Leading Chinese smartphone brands, including Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have announced plans to raise prices for their devices starting in March 2026. The main reason cited is a significant increase in the cost of memory chips and other components, which is putting pressure on production costs.

According to media reports, the price hike could become one of the largest in recent years in the mobile device market. The increase will affect both budget and premium models.

Why smartphone prices are rising

The key factor is the rising cost of memory chips (DRAM and NAND), which account for a substantial portion of a smartphone’s overall cost. Demand for memory is growing due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence and increasing needs of data centers, while supply remains limited. This has led to shortages and higher component prices for electronics manufacturers worldwide.

Analysts describe the situation as a “memory crunch,” which is already affecting smartphone production costs. Even companies with global supply chains are being forced to adjust retail prices upward.