Everything announced at Made by Google 2026

For Trevor Noah and his guests, including Alex Cooper and Stephen Curry, the Made by Google 2026 event was a night to remember, but for the average Nigerian or Ghanaian consumer, the real question is: can they afford the latest Pixel 11 series smartphones? With prices going up across the board, it's no wonder many are left wondering if the new features are worth the hefty price tag.

The Pixel 11 series is Google's latest lineup of flagship smartphones, featuring four models: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. While the new Tensor G6 chip is a significant upgrade, with a 2nm process and improved performance, it's the price increase that's got many scratching their heads. The base model Pixel 11 starts at $899, up from its predecessors, while the top-of-the-line Pixel 11 Pro Fold is priced at a whopping $1,899. In Nigeria, where the average annual salary is around NGN 5.6 million ($12,700), the cost of these devices is prohibitively expensive for many.

So what do you get for your hard-earned cash? The Pixel 11 series boasts impressive specs, including a 48MP main camera, 13MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP telephoto lenses with 5x zoom. The display is equally impressive, with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness. However, with prices rising across the board, it's hard not to wonder if these features are worth the extra cost. In a market where mid-range devices are already struggling to gain traction, the Pixel 11 series may find it challenging to compete.

Google's decision to launch the Pixel 11 series at a higher price point may be a calculated risk. With the Tensor G6 chip and improved camera capabilities, the company is betting that Africa's tech enthusiasts will be willing to pay a premium for the latest and greatest. However, with the rise of affordable smartphone brands like Tecno and Infinix, Google may find itself struggling to compete in the mid-range market. If the Pixel 11 series fails to make a dent in Africa's market, it may be a blow to Google's strategy in the region.

Despite the impressive specs and features, I predict that Google's Pixel 11 series will struggle to gain traction in Africa. With prices rising across the board, the cost of these devices will be prohibitively expensive for many. Add to this the rise of affordable smartphone brands and the Pixel 11 series may find itself struggling to compete.

Google's Made by Google 2026 event may have been a night to remember for Trevor Noah and his guests, but for the average Nigerian or Ghanaian consumer, the real question is: can they afford the latest Pixel 11 series smartphones? With prices going up across the board, it's hard not to wonder if the new features are worth the hefty price tag.