In a wierd flip of occasions, Google has not too long ago introduced that it’s ending its Pixel Cross subscription, a suggestion it launched with the Pixel 6 collection in October 2021. The Pixel Cross was a month-to-month subscription that provided bundled Google companies, machine safety, and an improve to the most recent smartphone each two years. Nonetheless, after operating it for 22 months, Google has determined to kill off the service, proper earlier than the earliest subscribers can be due for his or her improve. Many subscribers are actually pissed off with the corporate because it selected to kill the subscription at a time when many had been anticipating to get an improve.
Google’s assist web page mentioned, “Starting August 29, 2023, Pixel Cross is now not provided for brand spanking new Pixel purchases or renewal”. It additionally has a collection of FAQs, the place it solutions the explanation behind discontinuing the subscription. It said, “We provide the very best worth of our {hardware} merchandise and provides customers the pliability to buy their favourite companies. We proceed to guage provides based mostly on buyer suggestions and supply other ways for them to entry the very best of Google”.
The response is deliberately imprecise as the corporate shouldn’t be revealing the explanation why it’s discontinuing the service 22 months later, and only a month earlier than subscribers had been to be given a tool improve. Many consider that this a part of the deal was possible not cost-effective for the corporate.
Pixel Cross killed by Google
The corporate has fulfilled the remaining two guarantees with the Pixel Cross, nevertheless. This move was obtainable solely to customers within the US, so they might additionally repay the price of the preliminary smartphone that they purchased from the carriers utilizing that subscription charge. Moreover, all customers acquired a reduced price for Google’s bundled companies reminiscent of Google Play Music, YouTube Premium, and extra. The Pixel Cross was priced at $45 for the Pixel 6 and $55 for Pixel 6 Professional.
And it isn’t as if customers can not improve to the brand new Pixel eight or Pixel eight Professional. “You may nonetheless improve your Pixel machine after 24 months,” mentioned the assist web page, describing how shoppers can nonetheless get zero p.c APR financing by way of both Google Retailer or Google Fi. Nonetheless, they can not get the improve and keep the move which additionally enabled different advantages.
Reacting to the information, one person on Reddit’s r/GooglePixel subreddit mentioned, “Yeah this sucks. I wished to improve to the eight professional and have been trying ahead to that for therefore lengthy. How annoying. Such unhealthy timing too”.
One other revealed a far sinister consequence of ending the Pixel Cross. They mentioned, “I am furious, they tricked me proper out of my grandfathered price for Google Music”. For the unaware, Google Play Music raised its costs some time again however allowed common subscribers to remain at a reduced subscription value. Nonetheless, this person left it again then and switched to Pixel Cross as a way to save extra on a bundled service. Now, the bundled service is gone and so is the cheaper Google Music subscription.
However for all the difficulty prompted, Google is providing $100 to all present Pixel Cross subscribers that may go in direction of their subsequent Pixel machine buy and is legitimate for 2 years. The coupon can be utilized alongside any energetic promotion as properly.
