Google will raise prices for its Pixel phone lineup due to memory chip costs that have increased sixfold, Vice President of Devices and Services Shakil Barkat confirmed in an interview with 9to5Google. The company will announce its Pixel 11 phone on Aug. 12. Barkat cited Morgan Stanley data showing 1 GB of RAM rose from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year, stating that Google has "shielded our consumers from supply fluctuations for as long as possible" but "the economics have fundamentally shifted." The price adjustments affect the entire Pixel device family and follow similar increases by Apple, Microsoft, and Nintendo in response to component cost pressures.
Morgan Stanley Data Shows Sixfold Memory Cost Increase
Shakil Barkat told 9to5Google that "there's never been an increase in memory prices like the world's going through right now." He referenced Morgan Stanley data indicating 1 GB of RAM increased from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year. Barkat stated that Google is "not immune" to the cost pressures and that price "adjustments" will be "rolled out dynamically to match supply realities" across the entire Pixel family of devices, which includes the Pixel Watch.
Pixel 11 Specifications and Pricing Changes Confirmed for Aug. 12 Launch
Google will announce the Pixel 11 series on Aug. 12 but has not disclosed specific pricing details. Recent leaks suggest the base Pixel 11 Pro could ship with 12 GB of RAM instead of 16 GB. Both the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are rumored to see a $100 price increase, though a bump in base storage to 256 GB could help offset the higher cost. Leaked pricing indicates the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold may become $100 more expensive without a similar storage-related tradeoff.
Apple, Microsoft, Nintendo Implement Price Increases
Apple raised prices of Macs, iPads, and iWatches globally last month and has indicated that iPhone prices are up for revision. Nintendo raised the price of its Switch 2 gaming console in May, with the increase taking effect in September. Microsoft bumped the price of its Xbox last month, with the hike going into effect in August.
Alphabet Stock Falls 8% After Raising Capital Expenditure Forecast
Google stock dipped nearly 8% last week and remains 2.2% higher year to date. Last week, Alphabet reported better-than-expected quarterly results, which included a record 82% growth in its cloud unit. However, the company also raised its capital expenditure forecast for the year. On Friday, Verizon announced it had secured a more than $1 billion deal with Google to provide dark fiber connectivity for its data centers.
FAQ
What did Google announce about Pixel phone pricing?
Google Vice President Shakil Barkat confirmed in an interview with 9to5Google that the company will raise prices for its Pixel phone lineup due to memory chip costs that have increased sixfold. The price adjustments will be rolled out dynamically across the entire Pixel device family.
Why did memory chip prices increase sixfold?
Shakil Barkat cited Morgan Stanley data showing 1 GB of RAM rose from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year. He stated that "there's never been an increase in memory prices like the world's going through right now" and that Google has shielded consumers from supply fluctuations but "the economics have fundamentally shifted."
When will Google announce the Pixel 11 phone?
Google will announce its Pixel 11 phone on Aug. 12. The company has not disclosed specific pricing details for the new device, though leaks suggest the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro may see a $100 price increase.
