Google's new Pixel 11 phones and Pixel Watch 5 are more expensive this year. The Pixel 11 starts at $899, up $100 from last year, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL start at $1,099 and $1,299 respectively. The Pixel Watch 5 costs $399, a $50 increase.

Despite the higher prices, Google has reduced RAM in the base versions of the Pro and Pro XL from 16GB to 12GB. Storage on the base Pixel 11 and Pro doubles to 256GB, but the Pro XL and Fold remain at 256GB. A Google spokesperson cited a severe RAM shortage and said software optimization will keep performance smooth.

For less intensive tasks like messaging or streaming, the RAM cut may go unnoticed. But for video editing or gaming, the reduction could be felt. Google claims that through its full stack approach, the new Pro models will be faster than last year's despite less memory.

The RAM shortage is partly driven by AI companies buying up components. Google itself is a major AI player, contributing to the high demand for memory and storage.