Google Launches Pixel 11 Series With Price Hikes and AI Focus

Google on Wednesday unveiled its new Pixel 11 series of smartphones, a foldable model, and a new smartwatch at its annual Made by Google event in New York City. The launch introduces four new phones powered by the company's custom Tensor G6 processor, with preorders beginning immediately and general availability starting August 20.

The new lineup includes the standard Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the larger Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the fourth-generation Pixel 11 Pro Fold. All models ship with Android 17 and start with 256GB of storage, doubling the base capacity from the previous generation. The devices are positioned to compete in the premium smartphone market, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence capabilities through Google's Gemini ecosystem.

Pricing for the series has increased across the board. The base Pixel 11 starts at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899. These prices represent an approximate $100 increase over the corresponding Pixel 10 models. Google attributed the price hikes to a global surge in memory chip costs, driven by high demand for AI infrastructure. A company vice president...