Samsung Raises Prices of 7 Popular Phones in India as Budget Smartphones Lose Their Affordable Edge Again

Samsung has once again increased prices of several smartphones in India, and this time the impact is being felt across both budget and mid range segments. The company quietly updated its pricing at the beginning of May 2026, and the revised rates are already in effect. What stands out is that this is the sixth price increase by Samsung in the same year, making budget smartphone buyers increasingly anxious.

The latest revision affects multiple models from the Galaxy M and Galaxy F series. Phones such as Galaxy F06, F36, F70e, M06, M17e, M17 and M36 have all become more expensive. According to updated listings on Samsung’s official platform, most variants have seen a direct increase of around 1000 rupees. While this may not seem large at first glance, repeated hikes over time are steadily pushing overall costs much higher than expected.

Entry level devices are no longer as affordable as they used to be. Models like Galaxy F06 and Galaxy M06 now start at 12499 rupees for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. The higher configuration with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage goes up to 15999 rupees. If compared with earlier launch prices, the difference becomes more noticeable. For example, the Galaxy F06 4GB plus 128GB variant was earlier priced at 9999 rupees but now stands at 13999 rupees, showing a sharp increase within a short span of time.

Mid range smartphones have also been impacted by the latest revision. Devices like Galaxy F36 and Galaxy M36 now fall in the price bracket of 21999 to 27999 rupees depending on the variant. Similarly, phones such as F70e and M17e have also seen a rise of about 1000 rupees. The Galaxy M17 series now begins at 16999 rupees, while its top variant is priced up to 20999 rupees, making it less competitive in the crowded mid range segment.

Samsung has not officially explained the reason behind these repeated price adjustments. However, industry observers point toward rising component costs as a key factor. Memory and storage prices have been increasing globally, largely driven by the growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. This ripple effect is now being felt in the smartphone market, where manufacturers are gradually passing on higher costs to consumers.

With frequent revisions throughout the year, Samsung’s pricing strategy is reshaping expectations in the budget smartphone space. What was once considered affordable is steadily moving into a higher price bracket, leaving buyers with fewer low cost options than before.