Skip to main content

LG goes one step further, blames Google for Nexus 4 supply disaster

Google Nexus 4 Review front angle android phoneA few days ago, an LG representative told a Chinese news source its South Korean manufacturing plant was running smoothly, and that it had no problem supplying Google with all the Nexus 4 handsets it could need. Although it didn’t come right out and say it, one could interpret this to mean LG was transferring blame from it to Google for lack of Nexus 4 stock.

Now, in an interview with the French website Challenges, Cathy Robin, the Director of Mobile Communications for LG France has gone one step further and said Google severely underestimated the demand for the Nexus 4. By how much? She says Google’s initial estimates for the UK and Germany were 10 times lower than demand, which then impacted other countries as attempts were made to fulfill orders. The phone is still a rarity because the current delivery rate only matches Google’s pre-orders. This could be changing next month though, as LG is about to increase the production of the Nexus 4, a process which takes around six weeks.

Robin attempts to calm the waters with Google by saying she, “doesn’t want to throw stones,” and the relationship between the two companies is good. LG’s James Fisher said something similar at CES 2013, and confirmed the Nexus 4 was the first in a line of devices the two firms would produce together. Let’s hope they both learn from their mistakes.

While LG may have suddenly started to address the lack of Nexus 4 stock more vocally, Google hasn’t been silent on the subject, having called supplies, “scarce and erratic” at the end of last year. These outbursts may be interesting to read, but they don’t excuse both companies getting it so wrong in the first place. Work it out, guys. Get it right next time.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Annoying Google Pixel 4 problems and how to fix them
pixel 4 camera stacks

Google's flagship line of smartphones always shines from a technical and critical perspective, and while it only holds a small market share in the smartphone space, Google still takes a lot of pride in its ever-improving line of Pixel devices.

The Google Pixel 4 was an impressive phone with some cutting-edge software features, but it was badly let down by limited battery life. The Google Pixel 4 XL offers a bit more stamina, but it doesn't last as long as we'd like, either. But battery life isn't the only issue that owners of both of these phones have encountered. We've bumped up against a few other Pixel 4 problems and uncovered some of the most commonly-reported issues from help forums. We're not just here to complain, though -- we're also going to explain how to work around these issues or fix them when possible.

Read more
Google Pixel 5a vs. Pixel 4a 5G: Spot the difference
Google Pixel 5a showing apps.

The Google Pixel 5a is here. The successor to the Google Pixel 4a 5G, it takes the latter's best features and adds a number of modest yet welcome improvements. This includes an official water-resistance rating, a bigger battery, and a slightly expanded display. However, are these enhancements enough to make the 5a a better all-around smartphone than the 4a 5G? Is it worth upgrade to if you already own the older phone?

We answer these questions by pitting the two models against each other in a head-to-head comparison. We look at their specs, designs, displays, performance, batteries, software, and cameras, weighing up which is the best device overall. This should hopefully enable you to decide whether to upgrade or not.
Specs

Read more
Google discontinues Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G after Pixel 5a launch
The back of a Pixel 5, showing its camera and fingerprint sensor.

Google has discontinued the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G barely 10 months after launch, the company confirmed this week. While eagle-eyed observers had noticed fluctuating stock levels on both Pixels globally, Google had yet to officially weigh in one way or the other until now.

"With our current forecasts, we expect Google Store in the U.S. to sell out of Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 in the coming weeks following the launch of Pixel 5a (5G). The Pixel 5a (5G) is a great option for customers and delivers valuable hardware upgrades compared to the Pixel 4a (5G), all at a lower price point," a Google spokesperson confirmed to Digital Trends. This will also apply to non-U.S. markets, with UK vendors like Carphone Warehouse and John Lewis no longer stocking the older Pixels. The older Pixel 4a remains on sale as a low-cost Pixel option.

Read more