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I genuinely don't understand what Google is thinking with these Pixel 11 series prices
Yes, memory costs are bad for all smartphone manufacturers, but if Google wants its Pixel 11 family to succeed, it needs to find a way to reduce these rumored prices.
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Despite their gorgeous colors, it looks like the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro are set up to fail. | Image by 9To5Google
Because the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are making headline after headline all of a sudden ahead of next week's big Unpacked event, I feel like one of the juiciest, most intriguing, and... most disappointing mobile tech leaks of the last few weeks may have escaped some of your radars.
But I'm here today to rectify that and make sure Google's probable Pixel 11 series pricing for the US receives the proper amount of attention... and hate from Android users of every brand allegiance. And although I'm not holding my breath, maybe, just maybe we can make the search giant reconsider what looks like a disastrous plan for what was once a promising next-gen high-end handset family.
The "vanilla" Pixel 11 kinda sorta makes sense (but not really)
- $899 with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
- $1,019 with 512GB storage and 12GB RAM.
Technically, the most affordable Pixel 11 variant is set to be $100 costlier than the cheapest Pixel 10 model. But because the entry-level configuration of this year's non-Pro 6.3-inch Google phone will apparently come with 256 gigs of internal storage space instead of only 128, that's a perfectly justified price hike... that Big G is likely to frame as not a price hike at all.
Google should try to do everything in its power to keep the Pixel 11 at a $799 starting price. | Image by 9To5Google
Here's the problem with that argument, though. Hardcore Google fans who might not be able to afford a Pixel 11 Pro or Pixel 11 Pro XL (let alone a Pixel 11 Pro Fold) are likely to look at the budget-friendly Pixel 10a and the "vanilla" Pixel 11 and snub the latter device due to its significantly higher starting price compared to the former model.
That's obviously going to be a good thing for the $499 and up Pixel 10a, which doesn't currently excel in terms of value for money when compared to the $799 and up (not to mention oft-discounted) Pixel 10. But for the Pixel 11, it's not ideal, especially as it gives the compact new handset no affordability edge over the $899 and up Galaxy S26.
Would I have preferred Google to keep the $799 entry-level variant with 128GB storage around? Absolutely. Does this make the "standard" Pixel 11 DOA? Maybe not.
The Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL is where things get... weird
- $1,099 - Pixel 11 Pro with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
- $1,219 - Pixel 11 Pro with 512GB storage and 16GB RAM;
- $1,449 - Pixel 11 Pro with 1TB storage and 16GB RAM;
- $1,299 - Pixel 11 Pro XL with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
- $1,419 - Pixel 11 Pro XL with 512GB storage and 16GB RAM;
- $1,649 - Pixel 11 Pro XL with 1TB storage and 16GB RAM.
Like the Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro is expected to start at 256GB storage instead of 128. And like the Pixel 11, the 11 Pro looks set to keep its predecessor's price tag in a 256 gig configuration unchanged.
The Pixel 11 Pro looks too familiar and sounds too expensive to become a big box-office hit. | Image by 9To5Google
That all sounds almost too good to be true for the year of our lord 2026, which is where a RAM downgrade from 16 to 12GB comes in. But only for the 256GB storage variant. The 512GB model, meanwhile, retains its predecessor's 16GB RAM count at an extra cost of 120 bucks.
That's incredibly confusing and kind of illogical, especially after analyzing the Pixel 11's pricing structure, and unfortunately, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is even worse. Yes, the largest of Google's non-foldable devices expected to see daylight next month will start $100 higher than the Pixel 10 Pro XL despite keeping the 256 gigs of internal storage space unchanged and reducing the RAM from 16 to 12GB.
What do you think about these likely Pixel 11 series prices?
A price increase and a significant internal downgrade at the same time is something not even Samsung has done during these very troubled last few months for the mobile industry as a whole, so I'm starting to think Google doesn't want the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL to succeed. Oh, and by the way, the 512GB and 1TB storage variants of the Pixel 11 Pro XL are apparently just $100 costlier than the Pixel 10 Pro XL's comparable models... without any RAM compromises or downgrades, which is almost more enraging and illogical.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold takes the cake
- $1,899 with 256GB storage and 16GB RAM;
- $2,019 with 512GB storage and 16GB RAM;
- $2,249 with 1TB storage and 16GB RAM.
As much as I personally like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it's pretty clear that Google's foldable lineup hasn't broken into the mainstream yet, and with Samsung gearing up to release two different Galaxy Z Fold 8 models soon and Apple finally nearing its own entry into the already very competitive market segment, Big G definitely needs something special this year.
That something special is... probably not the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which will apparently be $100 more expensive across the board than last year's Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Before you claim that's not too bad and declare yourselves satisfied with the 16GB RAM every Pixel 11 Pro Fold variant will seemingly pack, allow me to point out that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's biggest strength over the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be annihilated by a mind-boggling Google decision.
This Pine colorway might be the most exciting thing about the overpriced Pixel 11 Pro Fold. | Image by 9To5Google
Instead of a 5,000mAh+ battery, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is expected to settle for 4,750mAh cell capacity for some reason, in which case Google should really try to find a way to keep the $1,799 starting price unchanged or, ideally, bring it down by $100.
At $1,899 and up, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold looks doomed in its fight for relevance against a (wide-style) Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a 4,800mAh battery and an expected starting price of, you guessed it, $1,899.
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