Android flagships are back to the 8GB era! Google Pixel 11 leads the way: 12GB of RAM reduced to 8GB.
According to Fast Technology on May 11, due to a global memory supply chain shortage, Google’s next-generation flagship phone, the Pixel 11 series, has seen a reduction in memory configuration. The standard version’s memory has been reduced to 8GB, making Google the first Android brand this year to revert to 8GB memory in its high-end flagship product line.
This change stands in stark contrast to its predecessor. In the previous Pixel 10 series, all models started with 12GB of RAM, while the downgraded configuration of the standard Pixel 11 has surprised many enthusiasts.
Not only the standard version is affected, but the higher-end Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pro Fold models are also impacted. The starting RAM for these high-end models has been reduced to 12GB, with a maximum of 16GB. In the previous generation, the Pro series started with 16GB of RAM.
The across-the-board reduction in memory specifications reflects the continued rise in memory prices and a shortage of supply. Due to the significant increase in the cost of core raw materials, mobile phone manufacturers have had to alleviate operational pressure by reducing configurations or raising prices.
According to data from industry analysis firm TrendForce, global DRAM contract prices have risen by more than 40% for two consecutive quarters from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026.
Another authoritative report shows that the quarter-on-quarter increase in memory prices in the first quarter of 2026 even reached 80% to 90%. Prices for all categories, including DRAM, NAND flash memory, and high-performance HBM memory, have hit record highs.
Currently, this heavy cost pressure has quickly spread to major smartphone brands. In order to cope with the drastic fluctuations in the supply chain, many domestic mobile phone manufacturers have also completed intensive adjustments to their pricing or product strategies in March of this year.
With storage chip costs spiraling out of control, the downgraded specifications of the Google Pixel 11 series may simply be a microcosm of a shift in the industry. In the near future, consumers may face higher prices or more conservative hardware specifications when choosing a new phone.
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