India smartphone prices rise 16% as market braces for double-digit decline
Average selling prices rose 16% year over year in H1 2026, reaching a record $318 in Q2 as shipments weakened. OnePlus reportedly limited price increases to 8% and is forecast to grow 5% year over year.
The brand move
India's smartphone market saw average selling prices rise 16% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, reaching a record USD 318 in the second quarter of 2026 as shipments weakened. OnePlus limited its price increase to 8 per cent and is forecast to grow 5 per cent YoY, while the overall market is expected to shrink by double digits.
Also reported by The Hindu BusinessLine (thehindubusinessline.com), Financial Express · BrandWagon (financialexpress.com)
The numbers
- 16% year-over-year
- first half of 2026
- USD 318
- second quarter of 2026
- double digits
Why it matters for the brand
With India smartphone ASPs up 16% as shipments weaken, prioritize affordable offerings; OnePlus’s more limited 8% price increases and forecast 5% growth suggest restraint may support demand.
What to track next
- Monthly smartphone shipments and sell-through, especially in budget and mid-range tiers
- Retailer inventory levels, discount depth, and the gap between wholesale shipments and consumer sales
- Component costs and whether brands implement further price increases or absorb costs
- OnePlus sell-through and market-share gains relative to its forecast 5% growth
- Financing, exchange, and promotional activity around major sales periods
The counter-case
A 16% rise in average selling prices does not necessarily mean brands broadly raised like-for-like prices: currency effects, component costs, and a shift toward premium models could explain much of the change. With shipments weakening, higher ASPs may reflect consumers buying fewer but more expensive phones rather than healthy demand. The double-digit market decline is a forecast, while OnePlus's 5% growth is also reportedly a forecast and could reflect share gains in a shrinking market.