Recently, the Weibo topic "Multiple Smartphone Models Officially Increase Prices" topped the trending list, attracting widespread attention. According to reports, several smartphone brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor have raised prices for some of their popular models, covering series such as the Huawei Mate 80, Xiaomi 17, and Honor Power.
Taking the Huawei Mate 80 as an example, the 12GB+256GB version was priced at 5,999 yuan before the adjustment and rose to 6,999 yuan afterward; the 12GB+512GB version increased from 6,499 yuan to 7,499 yuan; and the 16GB+512GB version went up from 6,999 yuan to 7,999 yuan. Some popular models have seen price hikes approaching 1,000 yuan.
Some users in the comments section noted that, currently, only the iPhone 17 series has not followed the trend of price hikes. In response, a blogger pointed out that although the iPhone 17 series has not adjusted its prices, its initial pricing was already high, with the 1TB version costing as much as 14,000 yuan.
Moreover, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series is also expected to see price increases, likely exceeding 1,000 yuan. Therefore, Apple does not possess any so-called cost-performance advantage, as iPhone prices remain at the industry's peak.
It is understood that the significant price increase for smartphones in 2026 is driven by the dual pressure of rising chip and memory costs. TSMC's quote for 2nm wafers has exceeded $30,000, while memory prices have surged even more sharply, with contract prices for 8GB+256GB storage configurations rising nearly 200% year-over-year. The proportion of storage chips in total bill of materials has skyrocketed from 10-15% to over 30%, directly pushing up final retail prices due to cost pressures.
The cost shock has directly impacted shipment expectations. Goldman Sachs has lowered its global smartphone shipment forecast for 2026 by 4%, while Counterpoint's prediction is even more pessimistic, expecting annual shipments to drop to 1.08 billion units, a 13.9% year-on-year decrease, marking the lowest level since 2013.
In summary, the continued surge in memory prices and the persistent decline in shipment volumes are pushing major smartphone manufacturers into a major test regarding product definition and pricing strategies. The core contradiction of this test lies in finding a balance between rising costs and weak market demand. The outcome will profoundly reshape the competitive landscape of the future smartphone market.