it is out of stock everywhere … we already fear the...

Google’s Pixel 5 is already out of stock long before its official launch date of October 15. The manufacturer should deal like all the others with limited stocks because of the coronavirus. We also expect chronic shortages for the launch of the iPhone 12.

The Pixel 5s are already out of stock on Google’s site almost a week before their commercial launch on October 15. It is indeed no longer possible to pre-order the smartphone at € 629. Of course, the smartphone is a victim of its own success: Google offers a convincing 5G smartphone at a very attractive price. Even if the brand had to make some compromises in the process, especially on the chip which is a Snapdragon 765G normally synonymous with midrange.

The Pixel ecosystem is overall very attractive with early access to the latest major Android versions like Android 11, and support for security updates for at least three years. Google also often reserves for its users some features that are not found until much later in the competition.

After the Pixel 5, the next to fall victim to chronic shortages will be the iPhone 12

This was for example the case with Google Lens, or even Night mode. However, Google remains compared to others like Samsung, Huawei or Apple a “small” manufacturer of smartphones.. To give it an idea, in 2019, Google had sold barely more Pixel 3 and 3a than OnePlus had sold smartphones.

So it is allowed to doubt that these shortages are only the result of a little too sustained demand. According to an article in the British daily Express, there is even reason to believe that Google has done what it can to produce its initial stock of smartphones despite the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. And that his difficulties will be found among all competitors, including Apple and its iPhone 12.

The Apple brand had also admitted difficulties, and delayed the launch of the iPhone 12 for several weeks compared to the usual meeting in early September. But a Nikkei report picked up by Express already points to insufficient stocks. Apple has indeed ordered a total of more than 80 million units. But the firm’s subcontractors should rather ultimately deliver between 73 and 74 million smartphones this year.

However, analysts expect a peak in demand due to the end of a renewal cycle, and the start of a “super-cycle” of replacements linked to the arrival of 5G technology. This could again cause shortages all over the world.