Google's next Pixel phone will cost you $100 more at the register, and the company is blaming AI-driven component shortages for the hit to your wallet.

The search giant announced its Made by Google event for August 12 in New York City, where it's expected to unveil the Pixel 11 lineup. But leaks already tell the story that matters to working Americans: prices are going up, and the cheapest storage option is disappearing. Across the board, European pricing leaks show the Pixel 11 starting at 999 euros and the Pixel 11 Pro at 1,199 euros — matching last year's 256GB upgrade prices, but with no 128GB entry point this time. If Google's typical US pricing conversion holds, Americans can expect the Pixel 11 to start at $899, the Pro at $1,099, the Pro XL at $1,299, and the Pro Fold at a staggering $1,899, according to Ars Technica's breakdown.

That's a flat $100 increase across the line for what amounts to the same phone with minor cosmetic changes. The most notable design difference? A so-called "Pixel Glow" notification light on the back. The phones look nearly identical to last year's models. The Tensor chip gets an update. The bezels might be a touch slimmer. That's it.

Engadget framed the elimination of the 128GB tier as potentially "great news" before acknowledging the price catch — a generous read of a move that forces consumers into higher-priced configurations. Ars Technica was more direct, noting the 128GB option was "a bit lacking for a modern flagship" but also that killing it means "there won't be a cheaper storage option this time around." The Verge and 9to5Google largely avoided the pricing story altogether, focusing on event logistics and design leaks.

The stated reason for the hikes is an AI component shortage driving up memory costs. There's some truth there — multiple brands have announced price increases in 2026 as the AI infrastructure buildout gobbles up supply. But Google isn't some scrappy startup passing along unavoidable costs. Its parent Alphabet sat on over $110 billion in cash and equivalents at last report. The company could absorb higher component costs. It chose not to.

This is the innovation tax in action. Big Tech pumps billions into AI infrastructure — an arms race that primarily benefits shareholders and advertisers — and then passes the resulting supply-chain pressure straight to the consumer. You pay more for a phone that looks the same as last year's so that Google can keep funding its AI moonshots.

One leaked rumor suggested Google might even reduce RAM in some configurations, though Engadget noted that claim "hasn't gained much traction in recent weeks." Even the rumor tells you where the incentives point: squeeze the hardware, charge more, call it progress.

The Pixel Watch 5 is also expected at the event, reportedly moving to a Google-designed Tensor chip. If the Pixel phone's Tensor transition was any guide, that's reason for caution — early Tensor chips struggled with efficiency and performance.

Google reveals all on August 12 at 6 PM ET. The question isn't what the phones will do. It's whether Americans keep accepting the bill for Big Tech's AI spending spree.