
Diwali Sale: Why This Might Not Be The Right Time To Buy A Phone
What Happened?
As Diwali approaches, experts warn that rising smartphone prices and limited discounts may make this a poor time to buy. Higher memory costs are impacting affordability.
Key points
- Smartphone prices in India rose by an average of 16% in the first half of 2026.
- Budget smartphones saw an average price increase of around 32%.
- The average launch price of a smartphone's base variant reached Rs 49,500.
- Rising memory costs are due to increased demand from AI data centers.
- Discounts during Diwali may not reflect true value due to prior price increases.
Key insights
- Consumers may face higher prices without significant upgrades in features.
- Waiting for better deals may not yield lower prices due to ongoing cost pressures.
- Festive discounts may not provide the expected value for money.
Why it matters
Understanding current smartphone pricing trends can help consumers make informed purchasing decisions during the festive season.
Source
Times Now
