VP Shakil Barkat Says AI Data Centre Demand Has Redirected Memory Wafer Capacity Away From Consumer Devices While Google Reworks Android To Run On Less RAM
According to The Next Web, Google has confirmed the Pixel 11 lineup will cost more, with VP Shakil Barkat telling 9to5Google that a global RAM shortage driven by AI data centre demand has fundamentally shifted the economics for consumer devices.
Google VP Barkat cited Morgan Stanley data showing the cost of one gigabyte of RAM jumped from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 this year; a roughly sixfold increase. For a flagship phone shipping with 16GB of RAM, that translates to a bill-of-materials jump from approximately $45 to $192 per handset.
Leaked listings put the base Pixel 11 at $899, up $100 from the Pixel 10. The 128GB tier is eliminated entirely, with 256GB becoming the new baseline. Pro models may actually drop from 16GB to 12GB RAM to control costs.
Samsung already raised Galaxy S26 prices by $100. Apple has called increases “unavoidable” ahead of September iPhones. Qualcomm is hiking chip prices double-digit percentages after September 1.
Google’s response beyond pricing: a dedicated effort to rework Android and its app ecosystem to run on less RAM, leveraging its Tensor chip and on-device AI for better memory efficiency.
The AI boom is taxing your phone bill. Check out our previous coverage of the tech sector on The Trusted Times.
