Google begins selling Pixel devices directly to Indian customers through its online store

Google is stepping up its game in India. Starting Thursday, people across the country can buy Pixel phones, smartwatches, and earbuds directly from Google’s official online store — a first for the tech giant in India.

Until now, Google’s hardware was only available through third-party sellers and Flipkart, the Walmart-backed online marketplace. This new move brings Google closer to the way Apple operates here.

Apple not only sells its iPhones directly to Indian customers but also runs physical stores in Mumbai and New Delhi, with plans to open…