Google unveiled the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL phones at the Made by Google 2019 event. Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL tout an A+ grade 90Hz AMOLED display, smarter Google Assistant, dual cameras, and Android 10. The list of accolades also includes its advanced Face Unlock mechanism and the new gesture-based navigation control. Both these features leverage the onboard Soli radar chip. And guess what, Google is not releasing the Pixels in India due to regulatory constraints surrounding this radar technology.
Project Soli vs the Indian regulations
During the product launch, Sabrina Ellis, VP of Product Management at Google said, “Pixel 4 has the fastest secure face unlock on a smartphone because the process starts before you have even picked up the smartphone.” she further claimed, “Motion sense prepares the camera when you reach for your Pixel 4, so you don’t need to tap the screen.”
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But the problem is that this radar technology works in a 60GHz mmWave frequency band, which is not permitted for commercial usage in India. Therefore, Google cannot use the Face Unlock and Motion Sense features, both of which depend on the Project Soli chip. And without the integral USP, it’s pointless to launch the new phones in India.
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In a statement to TechCrunch, a Google spokesperson said, “Google has a wide range of products that we make available in different regions around the world. We determine availability based on a variety of factors, including local trends, and product features. We decided not to make Pixel 4 available in India. We remain committed to our current Pixel phones and look forward to bringing future Pixel devices to India.”
So, yeah, in a nutshell, the new Pixels won’t be unfortunately making their way to India.
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