# Cheapest smartphones vanish as entry-level 5G prices rise 2026-08-12T08:54:29+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India’s entry-level phone market is collapsing. Shipments of smartphones priced below Rs 9,000 plunged 74.3% year-on-year in the April-June quarter, IDC reports. The segment now accounts for just 4.5% of India’s smartphone market, down from 15.6% a year earlier. Rising component costs have made sub-$100 (around Rs 9,000) devices unviable for manufacturers. Overall smartphone shipments fell 11.1% to 33.2 million units, but average selling prices hit a record Rs 28,400, up 14.4%. As entry-level 5G phones grew more expensive, several brands reintroduced or extended 4G models, lifting 4G's share to 11.1%. IDC expects full-year shipments to drop to 128-130 million units. Chinese brands like Vivo, Xiaomi and Oppo saw steep declines. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: 4G vs 5G, Chinese brands, component costs, entry-level market, IDC report, smartphones Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/cheapest-smartphones-vanish-as-entry-level-5g-prices-rise/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/cheapest-smartphones-vanish-as-entry-level-5g-prices-rise/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.