Google confirms price hike for upcoming Pixel phone
Google's Vice President of Devices and Services confirmed that the next Pixel phone will be more expensive. The price increase is attributed to global RAM supply issues exacerbated by AI data centers.
Google has effectively confirmed that its upcoming Pixel 11 smartphone will see a price increase. Shakil Barkat, Google's Vice President of Devices and Services, indicated this in an interview with 9to5 Google.
Barkat stated that Google had "shielded our consumers from supply fluctuations for as long as possible," but acknowledged that "the economics have fundamentally shifted and we're not immune to that." He suggested that the company's financial conditions have evolved.
The anticipated price hike is not entirely surprising. Numerous technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Roku, have already raised their prices. This is largely due to the soaring cost of memory components, driven by the increased demand from AI data centers.
Google has not yet released specific details regarding the Pixel 11's pricing or other features. However, the expected price adjustment is understood to reflect the current market conditions for essential components.