Pixel 11 Gets Pricier as Google Cuts RAM Amid Memory Chip Shortage
Synopsis
The Pixel 11 price hike follows Google’s decision to restructure its newest smartphone line due to increased memory costs. The phone’s starting price in the US is $ $899, up $100 higher than that…
The Pixel 11 price hike follows Google’s decision to restructure its newest smartphone line due to increased memory costs. The phone’s starting price in the US is $ $899, up $100 higher than that of its predecessor, while the launch price in Australia begins at A$1,499 for the 256GB variant.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro’s price is also rising. The Pixel 11 Pro’s starting price is $ $1,099 in the US, while the Pro XL starts at $1,299, while the Pro in Australia costs A$ $1,849 and the Pro XL at A$2,099.
The reductions in the amount of RAM and storage available in the entry-level Pro configurations are significant. With just 12GB of RAM, the 256GB Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL variants provide significantly less memory than their non-Pro counterparts from the previous year, which had 16GB of RAM.
Google blamed the memory shortage on manufacturers for the overall price increase in the Pixel 11 series. Google has reportedly reduced the amount of memory in its Android smartphones as a result of the industry’s severe supply shortage.
Memory market keeps pressure on hardware costs
Pixel 11’s price increases were inevitable given rising memory prices. Server and data center demand for memory is expected to be high and is driving up DRAM prices, according to TrendForce, a research firm.
According to TrendForce’s Q3 2026 Memory Price Survey, conventional DRAM contract prices are expected to rise by 13–18 percent quarter over quarter (QoQ) in the third quarter of 2026, while NAND Flash prices are expected to rise by 10–15 percent.
TrendForce noted that memory manufacturing capacity is shifting toward servers, which has decreased the amount of memory available for consumer electronics while also reducing consumer electronics’ price-absorption capability.
In addition, the broader financial environment has also impacted semiconductor production, with Google parent Alphabet Inc. posting a 24 percent increase in revenue to $119.8 billion for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
The overall situation with memory chips has an impact on not just smartphones, but also Google’s other hardware products, including laptops and servers. For Australian and US businesses, this means that not only smartphones but also notebooks, servers, storage, and other technology products will be more expensive than anticipated.
Source: InforamtionAGE
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
You Might Also Like
Saudi-Backed Humain Invests $3B in Elon Musk’s xAI
Boeing Faces First Defense Strike Since 1996 as Workers Reject Deal
