Samsung Raises Prices of 7 Popular Budget Phones in India, Sixth Hike This Year Raises Concerns
Mid range and entry level smartphones from Samsung become costlier again as the company quietly updates pricing across Galaxy M and Galaxy F series with repeated hikes impacting budget buyers in India
Samsung has once again increased prices of several budget and mid range smartphones in India, continuing a trend that has now become difficult for entry level buyers to ignore. The latest revision quietly rolled out at the start of May 2026, and it marks the sixth price hike by the company this year alone.
This round of changes mainly affects popular models from the Galaxy M and Galaxy F series, including Galaxy F06, F36, F70e, M06, M17e, M17 and M36. According to updated listings on Samsung’s official website, most variants have seen a direct increase of around 1000 rupees. While the jump may look small individually, repeated hikes over time are significantly reshaping the budget smartphone segment.
The impact is now clearly visible even in entry level devices. Phones like Galaxy F06 and Galaxy M06 have become more expensive across configurations. The base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage now starts at 12499 rupees, while the higher 6GB RAM and 128GB storage version goes up to 15999 rupees. Compared to launch pricing, the difference is much sharper. For instance, the Galaxy F06 4GB plus 128GB variant earlier cost 9999 rupees, but now it is priced at 13999 rupees, showing how quickly costs have moved upward in a short span.
Mid range models have also not been spared. Devices like Galaxy F36 and M36 are now priced between 21999 and 27999 rupees depending on the configuration. Similarly, Galaxy F70e and M17e have also seen a hike of around 1000 rupees. The Galaxy M17 series now starts at 16999 rupees, while the top variant reaches 20999 rupees, pushing it closer to higher mid range competition.
Samsung has not issued a detailed explanation for this latest revision. However, industry trends suggest a broader pattern influencing pricing decisions. Rising costs of key components such as memory and storage are playing a major role. At the same time, increasing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres is putting additional pressure on semiconductor supply chains. This ripple effect is gradually reaching consumer electronics, including smartphones.
With repeated price adjustments throughout the year, buyers looking for affordable Samsung phones are now finding fewer stable options in the budget segment, making timing a crucial factor when planning a purchase.
