India, May 5 -- India's smartphone market has entered 2026 on a cautious note. The latest CMR India smartphone market report shows a 2 percent year-on-year decline in Q1 shipments, marking one of the weakest quarters in recent years. But the story is not just about slowdown. It is about how differently each segment is reacting under pressure.

The key driver behind this shift is cost. A sharp rise in memory prices has pushed device costs higher, forcing brands to increase pricing. This has directly impacted consumer behaviour, especially in price-sensitive segments where upgrade decisions are now being delayed.

The Smartphone price hike India is currently witnessing has created a visible divide across segments. While the premium segment ...