Modest Price Hikes Overshadow Smartphone Market

The annual smartphone review process is complicated by the rising costs of reviewing devices from top manufacturers Apple, Google, and Samsung. This year's price increases are attributed to an AI-induced component crisis, but the rises have been relatively modest.

For this year's review, the author opted for a minimalist approach, starting with the Pixel 11 Pro, the least expensive of the Pro-level Pixel 11 series phones. The device was chosen partly due to a trade-in credit from a previous generation Pixel 10 Pro, which would cover most of the cost.

However, Google's trade-in valuation turned out to be unexpectedly low, and the author had to return the Pixel 11 Pro before purchasing a Pixel 11 Pro XL. Interestingly, when trading in an iPhone 17 Pro Max for its value, Google offered $850, highlighting the competitive pricing landscape.