Buying a new smartphone could become more expensive in the coming months. Rising memory and chipset costs are putting pressure on smartphone manufacturers, and several major brands have already increased the prices of selected models.
Realme, Oppo, Vivo, Samsung and OnePlus have reportedly revised prices on some of their smartphones. The increases come at a time when consumers are already becoming more cautious about spending on new devices.
Which Smartphone Brands Have Increased Prices?
Realme has reportedly increased prices on several models by around ₹1,000 to ₹4,000 since August 18.
Oppo has also raised prices on selected Reno and A-series smartphones, with some models becoming up to ₹5,000 more expensive.
Vivo has increased the prices of certain smartphones by approximately ₹500 to ₹4,000 in some markets.
Samsung has revised prices for selected models across its S, M and F series. In one case, a Galaxy S25 variant has reportedly become ₹12,000 more expensive.
OnePlus has also increased prices on some smartphones by around ₹2,000 to ₹4,000.
The companies' price revisions come amid higher component costs, particularly for memory. OnePlus has also indicated that rising industry costs, including memory prices, are contributing to the recent adjustments.
Smartphone Prices Could Rise Further
The price increases may not be over yet.
According to IDC research cited in reports, rising memory costs had already contributed to an increase of around 15% in average smartphone prices by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Industry analysts expect prices could increase by another 7% to 10% in the coming months if memory and other component costs continue to rise.
For consumers, this could mean that upcoming smartphone launches may also arrive with higher starting prices than comparable models launched earlier.
Buyers Are Becoming More Price-Conscious
Higher smartphone prices are already influencing consumer behaviour.
Smartphone sales between April and July 2026 reportedly remained below the levels seen during the same period last year. Major online shopping events provided a temporary boost, but sales weakened again after the promotional periods ended.
This suggests that many consumers are becoming more dependent on discounts and waiting for major sales before upgrading their phones.
The affected smartphone models reportedly saw an average price increase of around ₹3,200 between April and July.
Discounts Could Become More Important During the Festive Season
The upcoming festive season could provide some relief for smartphone buyers.
Brands are expected to introduce discounts, exchange offers, financing schemes and new smartphone launches to attract customers. These offers could help offset some of the impact of higher retail prices.
However, affordability is expected to remain a major concern. Analysts anticipate that India's smartphone market could contract in 2026, although the second half of the year may perform better as festive shopping encourages consumers to replace older devices.
Should You Buy a Phone Now?
If you are planning to replace your smartphone soon, it may be worth comparing current prices with upcoming festive offers rather than making a purchase solely because of the latest price hike.
For buyers who do not need a new phone immediately, waiting for major sale events could potentially bring better discounts. On the other hand, if a particular model has already received a price increase and you find it at a good current price, delaying the purchase could carry the risk of further price revisions.
With memory and component costs continuing to influence the market, smartphone buyers may need to pay closer attention to discounts, exchange offers and launch pricing before choosing their next device.
