More phones will now cost more because of the AI craze. This time, it's Xiaomi that raises phone prices… again.
The affected models
The Xiaomi 17T Pro costs more in Japan. | Image by PhoneArena
Xiaomi is raising prices on several smartphones and tablets in Japan as soaring memory costs and other component expenses become harder to absorb.
The 12/256 GB Xiaomi 17T Pro is increasing by ¥20,000 (~$138 when directly converted) to ¥139,800 (~$880), while the 512 GB model will reach ¥159,800 (just over $1,000). The Poco X8 Pro Max is also getting ¥20,000 hikes (~$138), respectively.
The new prices take effect September 1 for Xiaomi and September 4 for the affected Poco models. This may be happening in Japan, but don't be surprised if it spills over to the rest of the world too.
Xiaomi, like other companies today, definitely feels the impact of the chip shortage. It's the world's third most popular phone maker, but will that change if prices continue to go up? Anything is on the table right now.
The next flagship on the horizon is the iPhone 18 Pro:
Just because CNN doesn't start with news about the ongoing RAM shortage it doesn't mean it's over. In fact, the RAMpocalypse, as some like to call it, is in its prime. As you've noticed, phones have been arriving with higher price tags for many months now.
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Two of the biggest players out there, Samsung and Apple, have also joined the hype train. Samsung's Galaxy S26 family is a good example:
$899 Galaxy S26 (up from $799 for the Galaxy S25);
$1,099 Galaxy S26 Plus (up from $999 for the Galaxy S25 Plus);
Yes, the S26 Ultra remained at the same price point, but $1,300 for a 2026 flagship with a 5,000 mAh battery and a 10 MP, 1/3.94" sensor camera is bonkers anyway. Fret not, there are rumors that the Galaxy S27 Ultra price hike could be the worst of all.
Would you prefer higher price or fewer upgrades for your next phone?
Any way out of this?
Stop creating so many AI cat videos. Now seriously—there's not an easy way of circumnavigating the 2026 (and 2027) price hikes. Chinese makers, as you can see, are also charging more for their devices; it's not just Samsung and Apple.
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
Sebastian is one of PhoneArena’s senior opinionators. A veteran news writer with almost 20 years of experience in media and technology, he not only covers all the hot news about Galaxies and iPhones, but often provides hot takes on industry trends. He’s fascinated with camera-focused flagships from the likes of Oppo and Vivo, as well as foldable phones.
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