After the Motorola Signature unexpected hike in Finland, the news of Realme price hike is surfacing. Yes, the OPPO’s sub-brand – Realme is planning to revise its pricing. There are reports that Realme is gearing up to revise smartphone pricing in India. The latest leaks suggest that the increased cost of components and ecosystem is the main reason behind the unexpected price hike of Realme phone models in India.
Well, the brand has not yet officially confirmed anything about the price hike. However, a leaked partner notice indicates that several popular Realme models could soon see price hikes. Keep reading this post to know which all Realme models are expected to see the price hike and what are the possible causes. Let’s get started…
Realme Models to See Price Rise
Realme, the sub-brand of Oppo, is likely to increase the prices of some of its models (not all phone models, of course). According to the latest leaks, the Realme 15 5G and Realme 16 Pro 5G lineup is expected to have increased prices in the Indian market. The information was first reported by tipster Abhishek Yadav on X (previously Twitter) regarding a leaked partner notice. If rumors are to be believed, the notice pertaining to price hike has already been sent to retail partners that suggests that new pricing could come into effect from February 11.
Expected revised pricing based on leaked details include:
The Realme 15 5G and Realme 16 Pro 5G models may see price increases of around ₹3,000 to ₹4000 across different variants. Previously the 8GB + 128GB model was priced at ₹25,999 and according to the leaks, the new pricing would be ₹28,999.
Besides that, the higher-end Realme 16 Pro+ 5G lineup is also likely to receive a price hike (which is expected to be larger). The flagship lineup is expected to see a price hike of approximately ₹ 4,000. Based on the leaks, the new price for the 8GB + 256GB variant of standard Realme 16 5G would be available at ₹30,999, earlier it was priced at ₹27,999. While the 12GB + 256GB variant would cost around ₹32,999, which was previously priced at ₹29,999.
Realme 16 Pro 5G’s 8GB + 128GB variant will now be priced at ₹34,999 (seeing approximately ₹3000 increase, i.e., ₹31,999). The 8GB + 256GB variant will cost ₹36,999, increased from ₹33,999 and the new price for 12GB + 256GB variant would be ₹39,999, previously ₹36,999.
The Realme 16 Pro+ 5G has also seen a significant price hike (the largest of all). The 8GB + 128GB variant of Realme 16 Pro+ 5G will now be available at ₹43,999 (which was earlier ₹39,999). While the 8GB + 256GB variant will be available at ₹45,999 (earlier ₹41,999) and the 12GB + 256GB model can be bought at ₹48,999, which was ₹4000 lesser earlier (₹44,999).
The Realme’s new pricing strategy would mark a notable shift in its approach to positioning its devices within the competitive mid-range smartphone segment. The possible price change clearly shows the challenges smartphone brands are facing in this era, majorly because of higher chipset prices, memory costs and supply chain expenses.
Rising Costs Driving Potential Price Hikes
The leaked notice suggests the rising cost of memory components; chipsets and the broader technology ecosystem are the primary reasons behind the proposed price hike. The sudden price hike also indicates that other brands may also revise their phone prices. Yes, most times the reason is fluctuation in hardware costs.
Today, customers are looking for more advanced devices with cutting-edge technology and Ai-capabilities. Amidst that, manufacturers may have to adjust their prices as they utilize the most updated technology and memory components to stay competitive and profitable.
At the same time, Realme is going through internal restructuring in India. According to reports, parent company Oppo is said to be integrating certain parts of Realme’s sales and support operations, while some staff positions will be reduced in India as part of cost-optimization efforts.
However, the company has not commented anything on the reduction of staff positions at the moment. Instead, the brand has described these organisational changes as a routine “optimization exercise” and reassured users that its products, retail presence and after-sales services in India will continue without disruption.
How Will Realme Price Hike Impact Buyers’ Decision & the Smartphone Landscape
The increase in Realme prices may slightly change the mid-range smartphone landscape in India. The increased prices of the Realme models set it at par with flagship models from Samsung, Redmi and others price wise. In this scenario, buyers looking for new 5G phones will have more choices to explore across different brands and price ranges.
Aside from that, the possible Realme price hike may increase competition in the mid-range and premium segments. In this scenario, buyers will look more at features, performance and overall value rather than just the price of the device.
At the same time, it will also impact the smartphone market simply by reducing price differences between brands and propelling companies to offer better features and improved user experiences to stay competitive.
The Bottom Line
So, this is all about the possible price hike of Realme phones in the Indian market. The above-mentioned information on prices and the reasons behind are all based on the leaked information. The tech giant has not yet commented on the price rise of the above-mentioned models. The information mentioned here should be treated carefully until the new prices are officially announced or updated on retail platforms or Realme sites.
If implemented, it is surely going to impact the overall smartphone landscape, showcasing how rising component costs can quickly affect smartphone prices, encouraging buyers to make more mindful choice of devices in the future.
