This Google Play Store trick saved me over $100 on the Pixel 11 Pro XL - here's how
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Gold and higher Play Store users are getting Pixel discounts.
- You can sign up for a Play Pass trial to get free gold status.
- Discounts are between $125 and $175, depending on status.
Last week, Google sent out email promos to random users with a chance to save up to $150 on the new Pixel 11 series. If you missed that email, there's a trick you might still be able to leverage to save.
You might not have paid much attention to your Play Store status level thus far, but every time you spend money on apps, games, in-app purchases, subscriptions, books, and movies on Google Play, you earn points toward a higher status. The higher your tier, the more prizes, perks, and discounts you can unlock (like savings on the Pixel 11 series).
Also: Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: I compared both - this one pulls ahead
If you're not already at a high level, there's a free way you can fast-track to gold status -- and a hidden discount that combines with trade-in and store credit offers.
How to save $125 or more
You can save at least $125 just by getting a free trial of Play Pass. Google offers a Play Pass subscription that gives you unlimited access to a curated catalog of over 1,000 apps and mobile games with no ads or in-app purchases. An additional perk of the Play Pass is an automatic upgrade to gold status on the Play Store.
This subscription usually costs $5 a month or $20 a year, but you can sign up for a month-long free trial. Once you sign up and claim your gold status, you can access your Pixel 11 savings perk, use it, and then cancel your Play Pass trial before you're charged anything.
Also: I compared Google's pricier Pixel 11 series to Samsung's Galaxy lineup - here's the better value now
According to several Reddit posts about the trick, the amounts and applicable devices vary based on your Play Store status level, but users are getting between $125 and $175, depending on what phone they're shopping for. When I looked for myself, my temporary gold status got me an extra $125 off the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL.
Stacking my savings
Google is also offering up to $200 store credit or $250 off the purchase of a Pixel Watch 5, depending on which Pixel 11 phone you buy. I've been a Pro XL user for a few years, so I priced out the most expensive phone, the 11 Pro XL, at $1,299. My 9 Pro XL trade-in got me $550 off, and the Play Store savings got me $125. I opted for the $250 off the Pixel Watch 5, which runs $429.99.
Also: My top 6 open-source Android apps from the Google Play Store - and why that's important
With everything combined, I paid just under $900 total for the 11 Pro XL and the Pixel Watch 5. I wasn't considering an upgrade this cycle, but the additional savings made things a lot more tempting than before. If you don't want the watch, you can opt for $200 in Google Store credit instead.
Try it yourself
Here's how to try the trick:
Open your Google Play Store app.
Tap your profile icon in the top right corner and select Play Pass from the menu.
Tap Get started or Start free trial.
Once you're subscribed, tap on your Play points total.
Under Perks, you should see a free upgrade to gold status.
When you claim your free gold status, go to the perks tab again, and you should see your Pixel offer.