Smartphone Price Hikes: Xiaomi, Samsung, and Apple Raise the Bar

The smartphone market is seeing a shift. Xiaomi has decided to increase the price of its upcoming Xiaomi 17 Ultra by about 10%. This move is not just about Xiaomi. Samsung is also planning a similar price increase for its Galaxy S26 series and the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 models. Apple might follow suit. The reason? The cost of DRAM chips is going up. These chips are crucial for smartphones, especially with the rise of AI features. Xiaomi's new flagship phone will launch in China at 6, 999 yuan, which is about $996. That's a significant jump from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's starting price of 6, 499 yuan. Globally, the price will be even higher. This price hike is not a surprise. The president of Xiaomi Group, Lu Weibing, had hinted at this earlier. He mentioned that securing memory chip supplies for 2026 would come at a cost. It seems that cost is being passed on to consumers.Samsung has already decided to raise prices by around 10% for its upcoming phones. This includes the Galaxy S26 series and the foldable phones, Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Apple might also increase prices, but they haven't confirmed anything yet. The question is, will consumers be willing to pay more for these smartphones? With technology advancing rapidly, people might have to get used to paying higher prices for the latest gadgets.