But I’m not worried because, in an era of rising phone prices, I’m still saving money.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t Android upgrades are becoming a bad deal<\/p>\n All the evidence points to unprecedented price increases<\/p>\n It’ll be widespread and massive<\/p>\n In June, a report surfaced that revealed that Samsung had failed to secure cheaper OLED panels<\/a> for its Samsung Galaxy S27 phones. <\/p>\n While Galaxy users were worried about the compromises inherent in cheaper components, others saw it as a way to balance costs.<\/p>\n The new panels were reportedly 20% cheaper to produce, which might have offset the costs of RAM.<\/p>\n But the deal fell through, and there’s only one likely outcome: price increases.<\/p>\n Other stories have similar grim tidings.<\/p>\n Xiaomi increased the cost of its flagship phones<\/a> by at least $200 in April. <\/p>\n Counterpoint Research reported in March that phones with a paltry 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage could see a 25% rise in production costs.<\/p>\n Finally, just this month, a Korean report suggested that the Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 phones will see a price increase of $150 to $200<\/a>. <\/p>\n It sounds like scary stuff at first. Nobody likes price increases, and tools as essential as smartphones can feel particularly relevant.<\/p>\n But I’m here to tell you that you can be like a deep-sea fish in a hurricane, completely unaffected.<\/p>\n The price increases are mostly affecting new phones<\/p>\n The Google Pixel 10 should stay where it is<\/p>\n Xiaomi’s announcement that it was increasing prices for existing devices was unusual.<\/p>\n While most brands are looking at price increases for new phones, prices for existing devices are staying the same.<\/p>\n So if you’re not planning to buy a newly released phone in 2026 or 2027, you can sit back and relax.<\/p>\n Admittedly, there is a concern that if the RAM crisis subsides, companies may not lower their prices accordingly.<\/p>\n If we get used to these sticker prices, what motivation will manufacturers have to lower prices as production costs fall?<\/p>\n However, it will take years to see if this becomes a reality. At present, the focus is squarely on upcoming phones.<\/p>\n Even if you want a new phone, there are still plenty of ways to offset costs<\/p>\n Patience is the greatest trick for saving money<\/p>\n I’m currently on the fence about upgrading to the Google Pixel 11.<\/p>\n Leaks haven’t convinced me that the quirky new hardware is worthwhile, and the news that my Pixel 10 is about to receive a significant performance upgrade<\/a> makes holding onto it even more attractive. <\/p>\n Nevertheless, I like to stay up to date on the latest Android hardware, so I may end up upgrading. But I certainly won’t pre-order one, and I doubt I’ll buy one until months after release.<\/p>\n I live in the UK, and I use an MVNO, Voxi, as my carrier. It’s a great carrier for a variety of reasons, but the most relevant one here is its sales.<\/p>\n Every year, like clockwork, Voxi announces a sale on the latest Pixel phone. I picked up a Pixel 10 Pro for about 40% off last year, about two months after it launched.<\/p>\n Let me repeat that. A 40% saving. Two months after release. You can see why I don’t pre-order phones anymore.<\/p>\n Deals aren’t limited to niche UK carriers either.<\/p>\n On Black Friday, the Pixel 10 Pro XL was available for $900<\/a>, $300 off its retail price. That’s a 25% saving from waiting three months. <\/p>\n So even if you desperately want a newly launched phone this year, all you have to do is wait.<\/p>\n By Christmas, you could have a new Pixel 11 and have saved hundreds of dollars in the process.<\/p>\n But why buy a new phone in the first place?<\/p>\n Recently launched phones will last for years<\/p>\n It’s no secret that smartphone manufacturers are struggling to innovate.<\/p>\n AI drove things along for a bit, but now thin smartphones and colored LED lights show that hardware gimmicks are the new trend.<\/p>\n I struggle to recommend buying a newly launched phone to anyone who isn’t an Android enthusiast.<\/p>\n My recommendation of choice is still the Pixel 10 thanks to its excellent performance, battery life, camera, and seven years of software support.<\/p>\n It truly is a phone that will last for years, and sales are frequent and huge.<\/p>\n While it came paired with a mandatory carrier plan, US Mobile discounted the Pixel 10 to $250<\/a> on July 4, 2026 ($369 including the year of service). <\/p>\n Patience and self-reflection mean you don’t have to worry about the RAM crisis<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tWhy your next Android upgrade is about to cost $100 more for the same specs
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/two-samsung-galaxy-s27-concept-renders-with-triple-camera-bars-shown-in-silver-and-red-against-a-blu.jpeg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Lucas Gouveia \/ Android Police<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_3634.jpg\")
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