In 2026, the Android market is facing serious changes, and not all of them are positive. Due to a memory crisis caused by the rapid development of AI, smartphone prices are expected to rise. Reading such news makes you want to buy a new model as quickly as possible before the price skyrockets. But in reality, it’s not that scary. No matter how expensive new releases are at launch, smartphones lose value quickly. Why and which ones exactly — we explain in this article.
Many smartphones get cheaper, not more expensive. Image: Parker Burton
Why Smartphones Get Cheaper
The decline in smartphone prices is caused by several reasons that are generally relevant to the entire electronics market:
- Technological advancement. Built-in components are constantly improving, and their previous versions become cheaper, leading to price drops.
- Model lineup updates. Every year, or even every 6 months, manufacturers release new models, causing older ones to drop in price.
- Competition in the Android market. New smartphones come out literally every day, so manufacturers that have already released new models try to adapt to the realities imposed by competitors.
- Inflated launch prices. Initially, a safety margin is built into the smartphone’s price, allowing the manufacturer to offer discounts and promotions.
In other words, a smartphone’s price drop is not something out of science fiction but an objective reality. Moreover, the decline sometimes reaches 50% of the initial price or even more.
How Quickly Do Smartphones Lose Value
Essentially, smartphones start losing value right after launch. However, a lot depends on the success of a particular model. If the manufacturer manages to “skim the cream” from early buyers and sales go well, the decline happens more slowly.
As a rule, the price drop peaks when a new model is released, meaning about a year after the original launch. However, the price becomes reasonable within 3-6 months after release, when the initial hype dies down even around successful and popular smartphones.
Smartphones with the Biggest Price Drops in 2026
Mid-range smartphones and flagships lose value the most. This is due to their marginality, meaning the initial markup. It is much higher than in the case of budget smartphones. Devices from lesser-known manufacturers also see significant price drops, since without brand recognition they often fail to sell even their initial batches. In 2026, the following models saw notable price drops:
- CMF Phone 2 Pro:
24,000 ₽=> 16,000 ₽; - POCO X7 Pro:
31,000 ₽=> 19,500 ₽; - HUAWEI Pura 80:
69,990 ₽=> 43,000 ₽; - Nothing Phone (3):
72,000 ₽=> 47,500 ₽; - Galaxy S25 Ultra:
159,990 ₽=> 89,000 ₽.
In some cases, the price drop reaches 50%, although this is not a common occurrence. Typically, smartphones lose 20-30% of their value, but that is already enough to consider making a purchase.
