GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
It’s not a secret that 2026 has been a challenging year for smartphone manufacturers. No one will be able to escape rising component costs, and every company has to decide how to handle price increases. Samsung did what I expected, offering modest upgrades while raising prices on some Galaxy S26 models.
Motorola somehow felt the need to keep the specs relatively the same while aggressively increasing prices on its new Razr foldables. It may not be the best solution to the current crisis, but it is one.
And we also have an example from Google in 2026 — the Pixel 10a. Despite plenty of criticism, Google did the right thing. The most important spec on the Pixel 10a is the price, and it remains one of the best midrange options, despite a lack of exciting upgrades.
But Google can’t use that playbook on its upcoming flagship. Premium prices demand premium specs, and Google has tough decisions to make with the Pixel 11.
What's your biggest concern with the Pixel 11 series? 93 votes Rising prices 24 % Tensor G6 performance 31 % Battery life 41 % Charging speeds 1 % Lackluster AI features 2 % Other (let us know in the comments) 1 %
Tensor will be the centerpiece of any price increase
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
I’m not a Tensor chipset hater. I find the criticisms to be excessive, and every time I push back on someone yelling about how Google is ripping us off with its chipsets, I almost always find out they are a disgruntled Pixel 6 or Pixel 7 user. I get it, and I was right there with you. My Pixel 6 experience was awful, and Google didn’t solve most of the overheating and poor battery performance complaints in the Pixel 7.
However, you have to be fair. Since the Pixel 8 and the Tensor G3, the chipsets have been solid. No, you don’t get the raw performance benchmarks you see with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but who cares? Instagram only opens so fast, and as long as the user experience remains smooth, I’m a happy camper.
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