Google's Pixel 11 just got a stealth price hike, and it's blaming AI

Google's next Pixel phones might cost more than last year's models, if pricing leaks from Dealabs reported by 9to5Google are accurate. The tech industry is reeling from a global memory and storage shortage tied to surging AI demand, and phone makers are feeling the pressure.

The biggest change for the Pixel 11 is the rumored death of the 128GB storage tier. Without it, the base model would start at €999 with 256GB of storage, up from €899 for the Pixel 10 with 128GB. The Pixel 11 Pro could start at €1,199, compared to €1,099 last year. Dealabs notes the price of the 256GB configuration itself stays flat, which suggests Google is just removing the cheaper entry point rather than raising per-gigabyte costs.

Larger variants are looking at heftier hikes. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold are rumored to get a €100 increase across the board, putting starting prices at €1,399 and €1,999 respectively. That would push the foldable past the psychologically significant €2,000 threshold in Europe.

Pixel Watch 5: $50 more for your wrist

On the wearable side, Google is reported to start the 41mm Pixel Watch 5 at $399 for Wi-Fi and $499 with LTE, $50 more than the Pixel Watch 4. The larger 45mm variant could cost $429 with Wi-Fi or $529 with LTE, a $30 increase. For context, the Pixel Watch 4 currently starts at $349 for Wi-Fi and $449 for LTE.

These potential price bumps aren't a shock. Device makers across the board are wrestling with a global memory and storage shortage driven by demand from AI companies. Several have already raised prices or cut storage options. A previous rumor suggested the Pixel 11 could ship with 8GB of RAM instead of last year's 12GB as a result of the shortage.

Google will reveal its new Pixel lineup at a launch event on August 12th. There, the company will need to convince buyers that higher prices are worth it, in a market where consumers are increasingly watching their wallets.