As pressure builds across the global smartphone supply chain, brands are adjusting pricing strategies to manage rising production costs driven by expensive components.
Vivo and its sub-brand iQOO are set to increase the prices of their smartphones across multiple lineups in China. The revised pricing is expected to come into effect on March 18 at 10:00 am local time (7:30 am IST). While specific models have not been disclosed, the company said updated prices will be reflected on its website for “specific models”.
The decision follows a continued rise in semiconductor and memory component costs, including DRAM and NAND. The company reportedly stated that the move is aimed at offsetting increasing manufacturing expenses.
This development reflects a broader industry trend. Several smartphone makers, including Samsung and Realme, are also considering price hikes in markets like India due to similar cost pressures. Earlier, Oppo and OnePlus were reported to have revised smartphone prices in China as well.
The impact is not limited to China. Reports suggest that Vivo and iQOO may also increase prices of upcoming devices in India, including the Vivo T4 series and iQOO Z10 lineup. These mid-range smartphones could see a price increase of up to ₹2,500 while retaining the same specifications.
A key factor behind the rising costs is the growing demand for AI technologies. Increased adoption of AI has significantly boosted the need for GPUs, NAND, DRAM, and other memory components. To support this demand, major AI firms are investing heavily in data centres for training and cloud processing.
As a result, component manufacturers are redirecting supply towards AI-driven infrastructure. At the same time, OEMs are focusing more on producing high-bandwidth memory (HBM), further tightening supply for traditional smartphone components.
With costs continuing to rise, smartphone pricing across global markets may remain under pressure in the near term.
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