Should You Buy a Phone Now, Before Prices Rise Again? (2026 Timing Guide)

We already covered why the global RAM/NAND shortage is pushing smartphone prices up in 2026. The question we didn’t fully answer: if you need a phone, should you buy it now, or wait? Here’s a more direct, budget-by-budget answer.

The Short Version

If you need a phone in the next few months, buying sooner is generally the safer bet. Memory prices are expected to keep climbing through at least the first half of 2026, and most brands haven’t finished passing the latest cost increases on to buyers yet. Waiting rarely means a better deal here — it usually just means paying the next price increase instead of this one.

The exception: if you can genuinely wait a year or more, buy-now urgency matters less — by then the market may have stabilized, or shifted again in ways nobody can predict yet.

Budget-by-Budget: What’s Actually at Risk

Under ₹15,000 (budget segment): This is where the squeeze is worst. Memory now makes up 25–30% of a budget phone’s total build cost, versus 10–15% a couple of years ago. Expect either price increases or quiet spec downgrades — less RAM/storage at the same price point — rather than sticker-price hikes you’d notice immediately. If you’re shopping in this range, check current picks and compare exact RAM/storage specs before assuming a “same price” phone matches what you’d have gotten six months ago.

₹15,000–₹25,000 (mid-range): Memory is a smaller share of total cost here, so the squeeze is less painful, but brands in this range are still adjusting. This segment has more room to hold prices steady by absorbing cost increases elsewhere.

Flagships: Least affected proportionally — memory is a smaller fraction of an already-expensive device — but flagship average selling prices are still projected to rise close to 7% year-over-year in 2026 industry-wide.

Signs You Should Buy Now, Not Later

• Your current phone is already struggling (battery, performance, storage) — waiting risks a forced, rushed purchase later at a worse price.
• You’re shopping in the under-₹15,000 segment specifically — this is where prices/spec-downgrades are moving fastest.
• You’ve found a model with the RAM/storage configuration you actually want — that exact configuration may not be available at the same price in a few months.

Signs Waiting Might Be Fine

• You’re not shopping in the budget segment — mid-range and flagship price movement has been slower.
• Your current phone genuinely still works well for your needs.
• You’re comfortable checking specs carefully rather than assuming “same model, same price” holds true later.

The Bottom Line

The RAM/NAND shortage isn’t a one-time price jump — it’s an ongoing squeeze that’s hitting budget phones hardest and fastest. If you’re in the market for something under ₹15,000, that’s the segment where buying sooner — and checking exact specs, not just the price tag — matters most. Above that, there’s more room to wait without obvious regret.

Use the Phone Finder tool to get a specific recommendation for your budget and priority rather than guessing.