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In October 2016, Google killed the beloved Nexus program and created a new brand: the Google Pixel. The sudden shift was a pivotal move to change its focus from Android enthusiast phones to products that catered to the mainstream market. Going head-to-head with Apple and Samsung, Google launched its first flagship products; the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, directly competing with the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7.
It was a declaration of war, as Google priced its first-generation Pixel at exactly the same price as the iPhone 7: $649. Samsung was a bit more expensive, with the Galaxy S7 costing $669 at retail. It was a clear sign that Google wanted a piece of the market share, which was dominated by the Korean giant at that time. To capture the customer, Google offered plenty of lucrative features like free Google Photos storage, exclusive access to the built-in Google Assistant, and the purest Android Nougat experience.
When that wasn’t enough, Google started undercutting the competition. Starting with the Pixel 6, Google aggressively priced its flagship at $599, while the industry standard was $799. The Pixel 7 followed suit, and suddenly, more people were willing to make the switch. Fast forward to today, Google charges the same high-end prices as Apple and Samsung. While once marketed as budget Android phones, the Pixel phones no longer have the discount factor, and Pro models cost over $1,000. Though a lot of the price increase has to do with inflation and RAM shortages, the hefty Google brand name also plays a part.
Inflation and hardware upgrades make modern Pixels pricier
The original Google Pixel and Pixel XL were priced at $649 and $769, respectively. So why are the newer models more expensive? Starting with the obvious factor, there’s inflation. Over the years, the purchasing power of the American dollar has decreased, and while your money might look the same, it buys less stuff. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $649 in October 2016 has the same buying power as $899 in August 2026. Even though you might see a nominal increase in the price of products — for example, the new Google Pixel 11 costing $899 — the real price hasn’t changed much.
Beyond that, the newer models have hardware upgrades that make them much more powerful. To put it into perspective, the first-generation Google Pixel launched with 32GB of storage, whereas the base storage on the Pixel 11 is 256GB. Similarly, the panel of the original Pixel featured a 5-inch AMOLED 1080p screen with thick bezels, while the Pixel 11 has a 6.3-inch OLED 120Hz all-screen display. These upgrades aren’t just nominal; they make the entire experience better, and the dollar-to-performance ratio of the newer Pixels is much higher than the original.
Finally, we have the current state of the tech world, where RAM is scarce due to AI. This is ultimately increasing the price of all tech products as brands try to find an answer. In the meantime, however, consumer prices of phones are at an all-time high. This is evident in the launch prices of all the premium flagships, with the Pixel 11 Pro XL, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra all costing $1,299. Additionally, as Google proceeds to capture a respectable share of the market, it becomes more confident in charging a higher price, similar to its competitors.
Older Pixel models still offer incredible value in 2026
Since Google has started demanding higher premiums for its flagship smartphones, going back a few generations might land you the best deal. Alongside the launch of the Google Pixel 8 in October 2023, Google promised seven years of software updates. This meant that your phone would be future-proofed, and you’ll only need to upgrade if you want to. As a result, the Pixel 9 and 10 series become valuable options for those who want to try out the Google ecosystem.
With the launch of the Pixel 11, the older models can be found at discounted prices and still deliver a high-end experience. In fact, the RAM on the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL has been downgraded to 12GB due to shortages, and you’ll get an additional 4GB of RAM on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro flagships. In Google’s current state, the older phones are evidently worth it, as the newer lineup doesn’t have enough convincing qualities to warrant an upgrade.
For users who want an even lower entry-level price, Google offers budget phones like the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a. Featuring cutbacks in build quality, cameras, and RAM, the Pixel ‘A’ series provides a flagship-like experience while keeping the discount factor alive. These products, along with the older models, offer much more value than dropping $1,000+ on a new phone. Considering how far we’ve come, users no longer need to buy the latest flagship to get a premium experience. Instead, you can get similar performance with an older Pixel, Samsung, or iPhone, whichever one you prefer.
