Xiaomi has released its Q3 results and shared a clear warning for smartphone buyers: prices are likely to climb even higher next year. The company says the main reason is the rising cost of memory chips, which has become a global issue linked to the rapid growth of AI.
According to Xiaomi, memory manufacturers such as Samsung are shifting their focus away from mobile chips and putting more of their production toward data centers, where demand for AI-related hardware is extremely high. This shift is pushing memory prices up across the industry, and smartphone makers are beginning to feel the impact.
Xiaomi President Lu Weibing says this change will affect the prices of phones released in 2026. He noted that the cost pressure will be “much heavier next year than this year,” adding that customers should expect a “sizeable rise in product retail prices.”
Lu also explained that raising prices may be necessary, but will not fully absorb the increased manufacturing costs. This suggests that the long-running trend of rising smartphone prices, seen clearly over the last few years, is likely to continue without slowing down.
If these predictions hold, consumers can expect another jump in smartphone prices in 2026, continuing the steady climb that has already reshaped the mobile market.
