Google plans to relocate the final assembly of its Pixel smartphones out of China to Vietnam and India by 2027, marking a significant shift aimed at reducing geopolitical and tariff risks and strengthening its manufacturing footprint in Asia.
Google is reportedly preparing to move the last of its Pixel phone production out of China from 2027, shifting final assembly to Vietnam and India. The claim, reported by Android Headlines and backed by earlier market reporting, would mark the completion of a gradual reworking of Google’s hardware supply chain away from Chinese manufacturing. If accurate, it would also place Google more firmly among major device makers rebalancing production because of tariff pressure, geopolitical risk and supply-chain resilience.
The change would not begin from scratch. Reporting from 9to5Google and Gadgets 360 in January said Google was already planning to shift most Pixel development and manufacturing out of China, with Vietnam becoming the main base for flagship models such as the Pixel, Pixel Pro and Pixel Fold, while the cheaper A-series remained tied to China for the time being. That followed earlier moves noted by Phone Scoop in 2019, when Google started transferring hardware production to Vietnam, including work to convert an old Nokia factory in Bac Ninh province.
Counterpoint Research, as cited in the latest report, says the impact would vary by market. For China, the loss of flagship Pixel volume would be small in commercial terms but still meaningful as a signal. India would be the clearest beneficiary for phones headed to the United States, given its lower tariff exposure compared with Vietnam and its growing role in export-led smartphone manufacturing. Vietnam, meanwhile, would further strengthen its position as a serious production hub for premium devices rather than only low-cost assembly.
The latest reporting also suggests Google has told suppliers to expect Pixel shipments to rise by 8% to 10% this year, from 12 million units last year. That would fit Google’s broader push to use Pixel devices as a vehicle for its artificial intelligence software, including Gemini. Nikkei Asia reported that Google may find it easier than Apple to leave China because it does not officially sell phones there, while its relatively small user base gives it more flexibility in moving production and drawing on Samsung’s established supply chain in Vietnam.
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