India’s smartphone business may have lost an old festive-season weapon

For years, consumers have timed their smartphone purchases to coincide with the festive season, when they could count on some of the year’s deepest discounts and best deals. This year, however, the equation could look quite different.

As the cost of memory and other key components rises, smartphone makers may have less room to absorb higher expenses, leaving the industry in a difficult position just as shoppers begin looking for festive buys.