Google has effectively confirmed that its upcoming Pixel smartphones will launch with higher price tags, attributing the adjustment to an unprecedented surge in memory costs that has fundamentally reshaped the economics of manufacturing premium mobile devices. According to Firstpost, the confirmation arrives just weeks before the scheduled Made by Google event on August 12 in New York City, where the company is expected to unveil the new device family. While reports of potential price hikes have circulated for months, Google has publicly acknowledged that consumers should expect pricing changes due to component costs impacting the wider technology industry.
Google Confirms Pixel 11 Price Increases and RAM Crisis
Speaking to Firstpost, Google’s Vice President of Devices and Services, Shakil Barkat, stated that the organization has been dealing with what he characterized as a severe, supplier-driven RAM memory crisis. Barkat noted that memory prices have experienced an unprecedented trajectory, citing Morgan Stanley figures indicating that the cost of 1GB of RAM climbed from roughly $2.80 in 2025 to around $12 in 2026. This more than fourfold increase has significantly driven up production expenses across the industry. For multiple product generations, smartphone manufacturers have attempted to shield buyers from fluctuating component prices by absorbing additional expenses internally, but industry executives indicate that soaring production costs can no longer be absorbed.
Lineup Pricing, Storage Changes, and Leaked European Figures
Leaked European pricing details point to increases across the entire hardware range, aligning closely with reports from French publication Dealabs regarding the Pixel 11 family. According to arstechnica.com, Google is reportedly doing away with the base 128GB storage option for smaller phones, moving instead to 256GB as the new baseline storage capacity.
 "Photo: firstpost.com")
The revised structural and pricing layout includes several notable shifts:
- Pixel 11: Expected to start at €999 for the 256GB variant, representing a €100 increase compared to its predecessor’s equivalent configuration due to the removal of the lower storage tier.
- Pixel 11 Pro: Tipped to begin at €1,199 for the 256GB model, also reflecting a €100 bump over previous baseline entry points.
- Pixel 11 Pro XL: Reportedly set to start at €1,399, marking a straight price increase at the base 256GB level.
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Expected to remain the most expensive model, with a reported starting price of €1,999 for the 256GB version, while higher-capacity options with up to 1TB of storage climb to €2,389.
Hardware Specifications and the New Google Pixel Tag
Beyond pricing adjustments, the Pixel 11 lineup maintains a design largely identical to the Pixel 10 series, featuring matching screen sizes and camera upgrades such as 50 MP main sensors on the standard model and the foldable variant. The new devices are also anticipated to run on the Tensor G6 chip built on a 2nm process.
In addition to the smartphones, early retailer and regulatory listings have revealed an unannounced tracker named the 9to5google. Carrying the model number GA12506, the oblong smart tracker is designed to help users locate lost items using Android’s Find My Device network and is expected to ship in a color called “Fog Light” with an estimated price around $30 or €30.
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