China's smartphone prices surge across all brands as memory chip shortage deepens costs; Apple's budget iPhone intensifies pressure on local makers

Steep price hikes hit China's smartphone market as memory crunch deepens

ElectronicsApple's new budget iPhone adds to pressure on Chinese brandsChina's smartphone makers are facing a memory chip crunch and price pressure from a new cheaper iPhone. © ReutersCISSY ZHOU, CHENG-TING FANG and LAULY LIMarch 6, 2026 10:44 JSTTOKYO -- China's smartphone market is seeing one of its biggest and widest price hikes ever, affecting almost all brands and product categories, as a deepening memory chip shortage pushes up costs.Read NextCompaniesChina's Xiaomi to take Leica smartphon...