Google has announced discontinuing its Pixel Pass subscription service, marking the end of a bundled offering that combined Pixel phones with premium services such as YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and Google One. The company announced this on its support page, with little elaboration on the reasons behind the decision.
In a statement, Google stated:
“We offer the best value of our hardware products and give users the flexibility to purchase their favorite services. We continue to evaluate offers based on customer feedback and provide different ways for them to access the best of Google.”
Launched in 2021 alongside the Pixel 6 release, the Pixel Pass service initially offered the Pixel 6 for $45 per month and the Pixel 6 Pro for $55 per month. Subscribers enjoyed perks like 200GB storage via Google One, premium games/apps via Google Play Pass, and YouTube Premium access.
Source: Google
Current Pixel Pass subscribers can use their service for two years from their subscription start date. Subsequently, they can enhance their Pixel device and receive a $100 reduction in the upgrade cost. Google also mentioned that service subscriptions will automatically renew at a discounted rate after the Pixel Pass subscription period ends. Nevertheless, the precise pricing details for the bundle were not disclosed.
It’s important to highlight that Google excluded the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold from the Pixel Pass offering, and the service was restricted to the United States without expansion to other regions.
The discontinuation of Pixel Pass comes as Google refocuses its strategy for providing hardware and services. This shift aims to give users more flexibility in selecting their desired products and subscriptions.