2026 is already shaping up to be a bad year to buy a new smartphone

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Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority


TL;DR

• A new Counterpoint Research report predicts that smartphone prices will rise in 2026, with average selling prices increasing by as much as 6.9% as memory costs surge.
• The same report points to shrinking shipments and higher manufacturing costs, pushing smartphone makers to potentially cut specs like RAM and limit budget options.
• For consumers, this means phones launching next year will be pricier while offering fewer meaningful upgrades.

If you’ve been waiting patiently to upgrade your phone in 2026, hoping the next generation of devices will be faster, cheaper, or offer better value, we’ve got some bad news for you. Smartphones will most likely get more expensive and less featureful in the coming year compared to what you can buy today.




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