A recent report from Japan reveals Google’s estimated production cost for the Pixel 9 Pro, putting its component costs, known as the bill of materials (BOM), at around $406. This figure marks an 11% drop from the Pixel 8 Pro’s BOM, possibly due to Google’s adjustments to the screen and battery size in the Pixel 9 Pro, which is slightly smaller than its predecessor.
The BOM breaks down to about $80 for Google’s Tensor G4 chip, $75 for the Samsung M14 display, and $61 for camera components. While there are additional costs for other elements, these are the main expenses that go into making the Pixel 9 Pro.
Comparing costs with Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro
For context, the same report states that Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro comes with a BOM of $568, significantly higher than the Pixel 9 Pro. Apple’s BOM includes a hefty $135 for its A18 Pro chip, $110 for the display, and $91 for camera components. These costs push Apple’s BOM up 6% compared to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro, while Google’s costs have dropped.
Pixel’s BOM vs. retail price
It’s worth noting that this $406 BOM doesn’t cover all expenses tied to producing the Pixel 9 Pro. Other factors like research, development, marketing, shipping, and software support also need to be taken into account for the total cost. Additionally, both Google and Apple sell these models starting at $999, showing a big gap between the production cost and the retail price.