Smartphone sales fall 9% on rising memory prices

NEW DELHI: India’s smartphone sales declined 9% on-year in the first nine weeks of 2026, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research. The slowdown was mainly driven by rising memory component costs, coupled with typical softness in demand seen at the start of the year.

The research firm said rising memory costs have led Android handset brands to raise prices on existing models, while new products are also being introduced at higher prices. Until the first week of March, more than eight brands had already increased prices of their existing handsets, with an average hike of Rs 1,500 which is expected to rise further, the research firm said.