Smartphone prices have been increasing for some time and now less affordable phones are being launched. The same trend is going to remain next year also and it will become difficult to buy a smartphone. Counter Point Research’s report says that less affordable and mid-range smartphones will be launched in 2026, due to which people will have to pay more to buy new phones. Let us know why companies are stopping launching low cost phones.
Smartphone sales will decline in 2026
Counterpoint has estimated that smartphone sales will decline in 2026 and global shipments may decline by 2.1 percent. The biggest reason behind this is the expensiveness of the components. Due to expensive components, the cost of making smartphones is increasing for companies and this will have a direct impact on the price of the phone, which the customers will have to pay.
Cheap models are most affected
The biggest impact of cost increase will be on models priced below US $ 200 (about Rs 18,000). Counter Point says that the cost of making these phones has increased by 20-30 percent since the beginning of this year. In such a situation, now companies are left with no other option except increasing their prices. If the price is increased, customers from the budget segment will not buy them. Therefore, companies are now holding back from launching cheap models.
Expensive phones also affected
Along with budget, mid-range and premium phones have also been affected by rising costs and now it is becoming 15-20 percent more expensive for companies to make them. The main reason for the increase in cost here is the shortage and skyrocketing prices of memory chips. Due to AI, the production of consumer memory chips has reduced and their prices may increase by 40 percent by the second half of 2026. Due to this, the cost of companies may increase further by 8-15 percent.
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