It seems that it is not only Oppo and OnePlus that have increased the selling prices of devices in China, but other brands under BBK Electronics Corporation, namely vivo and iQOO, have also taken the same step.
Oppo and OnePlus have been raising prices since March 16, while vivo and iQOO are reported to be implementing the increase starting March 18, 2026. Although this announcement was made specifically for the Chinese market, it is likely that the impact will also be felt in the global market.
So far, the manufacturer has only stated that certain models will be involved without providing a clear list of phones that will receive price increases. They also stressed that this decision was influenced by the sudden and continuous increase in the cost of semiconductors and global storage.
The rising cost of memory is a major factor, coupled with the increasingly burdened chip market due to large demand from giants in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). More worryingly, the risk of a shortage of helium supply could also affect chip production, thus adding pressure to the industry.
Analysts have long warned that smartphone prices will rise. Now, the warning is becoming more evident as the price increase trend becomes clearer and is expected to continue with more companies likely to take similar steps in the near future.
