At the beginning of 2026, it became abundantly clear that rising smartphone prices are no longer a one-time event but a new reality. After news of OPPO and OnePlus price increases, many hoped the market would calm down, but that didn’t happen. Manufacturers continue to update their price lists, which is why the question of whether smartphones will get more expensive in 2026 keeps coming up, and whether it’s worth buying a new device now before prices climb even higher. A fresh supply chain leak shows that prices are set to rise again, and this time the changes will affect two more popular brands.
Two more brands have announced smartphone price increases. Image: TechHook
Which Smartphones Will Get More Expensive
According to Chinese sources, the manufacturer sent partners a notification about price adjustments for devices that will be shipped in upcoming batches. The document explicitly states that the price increase will affect vivo and iQOO smartphones, and it concerns several models at once. This means it’s not a one-off action or a price hike on a single version, but a full-scale price change across the lineup.
Dear user:
Thank you for your continued choice and trust in vivo and iQOO. Due to the ongoing sharp rise in global semiconductor and storage prices, after careful evaluation, we will adjust the recommended retail prices for some products.
The price increases will hit mid-range and upper-segment devices the hardest. These models feature more memory and more expensive components, so they react fastest to changes in production costs. As a result, some devices may move into a category where expensive smartphones are already sold, even though they were previously considered quite affordable options. The devices currently at risk include:
- new mid-range models;
- flagship iQOO versions;
- smartphones with large storage capacities;
- configurations with 12–16 GB of RAM;
- versions with 512 GB storage and above.
Manufacturers are warning partners in advance because they can no longer maintain previous prices for devices with large memory capacities and powerful hardware. That’s why new shipments are now more expensive than previous ones.
When Will Smartphones Get More Expensive
The notification specifies an exact date when the new prices take effect. The price increase is scheduled for March 18, 2026, and suppliers were notified in advance so they could recalculate shipment costs. Typically, after such letters, changes appear in stores fairly quickly, even if no official announcement is made.
Buyers may not notice the increase on the same day, but new shipments almost always arrive at the updated price. A similar situation recently occurred with Xiaomi, so this news looks like a continuation of the overall trend affecting smartphone prices in 2026 across the entire market, not just one manufacturer.
How Much Will vivo and iQOO Prices Increase
The price growth will be spread over time. Image: UpStreamCharlie
Exact figures depend on the model, but the document mentions an increase of several percent. On paper, this doesn’t look too serious, but in practice, even a small addition is noticeable, especially for expensive versions with large storage. The higher the configuration, the more the final smartphone price changes. According to preliminary data, the increase could be:
- around 3–5% for base models;
- up to 8% for versions with larger storage;
- up to 10% for flagship devices.
Because manufacturers raise prices at different times, it creates the impression that smartphones are constantly getting more expensive. Users barely get used to the new price tags before another price increase is announced.
Why Are Smartphones Getting More Expensive
The main reason is a memory market crisis that began at the end of 2025. Manufacturers faced rising costs for RAM modules and built-in storage, which account for a large portion of modern device production costs. The more memory a smartphone has, the more it’s affected by component price increases.
Samsung price increases were previously reported, and now the same problem has hit vivo smartphones as well as iQOO devices. Suppliers note that memory costs continue to rise, forcing companies to revise their price lists to avoid operating at a loss.
If the situation doesn’t change, price increases may continue further. In that case, new models will launch at higher prices than their predecessors, and buyers will have to get used to the fact that even the mid-range segment is gradually approaching the price level where only flagships used to be sold.
