I used to upgrade my Android phone every year. Here’s why I finally stopped

Rising prices have been rippling across the global smartphone industry for months, and now, they’ve come for flagship Android phones in the US. Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra start $100 higher than their 2025 equivalents, and last week, Google’s Shakil Barkat all but confirmed rumors that the Pixel 11 will start at $899 , up $100 from the base Pixel 10. Year-over-year price increases are never ideal for consumers, but it’s especially inconvenient that new phones are getting pricier while everything else is, too.

From laptops to game consoles to TV streaming hardware , practically all of consumer tech has shot up this year, not to mention steadily rising prices for non-tech essentials.