Buying a OnePlus or Oppo phone? Prices may rise next week

Planning to buy a new Oppo or OnePlus smartphone soon? You may want to act quickly. Oppo has announced that it will increase the prices of several smartphones starting next week, blaming rising component costs linked to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The move highlights how the global push to build AI systems is beginning to affect everyday consumer technology. Here is the in-depth analysis on increasing smartphone prices in 2026 by Firstpost.

As companies invest heavily in AI data centres, the demand for key components such as memory and storage has surged, pushing up costs for device makers.

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According to a report by Gizmochina, Oppo confirmed that price adjustments will take effect on Monday, March 16. The increase will apply to a number of existing devices in its lineup and may also impact some OnePlus models.

Oppo to raise prices for select devices

Oppo’s announcement indicates that several of its budget-focused smartphones will see price increases in the Chinese market. The adjustment mainly targets models in the company’s A-series and K-series ranges, which are designed to offer affordable options for everyday users.

However, the price changes will not affect Oppo’s higher-end devices. The company confirmed that its Find and Reno series smartphones will remain unchanged, and its Oppo Pad tablets are also excluded from the upcoming adjustments.

In addition to Oppo-branded phones, the company said the pricing changes will extend to certain OnePlus devices as well, although it did not specify which models will be affected.

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For now, the adjustments appear limited to China. Still, industry observers say similar increases could eventually reach other markets, including the United States and India, if component prices continue to rise.

Budget smartphones are particularly vulnerable to cost fluctuations because they are typically sold with smaller profit margins. Unlike premium devices, manufacturers have little room to absorb rising component costs, which means price increases are more likely to be passed directly to customers.

AI boom pushing up memory prices

The main factor behind the price hike is the growing demand for memory components driven by artificial intelligence development.

AI companies have been purchasing large quantities of RAM and storage hardware to build the data centres that power cloud-based AI models and applications. As demand has surged, supply has struggled to keep pace, triggering a sharp rise in component prices.

This competition for memory chips has created a ripple effect across the electronics industry. Manufacturers of smartphones, tablets, and gaming handhelds are now facing higher production costs as they compete for the same components used in AI infrastructure.

Recent reports suggest that the shortage has already led to significant increases in the price of RAM and storage. These components represent a larger share of the cost structure in lower-priced devices, making the impact especially severe for entry-level and mid-range smartphones.

Industry forecasts indicate that the pressure on component supply could also affect overall smartphone sales. One projection suggests that the global smartphone market may shrink by nearly 13 per cent this year as rising costs discourage some consumers from upgrading their devices.

The trend has not gone unnoticed among industry leaders. Earlier this year, Nothing chief executive Carl Pei warned that smartphone prices were likely to climb as component costs increase. The company’s own Nothing Phone 4a and Phone 4a Pro launched with higher prices compared with their predecessors.

For consumers considering an upgrade, the situation may create an unusual incentive to buy sooner rather than later. With AI infrastructure expanding rapidly and component supply under strain, smartphone prices could continue rising in the months ahead.

As a result, the next few weeks could be an important window for buyers hoping to secure a new device before the broader impact of the AI-driven hardware boom reaches store shelves.