Mobiles may ring less louder this year: Shipments expected to contract by 4% on-year due to rising prices of parts and forex shocks

New Delhi: Smartphone shipment volumes in India, the world’s second-largest market by users, are expected to decline 4% in 2026 to about 145-147 million units, further worsening from last year’s stagnant performance.

A supply chain shortage resulting in higher component prices, especially memory and storage, along with foreign exchange headwinds, would trigger an increase in handset prices, impacting demand, electronics market researcher IDC told ET.

Higher component costs are already forcing smartphone brands to raise prices, with most implementing a ₹1,500-2,000 increase in existing devices, while introducing newer models at elevated prices.