Pixel 11 Pro buyers get less RAM.
Google is preparing to launch the Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tag at an event on August 12, 2026. The headline numbers are already clear: the Pixel 11 starts at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at $1,299.
Those prices arrive with a downgrade in the base Pro configurations. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL will have 12GB of RAM, down from 16GB in the equivalent 9- and 10-series devices.
Google says the change reflects the current supply market, not a sudden discovery that memory no longer matters. A Google spokesperson stated: “The tech industry is navigating a severe, supplier-driven RAM shortage and we will need to adjust Pixel 11 pricing and RAM configurations to mitigate this while delivering maximum value for our customers.”
The explanation may satisfy procurement teams. Customers paying more for less RAM will make their own calculations.
Storage stays steady as RAM drops
The Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro start with 256GB of storage. Google has reduced RAM in the base versions of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL, but the listed storage starting point remains 256GB for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro.
The Pixel 11 Pro also adds a notification light on the back. Google has built it into the camera island, in the place where the flash normally sits.
The light may relate to Google’s AI assistant. It could illuminate when a user talks to the chatbot or receives calls, giving the rear camera area a new job beyond housing cameras and a flash.
Google will announce the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold during an event hosted by Trevor Noah. The event starts at 6PM ET on August 12, 2026, and will feature Stephen Curry, Alex Cooper, Shubman Gill, and Ayami Nakajo.
Curry is a Google Performance Advisor, while Gill and Nakajo are Pixel ad stars. The Google Store’s preorder countdown ends eight hours before the event, creating a peculiar launch-day ritual: the products may be preparing to sell before the presentation finishes explaining them.
Pixel Watch 5 and Pixel Tag fill out the lineup
The Pixel Watch 5 costs $399, a $50 increase from last year. Google pairs that higher price with a slightly faster Qualcomm processor and a battery bump, along with a new satin pyrite case finish, new strap colors, and a Steph Curry Special Edition.
The watch’s hardware changes are clear, but the price change is clearer. A faster processor and a larger battery now arrive under a $399 starting figure.
Google’s Pixel Tag will go on sale on November 11, 2026, for $29. A four-pack will cost $99, giving buyers a lower per-unit price if they need to track several items.
The tracker combines ultra wideband, or UWB, with Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding. That gives Pixel Tag two stated wireless technologies, though the verified details do not specify how Google will divide tracking duties between them.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 will also receive a firmware update in September 2026 to improve ANC. The update adds a software change to a launch lineup dominated by new hardware, because even earbuds now require a maintenance calendar.
Google’s August event therefore covers more than a phone refresh. It introduces the Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tag, while the Pixel Buds Pro 2 receive a later update. The central tension is harder to miss: higher prices, new features, and less RAM in the base Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL configurations.
Based on
- Google’s Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL have less RAM despite price increases — engadget.com
- Made by Google 2026: all the Pixel news and announcements | The Verge — theverge.com
- How To Watch Google’s Pixel 11 Event — engadget.com
- Google’s upcoming Pixel phones are for the fans, even if its launch event isn’t | The Verge — theverge.com
- Trevor Noah is hosting Google’s Pixel 11 launch event | The Verge — theverge.com
