Google Pixel 11 Price Leak: The Bad News Is Here

Google has officially confirmed its next Made by Google event for August 12, 2026, in New York City, where the Pixel 11 series is expected to debut. Ahead of that announcement, a detailed pricing leak from French outlet Dealabs — corroborated across multiple reports — suggests the new lineup is going to cost more, following the same pattern already set by Samsung's Galaxy S26 and expected for Apple's iPhone 18.

Here's everything confirmed so far, what's leaking on price and specs, and why the smarter move for a lot of buyers might be skipping this generation entirely.

Key Takeaway: Google has confirmed a Made by Google event on August 12, 2026. Leaked European pricing shows the Pixel 11 line getting more expensive — partly offset by dropping the 128GB base storage tier in favor of 256GB as standard. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold get straight price increases with no such trade-off. If you don't need this generation's chip, the current Pixel 10 lineup — in stock now at Gzmato — is the easy way to avoid the hike entirely.

What's Officially Confirmed

  • Event date: August 12, 2026, in New York City — eight days earlier than last year's Pixel 10 unveiling
  • Lineup: Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and a separately launching Pixel 11 Pro Fold
  • Chip: Tensor G6, Google's first chip built on a 2nm process
  • Modem: A switch to MediaTek's M90 modem, ending Pixel's long-running use of Samsung Exynos modems

The Pricing Leak, Explained

According to Dealabs, working with tipster BillBil-Kun, European pricing points to increases across most of the lineup — though the picture is more nuanced than a flat hike.

Model Pixel 10 Price Pixel 11 Leaked Price Change
Base (256GB)€899 (128GB)€999 (256GB)+€100, but 2x storage
Pro (256GB)€1,199€1,199No change
Pro XLVaries by storage+€100 across all tiersStraight increase
Pro Fold (256GB)€1,899 (est.)€1,999+€100, 128GB tier dropped
Note: These figures are leaked European pricing and have not been officially confirmed by Google. US pricing has not leaked yet, though a comparable increase is expected when Google makes it official on August 12.

What's Changing on the Pixel 11

Storage: Goodbye, 128GB

The base Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are both expected to drop the 128GB entry tier entirely, making 256GB the new starting point across the lineup — mirroring the same move Samsung made with the Galaxy S26 earlier this year.

Pixel Glow

The most talked-about new feature is Pixel Glow — a programmable RGB LED array built into the camera bar, replacing the temperature sensor. It's designed to give color-coded notifications for different apps and contacts, similar in spirit to Nothing Phone's Glyph Interface.

Cameras

Leaks point to a new 50MP main lens across the base Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL are expected to get entirely new main and telephoto lenses.

The RAM Question

One unconfirmed but persistent rumor suggests the base Pixel 11 could drop to 8GB of RAM from the Pixel 10's 12GB — a move that would be hard to justify at a higher price point if it turns out to be true.


Why Everything Is Getting More Expensive in 2026

The Pixel 11 isn't an isolated case. This price increase fits a pattern playing out across the entire smartphone industry this year, driven largely by a global memory chip shortage that's already affected everything from Mac Studios to foldable phones.

2026's Industry-Wide Price Hikes
  • Samsung: Raised Galaxy S26 pricing earlier this year and is expected to do the same with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at the July 22 Unpacked event
  • Apple: Has publicly acknowledged that price increases on future iPhones are "unavoidable"
  • Google: Reportedly sourcing cheaper RAM from Chinese memory maker CXMT for the Pixel 11 as a cost-cutting countermeasure

Should You Wait for the Pixel 11?

Wait if you're on a Pixel 9 or older

The Tensor G6's move to a 2nm process is expected to meaningfully improve on the thermal throttling and battery drain issues that have affected older Pixel generations. If you're overdue for an upgrade, the wait is likely worth it.

Buy the Pixel 10 now if you want to avoid the hike entirely

Google has a well-established pattern of running steep discounts on outgoing Pixel models within weeks of a new launch. If the Pixel 11's upgrades don't excite you and you just want a great phone at a lower price, the current Pixel 10 lineup — still in stock — is the easy way to sidestep this round of price increases.

Our take: Unless you specifically want the 2nm Tensor G6 or Pixel Glow, there's no urgency here. The Pixel 10 remains an excellent phone, and buying now avoids both the price increase and the inevitable wait for launch-day stock to settle.

Shop Google Pixel Phones at Gzmato

Don't want to pay next-generation pricing for features you might not need? The current Google Pixel lineup is in stock now at Gzmato.

Shop Google Pixel Phones at Gzmato

Google Pixel 10 Series | Cases & Screen Protectors | Fast Chargers | In Stock Now

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Shop Phones at Gzmato

Key Takeaways

# What You Need to Know About the Pixel 11 Price Leak
1Made by Google event confirmed for August 12, 2026 — in New York City, eight days earlier than last year
2Base storage doubles to 256GB — but the 128GB tier disappears entirely, effectively raising the entry price
3Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold get straight price increases — roughly €100 more across all storage tiers with no offsetting upgrade
4Tensor G6 on a 2nm process — Google's most advanced chip fabrication yet, aimed at fixing thermal and battery issues
5Pixel Glow is the headline new feature — a programmable RGB notification light built into the camera bar
6Part of an industry-wide pattern — Samsung, Apple, and Google are all raising prices in 2026 due to the global memory chip shortage
7The current Pixel 10 is the smart buy for most people — in stock now at Gzmato, ahead of the Pixel 11's price increase
The Pixel 11 is shaping up to be a solid, if unspectacular, upgrade — arriving at a higher price thanks to forces well outside Google's control. Unless the 2nm chip or Pixel Glow specifically appeal to you, there's no reason to rush past the current Pixel 10 lineup.
Sources:
  • 9to5Google — Pixel 11 pricing, storage, and release date leak breakdown
  • PhoneArena — Pixel 11 series pricing and official event date confirmation
  • Forbes — Analysis of Pixel 11 pricing strategy versus Samsung Galaxy S26
  • Droid-Life — Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold pricing increase details
  • 91mobiles — Full leaked pricing table across the Pixel 11 lineup
  • Tech Advisor — Pixel 11 specs, camera, and design rumor roundup
  • PC Guide — Pixel 11 release date and storage tier changes
  • Gzmato.com — current Google Pixel category availability
Published: July 9, 2026. The Made by Google event date is officially confirmed; pricing, specs, and feature details remain based on leaks and third-party reporting until Google's official announcement on August 12, 2026.