Rising Memory Chip Costs May Prompt Chinese Smartphone Makers to Lift Prices in March
Major Chinese smartphone manufacturers are poised to increase handset prices in early March due to soaring costs for memory and storage chips. According to supply chain sources, after reaching a low point in the second half of 2024, mobile memory and storage chip prices have risen for several consecutive quarters, with the rate of increase accelerating at the start of 2026. Procurement costs for these components are now more than 80% higher than they were a year ago, with no immediate signs of stabilization. Industry insiders, including channel partners and original design manufacturers (ODMs), report that leading brands such as Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, iQOO, and Honor are preparing for this new round of price adjustments. If executed, this move would represent the most significant and broadest collective price increase in the industry in nearly five years. Furthermore, frequent fluctuations in memory costs could lead to multiple price hikes within a single year in China, a scenario not seen before. This development highlights the intense pressure hardware manufacturers face from volatile component markets, potentially impacting consumer affordability and market dynamics in the region.
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Rising Memory Chip Costs May Prompt Chinese Smartphone Makers to Lift Prices in March
Major Chinese smartphone manufacturers are poised to increase handset prices in early March due to soaring costs for memory and storage chips. According to supply chain sources, after reaching a low point in the second half of 2024, mobile memory and storage chip prices have risen for several consecutive quarters, with the rate of increase accelerating at the start of 2026. Procurement costs for these components are now more than 80% higher than they were a year ago, with no immediate signs of stabilization. Industry insiders, including channel partners and original design manufacturers (ODMs), report that leading brands such as Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, iQOO, and Honor are preparing for this new round of price adjustments. If executed, this move would represent the most significant and broadest collective price increase in the industry in nearly five years. Furthermore, frequent fluctuations in memory costs could lead to multiple price hikes within a single year in China, a scenario not seen before. This development highlights the intense pressure hardware manufacturers face from volatile component markets, potentially impacting consumer affordability and market dynamics in the region.
TechNode