realme has officially increased smartphone prices in India, with select models now costing up to ₹4,000 more than before. The revised pricing comes into effect on February 11, 2026, and applies to some of the brand’s most popular mid-range devices.
The company has attributed the increase to rising component and ecosystem costs, especially memory modules, chipsets, and broader supply chain expenses. This move places realme among a growing list of smartphone brands adjusting prices as hardware costs continue to climb.
For buyers, this means the window to purchase at older prices has effectively closed.
Which realme phones are affected
The price hike impacts three models across realme’s current lineup. According to official details, the increases are as follows:
- realme 15 5G
- Price increased by ₹3,000
- Targets entry-to-mid 5G buyers
- Previously positioned as a value-first option
- realme 16 Pro 5G
- Price increased by ₹3,000
- Popular for its camera and performance balance
- Now moves closer to upper mid-range pricing
- realme 16 Pro+ 5G
- Price increased by ₹4,000
- Highest hike among the affected models
- Competes directly with premium mid-range devices
The revised prices apply across online and offline channels starting February 11.
Why prices are going up now
realme points to three core reasons behind the adjustment:
- Rising memory costs
- LPDDR RAM and UFS storage prices have increased globally
- Higher-capacity variants are more expensive to produce
- Chipset pricing pressure
- 5G chipsets remain costly, especially with newer fabrication nodes
- AI processing and camera ISPs are adding to silicon complexity
- Ecosystem and compliance costs
- Software support, updates, and ecosystem services now require higher investment
- Regulatory and logistics costs have also increased
This isn’t unique to realme. The broader smartphone industry is facing similar pressures, especially in markets like India where aggressive pricing has historically kept margins thin.
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What this means for buyers
For consumers, the impact is immediate and practical:
- Devices that once sat comfortably under a certain budget may now cross that line
- Buyers comparing value across brands will need to reassess alternatives
- Waiting for discounts may not fully offset the base price increase
At the same time, realme’s move signals that ultra-aggressive pricing in the mid-range may be harder to sustain going forward.
A bigger trend in the Indian smartphone market
This price revision reflects a larger shift happening across the industry:
- Hardware innovation is getting more expensive
- Brands are prioritizing sustainability over razor-thin margins
- Long-term software support and AI features are no longer “free add-ons”
As a result, buyers are likely to see:
- Fewer sudden deep price cuts
- More emphasis on launch pricing holding steady
- Stronger competition based on software and after-sales value
What to do if you’re planning to buy
If you were considering one of the affected models:
- Recheck current pricing before placing an order
- Compare alternatives in the same segment
- Factor in long-term updates, not just upfront cost
Price hikes are becoming structural, not temporary.
Understanding that shift helps buyers make smarter, future-proof decisions.
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