If you’re a median working particular person whether or not you reside in India, the US, or the UK, it’s no secret that you’re already burdened by the excessive price of dwelling and presumably bank card debt. Issues are unlikely to enhance anytime quickly; in truth, they could worsen within the close to future. Inflation hasn’t cooled for months, and on high of that, the continued Iran state of affairs, rising reminiscence costs, and a weakening Indian rupee (if you happen to reside in India) have made issues worse, pushing costs even greater.
Whereas petrol and gasoline costs had been already on the rise, smartphones, electronics, video video games, and even Netflix subscriptions are actually changing into dearer. The financial stress on the common earner may intensify and start to pinch tougher, as salaries have remained stagnant for years whereas month-to-month bills proceed to rise.
The large squeeze is on, and it’s right here to remain.
Telephones from Apple, Samsung and others can price tons of of {dollars} greater than they did simply a few years in the past. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
iPhones
Considering of shopping for an iPhone? Perhaps not the newest iPhone sequence however older fashions. Be ready to pay greater than typical.
Though the newest iPhone 17 continues to promote on the similar worth, Apple is prone to make older iPhone fashions, such because the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 sequence, dearer in markets like India. In response to a current report, Apple would possibly cease offering its Demand Era (DG) assist for older iPhone fashions, which may enhance their costs by Rs 5,000.
Despite the fact that the retail worth stays unchanged, Apple has stopped giving incentives to retailers, which implies the steep reductions that had been beforehand provided to shoppers on iPhone purchases might now not be out there.
The shift could possibly be on account of greater international reminiscence costs, that are affecting everybody within the ecosystem, together with a cash-rich firm like Apple. In reality, Apple has already began growing costs on lately launched merchandise, together with the newest iPhone 17e, which is priced Rs 5,000 greater than the iPhone 16e launched a 12 months in the past.
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It’s not simply telephones. Any machine that makes use of reminiscence, from telephones to tablets and smartwatches to recreation consoles are getting get pricier.I(mage: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Categorical)
Samsung Galaxy, Nothing telephones are getting costly too
The price of Android smartphones has risen drastically over the previous few months. Costs are unlikely to stabilise till the reminiscence worth problem is resolved, and insiders recommend that manufacturing might not totally get well till 2027. Samsung has raised the costs of the Galaxy S26 sequence this 12 months, whereas Nothing has additionally joined in by growing the worth of its newly launched Cellphone 4a sequence. In the meantime, Google has added minimal upgrades to the Pixel 10a whereas retaining its worth unchanged. Different main manufacturers have adopted go well with and elevated smartphone costs, with low-end and mid-range telephones hit the toughest. Smartphone costs are tough to forecast on account of risky elements, however some specialists consider they may rise even additional within the second half of the 12 months when newer flagships hit the market.
Reminiscence costs are rising for shopper merchandise as a result of producers are as a substitute ramping up manufacturing for AI information facilities as synthetic intelligence corporations growth. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
PlayStation 5 to price extra
Sony has raised the costs of its PlayStation 5 consoles for the second time this 12 months on account of “pressures within the international financial panorama.” Within the US, the PS5 Disc Version will enhance from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 rise from the final worth hike. The Digital Version may also go up by $100, reaching $599.99. The PS5 Professional, Sony’s strongest model of the console, will see a $150 enhance to $899.99. Sony has additionally raised PS5 costs within the UK. Costs in India haven’t modified but, however, like different markets, a rise is anticipated. These worth rises will take impact on April 2.
Consultants cite the rise in reminiscence costs as the rationale for greater PS5 costs, which has put stress on Sony’s {hardware} margins. Nevertheless, there could possibly be additional stress on part costs as a result of struggle within the Center East.
Nintendo video games are about to develop into much more costly. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
Nintendo will increase bodily video games costs
Though Nintendo has not elevated the worth of the Change 2 but, the Japanese gaming large has stated that bodily copies of video games will price greater than the digital obtain variations, beginning with the discharge of Yoshi and the Mysterious E book. Nintendo acknowledged that these modifications will solely apply to Nintendo-made video games, and that retailers are nonetheless free to set their very own costs.
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Historically, Nintendo, like Apple, typically chooses to soak up small price will increase. Nevertheless, the present state of affairs has triggered an imbalance between provide and demand, which implies everybody has to pay extra. Nintendo continues to face manufacturing pressures from rising part prices and US tariffs. In some unspecified time in the future, the corporate might have to extend the retail worth of the Change 2, nevertheless it has not carried out so but.
The MacBook Air M5 price greater than the final 12 months’s mode (Picture: The Indian Categorical/ Anuj Bhatia)
MacBook Air M5 price greater than its predecessor
Would you like a MacBook? In that case, we’ve got some dangerous information: Apple has elevated the worth of the brand new M5 MacBook Air as reminiscence prices surge throughout the trade. The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 begins at Rs 1,19,900, whereas the 15-inch mannequin begins at Rs 1,44,900. For comparability, the M4 MacBook Air, launched in March 2025, began at Rs 99,900, though that entry-level configuration included solely 256GB of storage. The MacBook Air is Apple’s best-selling Mac and is vital to producing quantity. The upper asking worth of the MacBook Air aligns with how different laptop computer makers have additionally raised the costs of their notebooks. With costs trending upwards, clients will doubtless need to resolve whether or not to pay extra or go for a much less highly effective machine, resembling the brand new MacBook Neo. It’s not simply the MacBook Air. Apple has additionally raised the worth of the 14-inch MacBook Professional with the bottom M5 chip, whereas the higher-end Professional and Max variations have elevated by 1000’s of rupees.
Netflix is charging extra for its plans, beginning with the US. (picture credit score: Reuters)
Pay extra for streaming providers
Costs for some main streaming providers will enhance in 2026. For instance, Netflix has raised subscription costs throughout all plans, beginning within the U.S. The ad-supported plan now prices $8.99 per 30 days, up from $7.99. The usual plan is $19.99 per 30 days, up from $17.99. Each the premium plan and further member pricing have additionally elevated. The hike comes as Netflix invests closely in content material, together with reside occasions and video podcasts. The final worth enhance was in January 2025. Netflix has greater than 325 million subscribers globally.