Google is preparing to raise prices across its entire hardware lineup due to a global memory shortage. It is going to hurt your wallet. The company confirmed that rising supplier costs will force price adjustments for both current and upcoming Pixel devices ahead of the official reveal event next month.
Speaking with 9to5Google, Google VP of Devices and Services Shakil Barkat explained the scale of the memory pricing pressure. Industry data from Morgan Stanley reveals that 1 GB of RAM has jumped to $12 this year, up from just $2.80 last year. That is a massive 6 fold increase in an incredibly short span of time. Barkat pointed out that while the company managed to absorb these fluctuations for a while, the shifting market economics have finally caught up with them.
The pricing pressure will also impact other accessories like the Pixel Watch. However, the most visible impact will be on the upcoming Pixel 11 smartphone series. Google intends to share final pricing details during the hardware announcement event next month, but the broader portfolio is already seeing adjustments to match supply realities.
Early leaks indicate that the standard Pixel 11 Pro will drop down to 12 GB of RAM, a step back from the 16 GB seen in previous models. To make matters worse, retail prices for the standard Pixel 11 and Pro models are expected to climb by $100. Google may try to soften this blow by doubling the base storage to 256 GB. Buyers eyeing the premium Pixel 11 Pro XL and the foldable Pro Fold should expect a straight $100 price hike with no storage bonus.
These hardware price increases will also affect current phone stock. Older devices like the mid range Pixel 10a could see price hikes soon, even though it is only halfway through its retail lifecycle. Google is not revealing exactly when these price adjustments will go into effect. If you are planning to buy a current generation phone, you should probably do it immediately before the costs rise.
Instead of just passing costs down to consumers, engineering teams are attempting to optimize Android software. Barkat mentioned an active program to reduce memory overhead across the operating system and external applications. The goal is to let devices run smoothly with less RAM. Google is also leaning on its integrated silicon and machine learning models to help apps execute tasks efficiently without needing heavy hardware resources.
