NEW DELHI, Sept. 4 -- Reports on the death of the 4G smartphone appear to be grossly exaggerated.

Of all the smartphones sold in India, just about 5% will be 4G-only phones in 2026, and minimal by 2027, according to predictions from 2025. But as the global demand for memory chips surged, even an entry-level 5G smartphone turned an expensive manufacture, paving the way for a comeback of 4G phones.

"4G smartphones are expected to remain relevant in India, with their share increasing from 11% in 2025 to 15% in 2027-instead of declining steadily as we had originally predicted," said Tarun Pathak, research director at independent market analysis firm Counterpoint India. "Rising memory costs and consequent increase on the bill of materials in...