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 pri