New Delhi, May 29 -- Google has started selling its popular hardware products directly to Indian consumers through its official online store, a significant move that comes ahead of the expected launch of its first physical retail outlets in the country.

For the first time, Indian users can purchase Pixel smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds directly from the Google Store website. Until now, the company relied on authorised retail partners and online sales through Flipkart, the Walmart-backed e-commerce platform.

The move aligns Google more closely with rival Apple, which already operates a direct-to-consumer model in India. Apple launched its own online store in the country in 2020 and now has two physical retail locations - one in Mu...