What do Pixel phones mean for Google’s Android partners?

Google’s Pixel namesake has long been associated with premium devices sold at higher price points; its existence was primarily to inspire its Chromebook partners.
Now that the Pixel line has expanded to smartphones, Google’s positioning of the Pixel line has shifted. The Pixel is a direct competitor to Apple’s iPhone, and thus by extension, it has to compete with Google’s Android partners, such as Samsung, LG, Huawei, Motorola, Sony, and HTC.
In an interview with Bloombe