Smartphones in 2026 have already become noticeably more expensive. Unfortunately, there is every reason to believe that this is not the limit. Russian mobile operators have sent a proposal to the Ministry of Digital Development that could add several hundred rubles to the cost of each new device. We’re talking about a fee for registering a phone’s IMEI in a national database. Let’s examine what this all means and who will be affected.

Expecting a new reason for smartphone price increases

Phone IMEI — What Is It

A smartphone’s IMEI is a unique 15-digit identifier that the manufacturer assigns to each device at the factory. Two identical copies of the same smartphone will have different IMEIs. It is impossible to change it without special equipment, and in most countries, doing so is a criminal offense.

IMEI data is used not only by mobile operators to identify a device on the network. Banks check it when logging into mobile apps: they use it to verify that the client hasn’t swapped their SIM card or changed devices suspiciously fast. Police use the identifier to search for stolen phones. IMEI verification allows you to find out whether a specific device is listed in stolen device databases or operator blacklists.

IMEI verification allows you to learn a lot about a smartphone

Finding out your Android IMEI is very simple: dial *#06# on your phone and the code will appear on the screen. It is also listed on the box and in the “About Phone” section in settings.

IMEI Database for Phones in Russia

Major Russian mobile operators have proposed to the Ministry of Digital Development to create a national IMEI database in Russia and make registration mandatory. The essence of the initiative: every smartphone imported into the country must be entered into a unified registry. Devices not in the database will be unable to connect to any Russian network.

The initiative has two goals. The first is combating gray imports. Currently, a significant portion of smartphones are imported without paying customs duties, which undermines legitimate retailers. A unified registry will allow blocking such devices. According to the operators’ own calculations, legitimizing imports will bring the budget approximately 30 billion rubles in tax payments.

Smartphones from AliExpress will also become more expensive

The second goal is financial support for the industry. Operators want to direct revenues from IMEI registration into a special fund for network development and infrastructure import substitution. The industry is heavily indebted, and investing in replacing Western equipment at a key interest rate of 20% is practically impossible. An important question remains: will Russia disable smartphones that are not in the IMEI database? There is no clear answer yet. This is what concerns owners of devices purchased abroad or through gray channels the most. Similar databases are already operating in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and several other countries. There, smartphones without registration do indeed stop working on networks.

IMEI Registration Fee in Russia

There are no official figures yet — the bill has not been passed, and specific amounts have not been approved. But benchmarks from neighboring countries already exist, and they are illustrative. How much a paid IMEI registration costs in CIS countries:

  • Uzbekistan: approximately 515 rubles per device, in effect since August 2025;
  • Kazakhstan: approximately 630 rubles in 2025 and approximately 700 rubles in 2026, in effect since March 2026;
  • In both cases, registration was free during the first months after introduction.

Experts surveyed by Izvestia believe that in Russia the amount will be comparable. According to Karen Kazaryan, director of the Internet Research Institute, regardless of who is formally required to pay (the buyer, importer, or seller), the costs will ultimately be included in the device’s price. That is, the IMEI registration fee will effectively fall on the end buyer.

Market analyst Leonid Konik puts it bluntly: the economic rationale for this fee is unclear. For an operator, entering a code into the database is simply filling in a field in a system, with virtually no additional costs. The result is something between a tax and an excise duty on every smartphone.

When Will IMEI Fees Be Introduced in Russia

There’s no need to rush to conclusions. IMEI registration in 2026 will not begin in Russia. The bill is only at the first reading stage in the State Duma. The Ministry of Digital Development has officially confirmed that the issue is being worked on, but it is premature to talk about details.

If not this year, then next year the database will be operational

A realistic scenario: if the bill passes all readings and is adopted in 2026, technical implementation and a transition period will take several more months. By analogy with Kazakhstan, where two months of free registration were given after the law was passed, Russia will likely also have a grace period.

IMEI in 2026 is still an initiative, not a law. But the direction is clear. Smartphones continue to get more expensive for many reasons, and IMEI in Russia as a mandatory paid procedure could become yet another line item on that list.