The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S27 series—projected to launch in 2027 with high-end internals like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, Exynos 2700, LPDDR6 RAM, and UFS 5.1 storage—is anticipated to command a higher starting price, with predictions suggesting the base model could begin around ₹1,35,000.
The Core Driver: The Global Memory Crisis
The primary catalyst behind these rising costs is a steep surge in memory component prices. According to Counterpoint reports, memory now accounts for 20% or more of total Bill of Materials (BoM) costs in flagship smartphones.
Unlike previous years where waiting for holiday sales or seasonal discounts meant securing a major bargain, the current market trend is seeing brands raise prices across both upcoming and existing flagships.
Recent Price Hikes Across Major Flagship Series (India)
As manufacturers pass on increased manufacturing and component costs, several popular current-gen series have seen substantial post-launch price hikes:
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Models have climbed by ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. For instance, the Galaxy S26 12/256GB has moved from a ₹87,999 launch price to a revised ₹1,02,999, while the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra has jumped from ₹1,89,999 to ₹2,19,999.
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Apple iPhone 17 & 16 Series: Apple has also reacted to component pressures. The base iPhone 17 is now priced at ₹99,900 (up ₹17,000 from launch), the iPhone Air has risen by ₹30,000 to ₹1,49,900, and even the older iPhone 16 has climbed to ₹89,900.
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Vivo X300 Series: Models like the X300 FE and X300 Pro are currently priced ₹10,000 higher than their initial launch figures.
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OPPO Find X9 Series: The standard Find X9 and Find X9S have seen hikes ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000.
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OnePlus & iQOO 15 Series: Performance-focused lineups haven’t been spared. The OnePlus 15 12/256GB has climbed from ₹72,999 to ₹85,999, while the OnePlus 15R and iQOO 15 equivalents have similarly increased by ₹10,000 to ₹12,000.
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Xiaomi 17 Series: Xiaomi has largely insulated its flagship lineup, though the Xiaomi 17T saw a modest ₹5,000 hike.
Buying Advice
If you are planning to purchase a high-end smartphone, waiting for festive sales or price drops may not yield the expected savings. Because baseline prices are being adjusted upward across the industry to combat the memory crisis, buying sooner rather than later may help you avoid future escalation.
