Is a Xiaomi 15 price hike inevitable? Industry speculates it's linked to soaring chip costs

Is a Xiaomi 15 price hike inevitable? Industry speculates it's linked to soaring chip costsThis year, Android flagships have seen a wave of price increases, starting with the vivo X200 series, and this trend appears unstoppable. Wang Teng, Deputy General Manager of Xiaomi China's Market Department and General Manager of the Redmi brand, has also hinted at a price increase for the Xiaomi 15 through his Weibo post

Is a Xiaomi 15 price hike inevitable? Industry speculates it's linked to soaring chip costs

This year, Android flagships have seen a wave of price increases, starting with the vivo X200 series, and this trend appears unstoppable. Wang Teng, Deputy General Manager of Xiaomi China's Market Department and General Manager of the Redmi brand, has also hinted at a price increase for the Xiaomi 15 through his Weibo post. He asked followers their opinion on a 300 yuan price hike from competitors, seemingly paving the way for a possible price increase for the Xiaomi 15.

At the Xiaomi 14 launch event, Lei Jun had hinted that the Xiaomi 14 might be the last model in the Xiaomi digital series to start at 3999 yuan. This seemingly foreshadowed a price increase for the Xiaomi 15. Some netizens speculate that Xiaomi might be dropping the 8GB+256GB version and starting at 12GB+256GB, using this as justification for a price increase.

The rising cost of chips is a major contributor to the price increases seen in Android flagships. Due to price hikes for TSMC's N3E process, the cost of producing the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8Gen4, which utilize this process, has also skyrocketed. Industry chain sources indicate that the price of the Dimensity 9400 has reached $155 (roughly 1087 yuan), while the Snapdragon 8Gen4 costs a staggering $190 (roughly 1332 yuan). This surge in chip prices has put significant pressure on smartphone manufacturers, becoming the direct cause of the price increases in Android flagships.

Based on current circumstances, the likelihood of a Xiaomi 15 price increase is very high. Although there's no official confirmation, the industry generally believes that the starting price of the Xiaomi 15 will be higher than that of the Xiaomi 14. The exact extent of the price increase remains to be seen until the official launch event.

This widespread price increase among Android flagships has also sparked consumer concerns about the future price trajectory of the smartphone market. As technology advances and chip fabrication processes continue to improve, the fluctuating cost of chips will become a key factor influencing smartphone prices.