Google Pixel phones banned in Indonesia, even though they aren’t sold there officially

2 weeks ago 3

Indonesia has made the sale of any Google Pixel phone in the country illegal due to new restrictions on how products are sold within the country. The new ruling stipulates not enough of the phone is locally manufactured.

According to a report from Reuters, the sale of any Google Pixel phone in Indonesia is no longer legal. A restriction on the country’s sales states that smartphones must consist of 40% locally manufactured components. Google’s Pixel devices do not meet that standard.

The same goes for Apple’s iPhone lineup, as 40% of the smartphone’s parts are not manufactured in Indonesia. The country placed a ban on Apple-made devices days prior to this announcement. Samsung and other OEMs have not seemingly had a restriction placed yet.

The restriction does not affect tourists or local residents who wish to purchase a Pixel outside of the county and legally import it, along with paying the proper taxes. Those who do so can continue to use their devices freely.

Google’s Pixel phones are not officially distributed to Indonesia, though the Pixel 9 did see distribution to other nearby markets. This doesn’t account for resale or imported Pixel devices from official regions.

With the current stipulation that 40% of a phone’s makeup must be manufactured within the country, it might be unlikely that future generations of Google’s Pixel lineup will be officially sold in Indonesia. Of course, with no official pipeline currently set up, this ruling may not have much of an effect on Google’s sales in the market.