It's being reported that Google's Pixel phones have eroded the iPhone’s dominance in Japan as Apple's iPhones get pricier. The Pixel phones are finding success after years of misfires.

Google phones accounted for a record 12% share in the Asian country in the June quarter, six times what it was a year ago, according to Counterpoint Research data. During the same period, the iPhone’s market share slumped by almost as much: to 46% from 58% a year earlier.

Japan is a key arena for the two Silicon Valley firms, as the world’s third biggest economy and a huge market for mobile software and games. The iPhone has been as dominant there as at home in the US, and its decline this summer was the first time it commanded less than half the Japanese market in two years.

The plunging value of the yen pushed Apple to raise iPhone prices in Japan earlier than its recent global price hikes, and the cost of the device is proving a noticeable deterrent, at a time when the latest handsets have not offered must-have new features.

“Japanese users are becoming more pragmatic,” Tom Kang, a Seoul-based analyst for Counterpoint, said in an interview. “There’s now more opportunity for alternatives. We’ve seen a little bit of growth in Sony and a little bit of growth in some other brands, but the growth of Google was most surprising.”

With the yen playing a decisive role in who gets a bigger share from one of the world’s largest smartphone markets, there’s an open question around whether the trend will last. But a growing price sensitivity appears likely to weigh on iPhone sales in Japan for the foreseeable future. The major mobile carriers have cut back subsidies enticing customers to sign up for lengthy contracts, and many have instead turned to buying devices through independent channels.

“Japan is a huge success story for Google and the Pixel team,” said Anshel Sag, principal mobile analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “It appears that most of these devices are from the budget Pixel 6a and 7a series, which would likely mean that Google has successfully captured the middle of the Japanese smartphone market.” Source

The Google Pixel event being held next Wednesday could give Japanese consumers more reason to choose Pixel 8 and 8 Pro over the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro. You could check out the leaks of what will be introduced here. Google may also give Pro users a new Pixel Watch free as an extra incentive. The Pixel's zoom camera is also superior to the one found on Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max and you could learn more about that here.

Apple is also getting a lot of bad press relating to the overheating issue with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

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Some of the first owners of Apple Inc.’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are complaining that the new devices get too hot during use or while charging, a potential setback for the company’s flagship product.

The gripes have spread across Apple online forums and social media networks, including Reddit and X. Customers say that the back or side of the phone becomes hot to the touch while gaming or when conducting a phone call or FaceTime video chat. For some users, the issue is more prominent while the device is plugged in to charge.

Several people have posted videos of them checking the phone’s temperature with a thermometer. “iPhone 15 Pro Max gets really hot easily,” according to one post. “I’m just browsing social media, and it’s burning up.” Another said that the device got hot enough to be felt through a carrying case.

The issue comes on the heels of customers complaining about the FineWoven material used in the latest iPhone 15 cases. That fabric, which replaces leather as part of Apple’s environment push, is prone to scratches and gets dirty more easily, some customers have said. Source

Will the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro gain even more ground in Japan during the all-important holiday quarter with its superior zoom camera, lower prices and issues the iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating?

While only time will tell, judging iPhone sales in calendar Q3 just prior to the launch of a new iPhone is usually not a statistic worth paying too much attention to. The Holiday Quarter will be the one to either prove it was a temporary blip for the Pixel Phone or the beginning of a sustained trend in Japan.