Smartphone Costs in India Rise Again Post-Festival Season: Here’s What to Expect

Urgent Smartphone Purchase Decisions as Prices Surge

If you’ve been contemplating a new smartphone purchase, the urgency of that decision may have escalated. Several smartphone manufacturers have quietly escalated prices within their mid-range and premium categories in India.

According to a report by Moneycontrol, brands such as Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, and Xiaomi have instituted price increases ranging from ₹500 to ₹2,000 on select models.

These adjustments materialized post-festive shopping season, with companies attributing the hikes to inflated component costs, supply chain disruptions, and the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar, among other factors.

Driving Forces Behind the Price Increases

The recent price escalations are largely attributed to the global surge in memory component costs, particularly in the DRAM and NAND flash sectors.

Manufacturers are realigning their production capacities to prioritize high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips essential for AI hardware, including critical units of graphics and data center systems utilizing generative AI technology.

This shift has tightened the availability of memory modules for smartphones, compelling manufacturers to either absorb the augmented expenses or pass them to consumers. The budget and mid-tier mobile phone segments are the most adversely affected.

Brand-Specific Revisions in Pricing

Below is a summary of how major smartphone brands have altered their pricing in India:

Retail sources have confirmed to Moneycontrol that Oppo’s new pricing took effect on November 2, while Vivo and Samsung have also initiated their respective price increases.

Additionally, Samsung has eliminated the in-box charger—valued at approximately ₹1,000—from the Galaxy A17 packaging, thus increasing the overall cost to consumers.

Potential Future Price Hikes for Premium Smartphones

The present price adjustments may not be confined to mid-range devices. The Moneycontrol report indicates that forthcoming flagship models could face increases of up to ₹6,000.

Potentially affected lineups may encompass:

• Oppo Find X9 series
• Vivo X300 series
• Xiaomi 17 lineup
• Redmi Note series

Ongoing component shortages, coupled with rising manufacturing expenses, are projected to persist well into 2026, exerting additional pressure on both brands and consumers.

Industry Responses to Price Adjustments

In light of these developments, Xiaomi released a statement recognizing the ramifications of escalating component costs:

“The recent AI supercycle has instigated an industry-wide escalation in memory costs. In accordance with our commitment to transparent pricing, we are closely monitoring market trends to ensure that users can access pioneering innovations without significant financial repercussions.”

Furthermore, Xiaomi cautioned that broader price adjustments may loom in 2026, albeit with intentions to “exercise caution” to safeguard consumer affordability.

Separately, Oppo purportedly informed retail partners that component prices have been on the rise since August 2025, with supply chain challenges likely to prolong into next year.

The brand characterized its pricing adjustments as essential for maintaining “uninterrupted delivery and business stability.”

Digit has reached out to Samsung, Oppo, and OnePlus India for formal statements regarding these pricing changes, with anticipation of updates forthcoming.

Concluding Remarks

The smartphone marketplace in India is entering a phase characterized by elevated costs, as global supply limitations and AI-driven demand reshape component pricing dynamics.

While companies like Xiaomi endeavor to mitigate the impact on consumers, escalating input expenses hint at the likelihood of even higher prices in 2026—particularly for flagship models.

For those eyeing mid-range devices, acting sooner rather than later may yield savings of several thousand rupees.

Source link: Thedailyjagran.com.