Lava and Ai+ to increase smartphone prices by up to 3,000 rupees starting November 15

Smartphones from Indian brands Lava and Ai+ will cost up to 3,000 rupees more starting November 15 due to memory shortages and rising manufacturing costs. According to reports from PhoneArena and ABP News, buyers have until November 14 to purchase select models at current prices before the hikes take effect.

Price Hikes and Affected Models

For Ai+, the price increases affect the Pulse 2 and Nova 2 series, with jumps ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 rupees based on the model, RAM, and storage variant. For instance, the Ai+ Pulse 2 4GB and 64GB variant goes from 8,999 to 10,999 rupees, while the Nova 2 Neo 5G 4GB and 64GB model increases from 12,499 to 14,999 rupees. However, the Ai+ NovaFlip 5G remains unchanged at 49,999 rupees for its 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. Meanwhile, Lava focuses on the budget and mid-range segments below 30,000 rupees, offering series like Virat, Agni, Bold N, and curved display models, facing competition from brands like Xiaomi, Realme, and Vivo. Other brands such as Samsung and Oppo have also raised their prices.

Context

Rising component costs and memory shortages frequently force consumer electronics manufacturers to adjust retail prices to protect their profit margins. Budget and mid-range smartphone segments operate on tight margins, making them particularly sensitive to supply chain pressures.