So the question is: Why does Google release a high-priced flagship Nexus?

I believe that many Google fans, like me, were excitedly waiting for the release of the new generation of Nexus this morning. First, I saw the dazzling configuration and elegant design of the sixth-generation Nexus (Motorola designers have always had good taste), and then I was a little surprised when I saw the price of $649: Wow, where is the industry-leading price?

That’s right, after launching two generations of Nexus at the industry-leading price of $349 (16GB version), Google has returned to the original positioning of the Nexus series, handing over the title of the most cost-effective smartphone to the Chinese Android army represented by Huawei, Xiaomi and even OnePlus. (Here you should boo, “Paid advertising dog!”)

So the question is: Why doesn't Google continue with its previously well-received and popular low-price, high-spec Nexus pricing strategy, and instead create a high-spec, high-priced Nexus 6?

First of all, Nexus was not originally positioned for the mid-range market, nor was it created for enthusiasts. The first two generations of Nexus were priced at $529, which was the mid-to-high-end price. The real industry conscience price began with the release of Nexus 4 in 2012, which lowered the price threshold of Nexus to $349. Previously, there were rumors in the industry that Google would cancel Nexus and create a flagship Silver series, but the actual result was that Google directly created the flagship version of Nexus 6.

By the way, that year Google was going to hold a Nexus 4 press conference in New York, but it was cancelled the day before due to the strongest hurricane Sandy. I rushed to New York from sunny California with a full heart, but faced the tragic ending of event cancellation, flight interruption, and hotel sold out. I could only shamelessly stay at a friend's house and go out for a walk every day and get blown all over by the hurricane.

Since then, Google has not held a special press conference for Nexus, but simply issued a press release on the official website. Here, the new son is out, go buy it! In fact, this is also good. Anyway, whether there is a press conference or not, it will attract the attention of Google fans around the world. It is better than some manufacturers who have been completely exposed by leaks and still pretend to be mysterious and excited to promote the press conference. Besides, Google itself is positioned as a software and Internet company, and promoting hardware products is just to show the native Android system.

The Android operating system is free. Any manufacturer can use and customize this platform as long as they comply with Google's regulations. Because of this, Android is also the most "variable" system platform. Every ambitious and powerful manufacturer wants to try to deeply customize Android to show the strength of their software department and to enhance the presence of their design department.

But often, the ROM and UI that manufacturers have worked hard to customize are a bit confusing, including those Chinese manufacturers whose hardware strength is close to the first-class level. (There should be both applause and booing here) Even the products of Samsung, the flagship partner of Android, have a big black spot in UI. One example is that after learning that the CM team would no longer adapt Samsung's own chip phones, many original Samsung users suddenly felt a deep sense of despair.

Although Android has undoubtedly become the world's largest mobile phone platform, the various chaotic Android issues have made Google feel that it is necessary to make a native, pure Android phone to let Google fans and users see what the experience of an Android smartphone should be like. Yes, the purpose of the Nexus series is to show the experience that Google products should have, without unnecessary functions and UI, and without the operating experience of constant lag.

Secondly, the fourth and fifth generation Nexus, which were praised as the conscience of the industry, earned all kinds of popularity and praise, but did not bring much actual benefits to the cooperating manufacturer LG. On the issue of pricing and production capacity of Nexus 4, LG executives even had a small public disagreement with Google. Although manufacturers can gain brand effects by cooperating with Google on Nexus, they will not get much financial return. The most direct example is that the design and configuration of Nexus 4 are close to LG's flagship Optimus G at the time, but the price is almost halved.

Therefore, it is reasonable for the Nexus 6, which was launched in cooperation with Motorola Mobility this year, to return to a price that matches the hardware configuration, because it also needs to give the manufacturer some profit margin. In order to promote the talented and avoid relatives, Google has deliberately kept its distance from Motorola Mobility since it acquired it, and only cooperated with Motorola after it was sold to Lenovo this year, which is the long-awaited "Dog Motorola version of the prince". If the price is raised to $349, the already weak Motorola Mobility may really have no motivation.

After all, the second generation Moto X of Moto itself is priced at $449, and Moto X and Nexus 6 are actually a series of products with different configurations. The screen of Nexus 6 is 6 inches, which is different from the 5 inches of Moto X, and the price is also slightly different from Moto X. This will not affect the sales and profits of Moto.

Thirdly, Google also needs a flagship product of its own to serve as the face of the Play Store. Previously, the top-end phones in the Play Store were developer versions from HTC and Samsung, and they were last year's models. Instead of looking for manufacturers to customize Google flagships, it is better to directly launch the top-end Nexus. Moreover, with the continuous expansion of Play Store products, there have been rumors in the industry that Google wants to open its own physical store, so a top-end Nexus 6 came into being.

After Apple released the large-screen iPhone 6 plus this year, Google may have felt the need to create a flagship large-screen Nexus to compete with it, at least in terms of popularity. The configuration of Nexus 6 is top-notch in almost every aspect, including chips, screen, memory, etc., and its appearance is inspired by the most sophisticated design brand in the Android camp, Moto. (Please think of the design of Moto 360 and Apple Watch. However, considering the consistent weakness of Moto, please do not have too high expectations for the camera of Nexus 6.)

The top-of-the-line Nexus 6, coupled with the accompanying Android L, is Google's powerful response to Apple's large-screen iPhone 6 Plus. Starting with Android 4.0, Google has deliberately slowed down its previously unrestrained and chaotic development speed and started to settle down and build the actual experience of Android. The year before last, it rebuilt a unified Play Store, last year with the launch of the new operating mode ART with Android 4.4, and this year through the unified application interface design of Android L, we can see that Google is actually serious in this regard, trying to prove that the Android experience is not necessarily worse than that of the iPhone.

Perhaps Google should also thank Apple for deliberately slowing down its pace. Bugs keep popping up on iOS 8, and it is hard to imagine that this comes from the Apple that originally pursued perfect details. Moreover, Google's new Nexus smartphone and tablet were released just one day before Apple's new iPad conference. It is interesting that the two mobile giants have a small collision intentionally or unintentionally.

After a lot of nonsense (I am a self-deprecating enthusiast), let me summarize the main idea. Google launched the high-priced flagship version of Nexus 6 to return to the original intention of Nexus, to show the best software and hardware experience of Android phones, to compete with Apple's large-screen iPhone in terms of popularity, and to give its partner Motorola a little profit margin. Besides, the low-end and mid-range smartphone market is dominated by Android, and Google has also specially created Android One for emerging markets such as India.

So the question is, when will Google find a Chinese manufacturer to build a flagship version of Nexus? I hope that one day I can use Nexus products perfectly without VPN. Every time I return to China and encounter this problem, a thousand horses are whistling in my heart.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.