Don’t wait for the Diwali sale: Smartphones may get more expensive

India’s smartphone market is shrinking, but phones are getting more expensive.Shipments fell 11% in Q2 2026, while the average selling price hit a record $315, up more than 14%. Rising memory chip costs are pushing brands to raise prices, while online shipments have fallen 20%.So what does this mean for Diwali sales? Don’t expect the kind of deep discounts we’ve seen before. Exchange offers and bank cashback could become more important than outright price cuts.If you need a new phone, waiting until November may not necessarily save you money.