Priced at a very reasonable $599, last year’s Pixel 6 wasn’t just a good phone but a great value to boot. It was competitive with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and cheaper than OnePlus’ flagships too. In fact, it cost less than the Pixel 5 did at launch. Even the Pixel 6 Pro wasn’t too bad at $799; it still undercuts the premium offerings from Apple, Samsung, and others. All in all, Google’s redesign wasn’t the only eye-catching thing about the handset, and the low price helped put the Pixel on the mainstream map.
The Google Pixel 7 series isn’t that far away now, and we’re quickly building up a vivid picture of what to expect, thanks to various leaks and Google itself. But the big unknown is the cost. With inflation ripping its way through worldwide supply chains, a price hike feels increasingly inevitable. But even if the phone turns out to be more expensive by, say, $50 to $100, that might not be a bad thing. Hear me out.