Google Lays Off Hundreds of Employees in Android, Pixel Units

Tech giant Alphabet has laid off hundreds of employees from Google’s Platforms and Devices unit, following a voluntary exit program offered earlier this year.

The unit, which works on Android software, Pixel phones, and the Chrome browser, is seeing significant layoffs, The Information reported, citing sources.

In January, the company reportedly offered buyouts to some employees in the unit. According to a CNBC report, the division includes more than 25,000 employees working on Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest.

U.S. media reports indicate that in early 2025, Google launched a voluntary buyout program targeting U.S.-based employees within its Platforms & Devices division. The initiative followed the 2024 merger of Google’s Android and hardware teams under Senior Vice President Rick Osterloh, aimed at streamlining operations and accelerating the integration of AI features across its products.

The buyout offer was reportedly intended for employees who may not “fully align” with the division’s goals or were facing challenges with hybrid work requirements, according to the San Francisco Chronicle on January 30.

The package reportedly included severance, although the specific terms have not been made public.

In February, CNBC reported that Google also planned to cut staff in its People Operations and Cloud divisions as part of an internal reshuffle.

As of December 31, 2024, Alphabet Inc.—Google’s parent company—reported a global workforce of 183,323 employees, a modest increase of 821 (0.45%) from the previous year.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, Alphabet missed revenue expectations of the wall street. The company reported $96.47 billion in revenue versus $96.56 billion expected. YouTube ad revenue beat estimates at $10.47 billion, while Google Cloud revenue missed at $11.96 billion.  Overall revenue grew nearly 12% year over year, but growth across key segments—including advertising, search, YouTube, and services—slowed compared to the same quarter last year, raising concerns among investors.