Xiaomi just published its results for the third quarter, and the company is also warning that global memory chip prices will drive smartphone prices up.
Memory is getting more expensive because of the AI bubble/boom (pick which one you want/believe in). Memory makers like Samsung are deprioritizing memory production for phones, since the data center market for AI is where the money’s at right now.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
According to Xiaomi President Lu Weibing, all of this means next year’s smartphones will be even more expensive than this year’s. “I expect pressure to be much heavier next year than this year. Overall, consumers are likely to see a sizeable rise in product retail prices. Some of the pressure may have to be addressed through price hikes, but price increases alone won’t be enough to digest it”, he said.
So the relentless upward trend of smartphone pricing is not going to stop, reverse, or even slow in 2026. Every device will be getting more expensive, again – that is, of course, if Lu’s predictions come true. We hope they won’t, but look at where smartphone prices are today compared to a few years ago and you’ll understand why we’re not holding our breath.
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