Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Samsung May Raise India Smartphone Prices as Cost Pressures Grow
Samsung may make many of its phones more expensive in India.
The possible changes could begin in the first week of September.
Samsung’s newest foldable phones could become 8% to 20% more expensive.
The company is facing higher memory-chip costs and a weaker rupee.
Samsung has been paying some of these extra costs itself, but that may become harder.
The company has already increased prices on some cheaper phone series several times.
Expensive phones are still selling relatively well, while cheaper phones are selling less strongly.
Analysts say the Indian market is buying more expensive phones even though fewer phones are being sold overall.
Samsung has not yet officially announced the new prices.
Samsung is reportedly preparing price increases across its India smartphone portfolio from the first week of September.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 could rise by 8% to 20%.
Sources attribute the planned increases to the weakening rupee and sharply higher global memory-chip prices.
Samsung has reportedly raised Galaxy M and F series prices nine times in eight months.
Samsung has not officially confirmed the revised pricing, while analysts say premium demand remains stronger than entry-level demand.
- Who
- Samsung, with analysts and industry sources discussing the planned changes.
- What
- A reported price increase across Samsung’s Indian smartphone portfolio, including budget, mid-range and foldable models.
- When
- The revised prices are expected in the first week of September; the article also cites data for April–June and Q2 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The reported reasons are a weaker rupee and sustained increases in global memory-chip prices.
Analysts and Cost-Absorption View
Price-Pass-Through View
Ability to absorb costs
Analysts and Cost-Absorption View
Analysts say Samsung has more room than most rivals to absorb rising costs before passing them fully to customers.
Price-Pass-Through View
Sources say the weakening rupee and higher memory costs have made it necessary for Samsung to consider broad price increases.
Effect on buyers
Analysts and Cost-Absorption View
Analysts say demand has held up best in mid-range and premium segments, suggesting buyers continue to prioritize higher-value devices.
Price-Pass-Through View
The reported increases could reduce the discounts and upgrade incentives typically available during India’s festive sales season.
Samsung’s position
Analysts and Cost-Absorption View
Samsung’s JB Park said the company had absorbed a large share of this year’s cost increase and kept its hikes smaller than rivals.
Price-Pass-Through View
The planned revisions indicate that Samsung’s ability to continue cushioning customers may be running low; the company has not yet confirmed the changes.
- Expected start
- First week of September
- Potential foldable increase
- 8% to 20%
- Current foldable price range
- Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 2.6 lakh
- Recent Galaxy M and F increases
- Nine price hikes in eight months
- Foldable pre-bookings
- Nearly 2.71 lakh units within 72 hours of launch
- Overall smartphone market
- Shipments contracted 11% in India during the April–June quarter
- Sub-Rs 15,000 segment
- Its market share fell from nearly 46% in Q2 2025 to 27% in Q2 2026, with volumes down 47% year-on-year