Google Reportedly Raises Pixel 11 Prices by €100, Pushing Fold Model to €1,999

Q: Will the base Pixel 11 be locked out of Google's best AI features due to its rumored RAM cuts?

Yes—if the rumor is accurate that the base Pixel 11 drops to 8GB of RAM, it would likely miss out on Google’s top on-device AI features. The key reason is Google’s reported hardware requirement for its new “Gemini Intelligence” system: at least 12GB of RAM, along with a flagship-class chip and support for Gemini Nano v3 or higher. That puts an 8GB base Pixel 11 below the threshold before performance is even considered. This matters because Google’s best AI tools increasingly run locally or in a hybrid local-cloud mode, which depends heavily on memory. Less RAM can force a phone to use smaller models, slow down multitasking, or disable certain features entirely. That is especially relevant for Pixel, where Google has been pushing AI as the main selling point. The concern is sharper because the rumored cut would come alongside a price increase. A base Pixel 11 at near-flagship pricing but without full access to flagship AI features would be a difficult value proposition, especially when rivals such as Samsung’s Galaxy S26 are expected to offer 12GB RAM as standard. That said, this is not confirmed. Google could still change the RAM configuration, limit only some features, or rely more on cloud processing to keep parts of the AI suite available. But based on the current leaks and Google’s stated requirements, the base Pixel 11 would probably be excluded from the most advanced Gemini features if it ships with 8GB RAM.

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · Jul 12

€100 price hikes across the Pixel 11 lineup would lift the base model to €999, the Pro to €1,199, the Pro XL to €1,399 and the Pro Fold to €1,999, according to the report.
128GB base storage is reportedly being dropped, which partly explains the increase, but the implied U.S. pricing would still move the range to about $899-$1,899.
Tensor chips remain a sticking point because Pixel 11 would be priced alongside Snapdragon flagships despite weaker gaming performance and persistent heat-management concerns.
The pricing shift also appears steeper on some models: the Pro XL would open a €200 gap over the Pro, and earlier leaks suggested some variants could ship with less RAM despite higher prices.
Google has already set an August 12 launch event, leaving the reported pricing to test whether Pixel can sustain full flagship positioning against Samsung and other premium rivals.