July 30, 2026, 1:51 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Even before Google officially unveils the new Pixel 11 series, the company is already making headlines. This time, however, it’s not new features or technical innovations that are the focus. Instead, Google is preparing its customers for higher prices. This could mark the end of an era where Pixel smartphones were considered a relatively affordable alternative in the premium segment.
Memory crisis drives costs up
As reported by the online magazine “9to5Google,” Google Vice President Shakil Barkat has confirmed the upcoming price adjustments. The ongoing memory crisis, which has significantly increased production costs, is cited as the main reason.
Particularly affected are RAM and other memory components. According to current market analyses, the price for 1 gigabyte of RAM has skyrocketed in a short period. While manufacturers paid around $2.80 per gigabyte in 2025, the cost is now about $12. This development is now also reflected in consumer prices.
Pixel 11 expected to be significantly more expensive
Apparently, the price increases will not only affect the upcoming Pixel 11 series. Google plans to adjust prices across the entire Pixel portfolio.
Insiders currently expect that both the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro could be about $100 more expensive. Official prices have not yet been announced. However, the price increase for the standard model could be partially offset. Rumor has it that Google is doubling the base storage from the current 128 GB to 256 GB.
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Pro models could be less well-equipped
The situation looks less promising for the more expensive variants. Both the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL are expected to have higher prices without any increase in storage.
Additionally, rumors suggest that the Pixel 11 Pro in its base configuration will only be offered with 12 GB of RAM instead of 16 GB. The price, however, is expected to change little. For many buyers, the equation is simple. Less hardware for the same price rarely goes over well.
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Could the Pixel 10 be the better choice?
If the current information is confirmed, the previous generation could become significantly more attractive. The Pixel 10 Pro models feature 16 GB of RAM in all variants and will continue to receive software updates for many years.
Especially given the rising memory prices, more RAM could be a real advantage in the long run. Additionally, smartphones from the previous generation are often offered at significantly lower prices just a few months after their market launch. Those who don’t necessarily need the latest model might find a better price-performance ratio here.