Planning to buy a new smartphone? Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, Redmi hike prices; check latest rates

If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, this update could directly hit your budget. Prices across major brands such as Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and Redmi have increased, with entry-level 5G smartphones now costing around Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 12,000 earlier. That is a straight jump of about Rs 3,000, or nearly 10 per cent. Inputs from Zee Business indicate that the price hike is not limited to a few models but is visible across segments, especially in budget and mid-range devices.

Budget 5G smartphones see sharp jump

Brand-wise price hike: Here is how prices have changed across key brands:

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Oppo

• Reno 15C: Rs 38,000 - Rs 42,000 (up Rs 4,000)
• A6 Pro: Rs 18,000 - Rs 27,000 (up to Rs 9,000)

Realme

• 16 Pro Plus: Rs 42,000 - Rs 44,000 (up Rs 2,000)
• 15T: Rs 20,000 - Rs 26,000 (up Rs 6,000)

Redmi

• Redmi Note 15: Rs 23,000 - Rs 25,000 (up Rs 2,000)
• Redmi 15C: up by around Rs 1,500

Samsung

• Galaxy A17: Rs 19,500 - Rs 21,500 (up Rs 2,000)
• Galaxy A36: Rs 32,500 - Rs 34,000 (up Rs 1,500)

Vivo

• Vivo Y400: Rs 21,000 - Rs 28,000 (up to Rs 7,000)
• Vivo Y31: Rs 15,000 - Rs 19,000 (up Rs 4,000)

Why are smartphone prices rising?

The main reason is a sharp rise in memory chip prices, which have increased by up to 30 per cent globally. These chips are among the most expensive components used in smartphones.

Other key factors include:

• Global geopolitical tensions
• Supply chain disruptions
• Rising logistics and shipping costs
• Import cost pressures and currency impact

Manufacturers are no longer able to absorb these costs, so the burden is being passed directly to consumers.

Laptop, fridge and TV also costlier now

The price pressure is visible across electronics categories:

Fridge (10–12 per cent increase)

• Single door: Rs 14,000–15,000 - Rs 16,000–17,000
• Double door: Rs 22,000 - Rs 25,500

Washing machine (10–12 per cent increase)

• Fully automatic: Rs 16,000 → Rs 19,000
• Semi-automatic: Rs 12,000–13,500 → Rs 13,500–15,000

TV (Sony)

• 43-inch: Rs 45,000 → Rs 53,000
• 98-inch: Rs 5.6 lakh → Rs 5.8 lakh

Laptop (15–20 per cent increase)

• Entry-level: Rs 27,000 → Rs 34,000

Induction demand drops sharply, sales return to normal levels

After a brief surge driven by LPG-related concerns, demand for induction cooktops has cooled significantly and is now back to normal levels. Retailers say the spike seen earlier was temporary, and over the past 10 days, demand has dropped by nearly 80 per cent.

During the peak phase, when LPG availability and pricing were a concern, induction cooktops saw unusually high demand. Retailers were selling around 20 to 25 units daily as consumers rushed to secure alternative cooking options. Now, with the situation stabilising, that urgency has eased. Daily sales have fallen to just two to five units, which is considered normal for this category. Retailers say the current demand reflects routine, need-based purchases rather than panic buying.