Google confirms Pixel 11 price increase, reveals ‘dedicated’ effort to make Android more RAM-efficient - 9to5Google

What the report says

9to5Google reports that Google plans to raise prices across the Pixel device lineup as the company prepares to launch the Pixel 11 series. In an interview with the publication, Shakil Barkat, Google’s vice president of Devices and Services, said the Made by Google hardware business is being affected by a severe RAM supply crunch driven by suppliers. The company is expected to announce the Pixel 11 family on August 12, when it will provide product-specific pricing details.

According to 9to5Google, Barkat cited Morgan Stanley data showing a sharp rise in memory costs, with 1GB of RAM increasing from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year. He said Google had tried to absorb supply swings for existing products, but that current economics require price adjustments. The changes will affect the wider Pixel family, which includes phones and the Pixel Watch, and may also apply to devices already being sold, though Google did not give timing or model-by-model figures.

The report distinguishes Google’s confirmation from unconfirmed leaks. Those leaks suggest the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro could start $100 higher, with some storage increases possibly offsetting part of the impact. Other leaked details point to the entry Pixel 11 Pro moving from 16GB to 12GB of RAM, while larger Pro models and the Fold may see simpler $100 increases.

Google also told 9to5Google it is working to reduce Android’s memory needs. Barkat described a focused engineering effort across Android and the app ecosystem so devices can use less RAM while maintaining performance, alongside Google’s broader use of software, silicon and on-device AI optimization.