Smartphone Prices in India Could Rise in Coming Months, Due to Increase in Component Costs

Sales of smartphones have increased in the last few months. However, due to increase in the cost of an important component used in them, smartphones may become expensive in the coming months. In the second quarter of this year, the price of 5G smartphones priced below Rs 10,000 may be more affected.

According to a media report, the cost of memory chips used in smartphones sold in the country may increase. Memory chip makers Samsung and Micron of South Korea may increase the price of their DRAM chips by 20 percent in the current quarter. Quoting an executive associated with this industry, it has been said in this report that due to this, smartphones may become expensive in the coming quarter. The recent reduction in duty on smartphone components may reduce the increase in prices. Apart from this, smartphone makers can control costs by reducing the memory configuration in new smartphones.

Smartphone shipments in the country have increased by about 25 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. China's Xiaomi has reached the first position in this market with 18 percent share. Xiaomi has got the advantage of introducing smartphones in the low price category in the 5G segment with Redmi 13C. Vivo, another Chinese smartphone maker, has retained the second position.

After being at the first rank in this market for four consecutive quarters, Samsung has fallen to the third position. Chinese smartphone companies Realme and Oppo are ranked fourth and fifth respectively. Market research firm Counterpoint reports that 5G smartphones priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 accounted for 24 percent of total smartphone shipments. There has been a growth of 51 percent in the premium smartphone segment. American devices company Apple has secured the first position in this segment with 17 percent share. The company has benefited from the launch of iPhone 15 series. Samsung has suffered a setback and is in third place with 16.8 percent market share. China's Realme has secured fourth position with 11 percent market share.