Chinese Brands Xiaomi and Honor Raise Prices Amid Rising Memory Costs

Amid a general increase in the cost of key electronic components, several manufacturers have begun revising retail prices for tablets. Among the first to take such measures are the Chinese companies Xiaomi and Honor, which have officially announced price increases for their products. According to company statements and market data, the main reason is a significant rise in prices for DRAM and NAND memory modules.

Xiaomi has increased prices for its tablets and smartphones, with recommended retail prices rising by an average of 5 to 20 percent. Honor's official spokesperson in China, Lin Lin, confirmed on the Weibo platform that the company is also beginning to adjust prices for its tablets. He noted that all industries reliant on memory are currently experiencing price pressure.

Analysts expect the trend of rising memory costs to continue. According to Counterpoint Research, DRAM prices increased significantly in the fourth quarter, with a further 15-20% rise forecast for the first quarter of 2026.

The situation is not limited to the tablet market. Previously, some laptop manufacturers, including Acer and ASUS, have also indicated their intention to pass on part of the increased costs to consumers. The analytical firm TrendForce suggests that overall production volumes for smartphones and laptops may decline in 2026, as brands will be forced to either raise prices or optimize device specifications.

As previously reported, the average market price for RAM modules has increased 3.5 times over the last three months alone, while prices for solid-state drives (SSDs) have risen by more than 40%. This sharp surge, driven by a global shift of resources toward AI infrastructure, directly impacts the production cost of all consumer electronics, from tablets to laptops, and is likely to influence pricing dynamics in these categories for the coming quarters.