India is one of the most competitive markets for smartphone brands. Before the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on commercial activities, India was the only positively growing smartphone market in the world. The sheer number of smartphone users (about 400 million) and the huge potential to onboard a larger number of new users has drawn several brands to target India specifically. As a result, smartphones are sold at very lucrative prices with thin margins, especially by brands like Xiaomi and Realme. But as all good things come to an end, this glorious period of tempting smartphone deals in India might become less attractive following the 50% hike Goods and Service Tax (GST) hike that is effective starting today i.e. April 1st, 2020.
Last month, India's Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced an increase in the GST rate on mobile phones and specified parts. As compared to the previous rate of 12% GST, the new applicable rate is 18% ÃĒâŽâ i.e. a sharp 50% increase. The announcement comes in spite of the depreciating value of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar, extensive competition, and already slim margins.
As a result of this hike, smartphone makers are left with no alternative but to increase the prices of smartphones and accessories. Xiaomi, India's largest smartphone seller, has already confirmed its intention to increase the prices of the phone citing the increase in GST rate and the poor performance of the Rupee. In an open letter to its patrons, Xiaomi announced that it will be increasing its prices.
Xiaomi's spin-off brand POCO has also announced an increase of ÃĒâÂđ1,000 (~$15) in all variants of the POCO X2 (review). In the meantime, while OPPO and Vivo didn't announce a price hike formally, offline retailer Mahesh Telecom shared details about the increased prices of some of the top-selling models.
Likewise, Realme has also increased the prices of its phones.
While we are still awaiting details on the exact price hikes by companies, we have collated a list of smartphones with increased prices.
Old vs New Smartphone Prices in India after GST hike
|
Brand |
Model |
Old Price with 12% GST |
New Price with 18% GST |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Xiaomi |
Redmi K20 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ24,999 |
|
|
Redmi K20 Pro 8GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ27,999 |
||
|
Redmi K20 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ19,999 |
||
|
Redmi K20 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ22,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 9 Pro Max 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ14,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 9 Pro Max 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 9 Pro Max 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ18,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 9 Pro 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ12,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 9 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
|
|
Redmi Note 8 Pro 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ13,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 8 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 8 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ17,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 8 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ9,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 8 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ12,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 7 Pro 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ9,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 7 Pro 6GB/64GB |
à ÃĒâÂđ10,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 7 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ11,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 7S 3GB/32GB |
ÃĒâÂđ8,999 |
||
|
Redmi Note 7S 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ9,999 |
||
|
Redmi 8 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ8,199 |
||
|
Redmi 8A 2GB/32GB |
ÃĒâÂđ6,499 |
||
|
Redmi 8A 3GB/32GB |
ÃĒâÂđ6,999 |
||
|
POCO |
POCO X2 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
|
|
POCO X2 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
||
|
POCO X2 8GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ19,999 |
||
|
Realme |
Realme X50 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ37,999 |
|
|
Realme X50 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ39,999 |
||
|
Realme X50 Pro 12GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ44,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 Pro 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ27,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ29,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 Pro 12GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ33,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ18,999 |
||
|
Realme X2 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ19,999 |
||
|
Realme X 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
||
|
Realme X 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ19,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 Pro 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 Pro 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ17,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ18,999 |
||
|
Realme XT 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
||
|
Realme XT 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ18,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ12,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ14,999 |
||
|
Realme 6 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 Pro 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ12,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 Pro 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ13,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 3GB/32GB |
ÃĒâÂđ8,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ9,999 |
||
|
Realme 5 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ10,999 |
||
|
Realme 5i 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ8,999 |
||
|
Realme 5i 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ9,999 |
||
|
Realme C3 3GB/32GB |
ÃĒâÂđ6,999 |
||
|
Realme C3 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ7,999 |
||
|
Samsung |
Galaxy S20 |
ÃĒâÂđ66,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ70,500 |
|
Galaxy S20+ |
ÃĒâÂđ73,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ79,900 |
|
|
Galaxy S20 Ultra |
ÃĒâÂđ92,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ97,900 |
|
|
Galaxy Z Flip |
ÃĒâÂđ1,09,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,15,890 |
|
|
Galaxy Note 10 |
ÃĒâÂđ69,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ73,600 |
|
|
Galaxy Note 10+ 12GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ79,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ84,200 |
|
|
Galaxy Note 10+ 12GB/512GB |
ÃĒâÂđ89,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ94,700 |
|
|
Galaxy Note 10 Lite 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ38,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ41,000 |
|
|
Galaxy Note 10 Lite 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ40,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ43,100 |
|
|
Galaxy S10 Lite 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ39,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ42,142 |
|
|
Galaxy S10 Lite 8GB/512GB |
ÃĒâÂđ44,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ47,300 |
|
|
Galaxy A71 |
ÃĒâÂđ29,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ31,500 |
|
|
Galaxy A51 |
ÃĒâÂđ23,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ25,250 |
|
|
Galaxy M31 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ16,856 |
|
|
Galaxy M31 6GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ16,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ17,910 |
|
|
Galaxy M30s 4GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ13,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ14,749 |
|
|
Galaxy M30s 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ14,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ15,803 |
|
|
Galaxy M30s 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,999 |
ÃĒâÂđ16,856 |
|
|
Galaxy M21 4GB/64GB |
à ÃĒâÂđ13,499 |
à ÃĒâÂđ14,222 |
|
|
Galaxy M21 4GB/64GB |
à ÃĒâÂđ15,499 |
à ÃĒâÂđ16,329 |
|
|
OPPO |
Reno3 Pro (Global) |
ÃĒâÂđ29,990 |
|
|
Reno2 |
ÃĒâÂđ36,990 |
||
|
Reno2 Z |
ÃĒâÂđ25,990 |
||
|
Reno2 F |
ÃĒâÂđ21,990 |
||
|
Vivo |
Vivo U20 |
ÃĒâÂđ17,990 |
ÃĒâÂđ19,990 |
|
Vivo S1 4GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ15,990 |
ÃĒâÂđ17,990 |
|
|
Vivo S1 6GB/64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ17,990 |
ÃĒâÂđ19,990 |
|
|
Vivo S1 Pro 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ18,990 |
ÃĒâÂđ20,990 |
|
|
Vivo V17 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ22,990 |
ÃĒâÂđ24,990 |
|
|
iQOO |
iQOO 3 4G 8GB/128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ36,990 |
|
|
iQOO 3 4G 8GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ39,990 |
||
|
iQOO 3 5G 12GB/256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ44,990 |
||
|
Apple |
iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,11,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,17,100 |
|
iPhone 11 Pro Max 256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,25,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,31,900 |
|
|
iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,43,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,50,800 |
|
|
iPhone 11 Pro 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,01,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,06,600 |
|
|
iPhone 11 Pro 256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,15,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,21,300 |
|
|
iPhone 11 Pro 512GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,33,200 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,40,300 |
|
|
iPhone 11 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ64,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ68,300 |
|
|
iPhone 11 128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ69,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ73,600 |
|
|
iPhone 11 256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ79,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ84,100 |
|
|
iPhone XS 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ89,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ94,700 |
|
|
iPhone XS 256GB |
ÃĒâÂđ1,03,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ1,09,400 |
|
|
iPhone XR 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ49,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ52,500 |
|
|
iPhone XR 128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ54,900 |
ÃĒâÂđ57,800 |
|
|
iPhone 8 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ40,500 |
ÃĒâÂđ42,600 |
|
|
iPhone 8 128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ45,500 |
ÃĒâÂđ47,900 |
|
|
iPhone 8 Plus 64GB |
ÃĒâÂđ50,600 |
ÃĒâÂđ53,300 |
|
|
iPhone 8 Plus 128GB |
ÃĒâÂđ55,600 |
ÃĒâÂđ58,500 |
|
The list above is incomplete but we'll be adding more recently launched devices as we learn about the increase in prices of other smartphones in India. Needless to say, the tax increase will affect the entire industry. Those who can absorb the rise in cost, will; while those with thin margins will have no option but to pass on the burden to the end consumer. However, keep in mind that the country is on COVID-19-related lockdown, so sales on both offline and online platforms are on hold.
