Smartphone prices rise 15% globally amid rising component costs

Global smartphone retail prices have increased by an average of 15% in 2026 due to rising costs for memory and other components, according to a report by Counterpoint Research. For newly released models, the average price increase is approximately 25% compared to the same period in 2025.

Price hikes vary significantly by region. The most substantial increases were observed in India (21%), the Asia-Pacific region (19%), the Middle East and Africa (18%), and Latin America (16%). In contrast, markets with higher proportions of premium models saw more moderate increases, including China (10%), Europe (7%), and the United States (5%).

To mitigate rising costs, manufacturers are employing several strategies, such as reducing storage capacities, simplifying camera configurations, and reintroducing 4G models in certain price segments. In price-sensitive markets like India, there is a notable shift toward the secondary market; refurbished smartphone sales in India rose by 13% in the first half of 2026, while new device sales fell by 11%. Samsung and Apple lead the refurbished market in India with 30% and 23% market shares, respectively.

Analysts predict that price pressures will continue for several quarters. While Apple has maintained current pricing for the iPhone, the upcoming iPhone 18 series is expected to face upward price pressure due to memory costs, which have reportedly quadrupled since late 2025.