Realme just increased prices across its popular smartphone lineup effective February 11, 2026, citing “unavoidable” rises in memory, chipset, and ecosystem costs. The ₹3,000-₹4,000 hike affects the realme 15 5G, realme 16 Pro 5G, and realme 16 Pro+ 5G series.
Table of Contents
Realme Price Increase Breakdown
| Model | Old MRP | New MRP | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| realme 15 5G (8GB+128GB) | ₹25,999 | ₹28,999 | ₹3,000 |
| realme 16 Pro 5G (8GB+128GB) | ₹31,999 | ₹34,999 | ₹3,000 |
| realme 16 Pro+ 5G (8GB+128GB) | ₹39,999 | ₹43,999 | ₹4,000 |
| realme 16 Pro+ 5G (12GB+256GB) | ₹44,999 | ₹48,999 | ₹4,000 |
The price revision impacts all storage variants across three smartphone series, with partner notifications confirming changes from February 11 onward.
Why Prices Are Rising
Realme’s internal circular to retail partners blames rising component costs—specifically NAND Flash, DRAM, and chipset expenses. The broader industry faces supply shortages as AI infrastructure demands high-bandwidth memory, leaving limited supply for consumer electronics.
This mirrors warnings from realme’s Global Head of Product Marketing Francis Wong, who predicted “pan-industry” price hikes in 2026 unlike anything seen before. Component costs have surged due to the AI boom driving demand for DRAM and memory chips toward data centers rather than smartphones.
Impact on Buyers
The realme 16 Pro+ 5G now starts at ₹43,999 (8GB variant), pushing it closer to premium mid-range territory dominated by OnePlus and iQOO. The realme 15 5G base model jumps from ₹25,999 to ₹28,999, reducing its competitive edge in the budget 5G segment.
As of February 10, realme’s official website still lists launch prices, though retail partners have received revised pricing circulars. Buyers should confirm current pricing before checkout as updates roll out across channels.
Industry experts predict similar increases across Xiaomi, Samsung, and other brands facing identical supply chain pressures. Rising costs of memory, chipsets, and other smartphone components are affecting the broader smartphone industry, making this realme hike part of a larger trend.
For alternative budget options, explore our smartphone buying guide.
FAQs
Are all realme phones getting more expensive?
No, only realme 15 5G, realme 16 Pro 5G, and realme 16 Pro+ 5G series face increases.
Will realme reverse these price hikes?
Unlikely—component shortages are expected to persist through 2027, sustaining cost pressures industry-wide.
