Smartphone Prices Rise In India As Global Memory Crisis Hits Buyers
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Realme, Xiaomi, OnePlus among brands increasing prices by up to ₹3,000; even budget phones affected
If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, it may now cost you more. Several leading brands in India have increased prices across models due to a global shortage of memory chips, impacting both budget and premium segments.
Why Prices Are Increasing
The primary reason behind the price hike is a global shortage of memory components like DRAM and NAND, which are essential for RAM and storage in smartphones. Industry data shows that memory chip prices surged by nearly 40–50 per cent in late 2025 and continue to remain high.
This increase has raised manufacturing costs for smartphone companies, forcing them to pass on the burden to consumers.
Which Brands Are Affected
Major smartphone makers including Realme, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and newer brands like AI+ have revised their pricing in India.
Realme has seen one of the widest impacts, with phones priced between ₹10,000 and ₹40,000 becoming costlier. Most models have seen a price increase of around ₹1,000, while some premium variants have gone up by as much as ₹3,000.
Xiaomi’s Redmi series has also been affected. Devices like the Redmi 15 and Redmi Note 15 lineup have seen price hikes ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 depending on the variant, especially for higher RAM and storage options.
OnePlus has increased the price of its OnePlus 15R model by about ₹2,500, pushing premium variants further up in price. The company may revise prices of other models as well in the coming months.
Budget Phones No Longer Cheap
The impact is no longer limited to premium devices. Even entry-level smartphones have become more expensive, with price increases of ₹500 to ₹1,000 across models.
This means that buyers looking for affordable options will also feel the pinch.
What Buyers Should Expect
Experts believe the memory shortage may continue into 2027, as chip manufacturers are prioritising high-demand sectors like AI and data centres over consumer electronics.
As a result, smartphone prices may remain elevated or even increase further in the near future.
For buyers, this could mean making quicker purchase decisions, waiting for discounts, or opting for lower storage variants to manage budgets.
