Google launches Pixel 11 with on-device Gemini AI and $100 price hike

Google Alphabet Inc. ↘ 0.61% officially unveiled its Pixel 11 smartphone lineup at its Made by Google event in New York on August 12, introducing four new devices built around deeper integration of its Gemini AI assistant and a new in-house processor, with preorders now open and retail availability set for August 20.

Pricing and Hardware

The lineup includes the Pixel 11 ($899), Pixel 11 Pro ($1,099), Pixel 11 Pro XL ($1,299), and Pixel 11 Pro Fold ($1,899), each roughly $100 more than last year's equivalent models. Google VP Shakil Barkat attributed the price increases to a global DRAM shortage that has driven the per-gigabyte cost of mobile LPDDR5X memory from about $2.80 in 2025 to approximately $12 in 2026, according to IDC analysis. The company also eliminated the 128GB storage tier, making 256GB the new baseline across the entire lineup.bez-kabli+1

At the center of the hardware refresh is the Tensor G6, described as the first 2-nanometer processor in any Android smartphone. Google says the chip delivers 50% more machine-learning compute and allows on-device AI tasks to run up to 3.5 times faster while consuming up to 3.5 times less energy. Those figures remain based on internal testing, with no independent benchmarks yet available.ibtimes+1

Agentic Gemini Intelligence

The headline software feature is Gemini Intelligence, an expanded version of Google's AI assistant capable of handling multistep tasks across more than 40 apps — including ordering groceries, booking rideshares, and placing phone calls to businesses on a user's behalf. The system relies on screen-parsing, reading and interacting with app interfaces directly rather than requiring developers to build custom integrations. Users can review transcripts of AI-operated calls and halt tasks at any point.ibtimes

On-device capabilities also include Magic Capture, which analyzes roughly 400 frames during a shooting session to produce optimized photos, and expanded Live Translate that now processes supported content locally.bez-kabli+1

Pro Features and Support

The Pro models introduce HiLight, a ring of LEDs around the camera bar that glows in different patterns to indicate when Gemini is listening, processing, or responding. Camera hardware on the Pro and Pro XL includes a 48-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel 5x telephoto supporting up to 120x zoom, while the base Pixel 11 reaches 30x. T-Mobile ↘ 1.36% is offering the Pro XL with a 5,115mAh battery, the largest in a standard-format phone.bez-kabli+1

All Pixel 11 devices carry a seven-year commitment for OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates. Carrier promotions include up to $1,300 in trade-in credit from T-Mobile and $450 off the Pro for Google Fi subscribers.ibtimes+1