Google shipped 3.9 million Pixel and Pixel 2 devices in 2017 which is nearly double the units it sold in 2016 but a tiny fraction of the global smartphone market that numbers 1.5 billion units.

According to Francisco Jeronimo, Research Director at International Data Corporation (IDC), "#GooglePixel shipments continue to grow, but they still represent a tiny portion of the smartphone market."

The Pixel sales is also less than a typical week's worth of iPhone sales for Apple, 9to5google.com reported.

"Presumably, the jump to 3.9 million is largely thanks to the Pixel 2 but discounts on the original Pixel earlier in the year (and following the 2's debut) could tip the numbers in the other direction," the report added.

Google recently acquired Taiwan-based HTC's smartphone design team for $1.1 billion. Google now has access to HTC's intellectual property to support the Pixel smartphone family.

This is the second time Google has acquired a smartphone manufacturer. It announced a $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility six years back and in 2014, sold it again to Lenovo.

Last month, the price of the first-generation Rs 76,000 Pixel XL "quite black" colour variant was slashed by Rs 36,000 on e-commerce platform Amazon in India.

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