless earbuds and smartwatches. Google’s ability to set up Pixel phone production lines in Vietnam could make transferring other products easier as well.
Why is Google’s exit from China easier than Apple’s?
One factor that can make Google’s exit from China easier compared to companies like Apple is the limited Pixel market in China. Google does not officially sell Pixel products in the Chinese market and, therefore, changing the production location of these devices will not have a direct impact on China’s domestic market.
On the other hand, Pixel’s share of the global smartphone market remains limited compared with major competitors like Apple and Samsung. This makes it easier for Google to redesign its supply chain with more flexibility.
Google can also take advantage of the extensive infrastructure that companies like Samsung have established in Vietnam over the years. Vietnam is now considered one of the world’s important electronics manufacturing hubs, and the widespread presence of component suppliers and manufacturers has made moving production lines easier for technology companies.
Google seeks to increase Pixel production
Reports indicate that alongside moving production lines, Google intends to increase the supply of Pixel phones.
According to published information, the company has told its suppliers it plans to increase Pixel phone shipments by about 8 to 10 percent this year. Google shipped around 12 million Pixel units in 2025.
The production increase is being pursued as Google seeks to make Pixel one of the main devices for expanding use of Gemini AI capabilities. The company hopes Pixel’s proprietary AI features can attract more users to Google’s hardware and software ecosystem.
Google has also changed orders for memory chips
Alongside changing production geography, Google has apparently altered its procurement strategy to counter rising component costs.
According to Nikkei Asia, Google combined orders for the memory chips used in Pixel phones with orders for its cloud computing business. This move could increase Google’s purchasing power and allow the company to secure better terms from suppliers in the face of rising memory chip prices.
Overall, moving Pixel production out of China is part of a broader trend among technology companies to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on a single country. If Google’s plan proceeds as reported, from 2027 Vietnam and other production centers outside China will play a more prominent role in making Pixel products; a change that could reshape Google’s hardware supply chain for years to come.