Alphabet Inc's Google is close to deciding on locations in its key market of India where it will open its first physical retail stores outside the United States, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The company currently has five retail stores, all in the US, which sell its products such as Pixel phones, watches and earbuds.

Currently, Google sells its products through authorized retailers in India, much like Apple did until 2023 when it opened its first company-run stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. In 2024, Apple ruled India's premium phone market, above $520, with a 55% share. Google's Pixel, on the other hand, had a 2% share.

Google is reportedly preparing to open its first self-owned retail store outside the US, with India as its chosen market following Apple's retail strategy. However, the company must first meet local sourcing requirements before moving forward.

Currently, the search engine giant only has 5 physical stores and all of them are located in the United States. Google sells its products such as Pixel phones, watches and earbuds, at these stores. Google’s idea is to compete with Apple,