New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- For the third consecutive quarter, global smartphone shipments have suffered a substantial and steeper decline, and have breached the lower Q3 numbers in 14 years. The higher cost of components leading to more expensive smartphones, with weakening consumer affordability putting pressure on the overall smartphone market. Tarun Pathak, Counterpoint's Research Director, tells HT that India isn't immune, and the worst is still not over. "India's smartphone shipments are expected to decline around 20% YoY in Q3 2026, based on preliminary estimates," he said. In recent weeks, most smartphone brands have increased the prices of phones that are already on sale, while new phones cost significantly more than their predecessors....