It’s almost official. The much-awaited Google Pixel 6 and the 6 Pro are unlikely to launch in India. Google’s new Pixel flagships were launched in nine countries worldwide and that includes key markets like the US, UK and Germany. Japan and Taiwan are the only countries in Asia that are part of this list as Google has adopted a select market launch strategy for the Pixel 6 duo. I still remember picking up the Pixel 4 from Singapore in Q4 2019 for MW’s camera shootout versus the iPhone 11 Pro.

From what we can gather at this moment, India doesn’t seem to be on Google’s radar for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. While Pixel phones have a cult following in India, they have struggled to compete in a market where most consumers focus on spec sheets rather than user experience. Pixel is popular among smartphone camera enthusiasts and users seeking a PurePlay Android user experience. Pixel phones also boast of an elegant, sometimes subdued design aesthetic with a hipster appeal. India might be the world’s second-largest smartphone market but nine out of 10 smartphones sold here are under Rs 20,000, making the premium market a tough battleground for brands like Google. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro aren’t the only Google Pixel devices that haven’t kept their date with India:

Google Pixel 6 Pro and 6: Both these devices are propelled by the Tensor chip—the first-ever made by Google, and feature the all-new version of Android 12 out of the box. The Pixel 6 duo also break away from Google’s design template with a bolder design language. While the Pixel 6 comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and a 90Hz refresh rate and dual lenses, the 6 Pro takes on the iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for the ultimate smartphone cam. This device gets a 6.71-inch display and 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a formidable camera system with three rear cameras and pro-level lenses that include a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. We also dig the Magic Eraser feature that removes photobombers and unessential elements from your photos.

Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a: Launched in 2020, the Pixel 5 twins continued with Google’s minimalist design aesthetic with OLED displays. While the pricier Pixel 5 sported a smaller 6-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, the 5a came with a 6.34-inch display and a 60Hz refresh rate. Both these devices were powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and featured the same dual rear cam.

Google Pixel 4 and 4XL: The Pixel 4 siblings that arrived in 2019 featured almost identical spec sheets except for the larger 6.3-inch display on the 4XL. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor was at the heart of these devices that featured gorgeous P-OLED displays (90Hz refresh rate) and dual cameras with a 2x optical zoom. The Pixel 4a—launched almost a year after these two devices—was the last Google Pixel device that made it to the Indian market.