Google has quietly turned the Play Store into a phone shop. A new “Shop devices” tab, tucked into the Play Store’s account switcher, now lets you buy Google Pixel and even Samsung Galaxy phones and watches, checking out through the Google Store. 9to5Google spotted the rollout on October 14, and GSMArena confirmed the hardware listings the same day.
This is new territory for Google. The Google Store has only ever sold Google’s own hardware. Selling Samsung’s phones through the Play Store, of all places, is the kind of thing that would have sounded like a rumor two years ago. Here is what is actually there, what it costs, and whether you should use it.
What you can buy right now
The “Shop devices” page currently lists a scattershot but serious lineup:
- Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch 8 devices
- Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10a
- Google Pixel Watch 4
- Google TV Streamer
Ordering works the way you would expect: pick a device, check out via the Google Store. Samsung had previously been available only through selective Play Points offers and redemptions; this is the first time it is a normal storefront.
The 10% Google One cashback is the real story
Prices on the portal are the same regular prices you would pay elsewhere, so there are no discounts to hunt here yet. The hook is the Google One benefit: buyers get the same 10% Google One cashback as a normal Google Store purchase, and Google Store credit works on Samsung devices too.
The math is straightforward. A Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299 earns roughly $130 back in Google One credit. A Pixel 11 Pro Fold in the $1,799 range returns about $180. That credit applies to future Google Store purchases, so if you buy phones, watches, or accessories from Google with any regularity, this is effectively the cheapest legitimate way to buy a Samsung flagship right now. We have been tracking phone deals closely this month, from Samsung’s record-low Prime Day foldable prices to India’s festive iPhone sales, and a standing 10% back on Samsung hardware is competitive with most sale events.
Who this is actually for
Three groups should pay attention. First, Google One subscribers who were going to buy a Pixel or Galaxy anyway; the 10% credit is free money you were leaving on the table. Second, anyone sitting on Google Store credit from a previous purchase, which can now be spent on Samsung devices for the first time. Third, shoppers who want one checkout for a mixed household: a Pixel 11 for you and a Galaxy Watch 9 for someone else, in a single order.
One caveat for Pixel buyers: Google just raised the Pixel 10a’s price to $599 (₹55,999 in India) without changing a single spec, as we reported, blaming the AI-driven RAM shortage. The 10% cashback softens that hike to an effective $539 if you value the store credit, which is worth factoring into any Pixel 10a decision this month.
What is missing, and what to watch
This is a soft launch, and it shows. The device list is scattershot, some regions are seeing only Pixel devices so far, and there are no discounts, trade-in boosts, or carrier deals on the portal yet. It is also unclear whether other manufacturers will join; right now Samsung is the only non-Google brand, which raises the question of whether this is a deeper Google-Samsung partnership or just the first partner through the door.
The thing to watch is whether Google starts running Play Store-exclusive promotions on this tab. A 10% standing cashback plus a holiday discount would make this the default place to buy an unlocked Android phone. Until then, treat it as a better checkout, not a sale: same prices, better rewards, one cart for Pixel and Galaxy alike.
