What you need to know
- Google has confirmed Pixel price hikes as the ongoing global RAM shortage continues to push hardware costs higher.
- Recent leaks suggest the entire Pixel 11 lineup could cost $100 more than the current Pixel 10 series.
- Google says it’s making Android more RAM-efficient to offset lower memory configurations without hurting performance.
It’s the season of price increases. Samsung recently increased prices across its entire Galaxy Z8 lineup compared to the previous generation, and now it looks like Google is about to follow suit.
In an interview with 9to5Google, Google’s Vice President of Devices and Services, Shakil Barkat, confirmed that price hikes are coming to Pixel phones. While Barkat didn’t go into specifics about what we can expect in terms of pricing, he emphasized that Google’s hardware division has been heavily impacted by a “severe, supplier-driven RAM memory crisis.”
The executive pointed to Morgan Stanley data showing that the price of 1GB of RAM has jumped from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year. Barkat said Google has shielded customers from these supply fluctuations for as long as possible, but that the entire Pixel lineup will now see “adjustments” that will be rolled out dynamically to reflect the reality of the supply chain.
Unfortunately, that includes the upcoming Pixel 11 series.
According to recent leaks, prices across the Pixel 11 lineup are expected to increase by $100. That means the base Pixel 11 could start at $899, up from the Pixel 10’s $799 starting price. The Pixel 11 Pro is also expected to start at $1,099, while the Pixel 11 Pro XL is rumored to launch at $1,299.
On top of that, the leaks also suggest Google is reducing the amount of RAM on the base Pro models. While the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL are both expected to start with 256GB of storage, the company is reportedly cutting the RAM from 16GB to 12GB.
The disruption will also impact “in-market Pixel phones,” Barkat added, although Google didn’t confirm which devices he was referring to. Reports suggest that this could include the Pixel 10a.
The executive also said that Google is working to make Android more RAM-efficient than ever, which will “enable devices to have less RAM while maintaining a great user experience.”
Would you still buy the Pixel 11 series if it costs $100 more?
