I think Google's latest Pixel price hike is an act of self-sabotage, and I refuse to stay silent
It's hard to imagine who would ever buy the Pixel 10a at its new price, and it's also difficult to understand exactly what Google is planning for its mid-range family next.
First Google came for the Nexus handset family. And I did not speak out because I no longer used such a phone after the tragic 5X bootloop issues. Then Google came for the Pixel Slate. And I did not speak out because I never really understood the point of ChromeOS, which always felt like an inferior platform to Android or Windows.
But now I feel the search giant is very close to killing off its mid-range Pixel a-series smartphones, and as a long-time defender and promoter of budget-friendly Android handsets, I must speak out before Big G makes a grave mistake.
As angry as Samsung made me by increasing the recommended US price of the modest Galaxy A17 5G (with a notch!) for the second time in less than six months, Google somehow managed to scandalize me even more by further crippling a product that lacked almost any trace of mainstream appeal at its launch back in February.
Recommended For You
The most frustrating thing is that I badly wanted to like the Pixel 10a. | Image by Google
Granted, the Pixel 10a was released at the exact same list price as its 2025 predecessor, but that's because... it was basically the same phone as the Pixel 9a. I'm not just talking same screen size, resolution, camera hardware, battery capacity, and extremely similar overall dimensions, mind you, but also an unchanged processor and essentially the same design and build materials as well.
So yes, the Pixel 10a was clearly a tough sell at $499 in an entry-level variant with 128GB internal storage space and 8GB RAM, which means at $599 and up, it's... an impossible sell. And that explains why the "low-cost" 6.3-incher made no headlines on our website during Amazon's just-concluded October Prime Day event, scoring a modest $75 discount that made it more expensive than last week. That's simply ridiculous, and no one can convince me otherwise.
All my Pixel 11a excitement is officially gone
As frustrated as the Pixel 10a made me when it saw daylight with so few upgrades over a Pixel 9a that also failed to knock my socks off with its bang for buck last year, the first (semi) credible Pixel 11a leak back in July certainly lifted my spirits.
But now I'm disheartened again, because if is true that Google's next mid-range phone will jump from a Tensor G4 chip all the way up to a G6, I fear its starting price might be even higher than $599.
Does the Pixel a family have a future?
7 Votes
A $649 or $699 non-flagship Pixel 11a has as much chance of selling in respectable numbers as, well, the $599 Pixel 10a with Tensor G4 processing power right now, but I can't say I'd prefer to see the 10a's sequel stick to a $599 list price and settle for a Tensor G5 SoC either.
It's clearly far too early to make such a prediction, but if the Pixel 11a does end up starting at $649 or $699, what's the point? I don't care what heights premium smartphone prices will reach over the next couple of years. There's no way the mid-range category will simply vanish, and I also have great trouble believing $600+ prices will be accepted by consumers as the segment's new norm.
The Pixel 11a is pretty much a sure thing already, but the Pixel 12a is probably not. | Image by Android Headlines
I don't care that Samsung and Motorola's Android mid-rangers are also getting more expensive either, as I trust there will always be companies like Nothing settling for lower profit margins in the search for higher visibility, better brand recognition, and quick volume improvements.
Unfortunately for me and other hardcore Google fans like me, it doesn't appear that the search giant is willing to sacrifice even one buck to potentially gain some ground in the US smartphone space, so I definitely wouldn't be surprised if the Pixel 11a marks the end of the road for a (sub) family of devices that showed so much initial promise back in 2019 and several years after.
Mint Mobile is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a special offer on its six-month subscription plans. For a limited time, you can get your preferred tier (6GB, 17GB, 23GB or unlimited) for just $10/mo. That saves you between 50% and 71% on the carrier's mobile plans, making it way easier to recommend.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: