Lava and Ai+ raise budget phone prices in India: what it means for used phone value

Lava and Ai+ will raise phone prices in India by up to Rs 3,000 this month. Here is what is changing and why it matters for used phones.

Two Indian phone brands are raising prices this month. Lava says its phones will cost up to Rs 3,000 more from 15 November. Ai+ has moved its own price rise forward to 11 November.

• What Lava announced: On 2 November, Lava said it will raise prices by up to Rs 3,000 across its phone range. The new prices start on 15 November. Lava blamed the global memory shortage, which has pushed up the cost of RAM and storage. It has not yet shared the new price for each model. So not every phone will go up by the full amount.
• Ai+ moves its price rise forward: Ai+ first said its new prices would start on 15 November. On 6 November, it moved the date to 11 November. The company said sales were higher than expected and its stock ran out early. It said new stock is costing more because of higher memory and component prices. For example, the Pulse 2 FE with 4GB and 64GB goes from Rs 8,999 to Rs 10,999. The Nova 2 5G with 4GB and 64GB goes from Rs 11,999 to Rs 13,999. The Nova 2 Power 5G with 8GB and 128GB goes from Rs 16,999 to Rs 19,999. Not every model is changing. The NovaFlip 5G with 8GB and 256GB stays at Rs 49,999. Until the new date, buyers can still get the older prices, subject to stock.
• Part of a wider trend in India: Counterpoint Research says phone shipments in India fell 20% in the July to September quarter of 2026. That is the lowest level in a decade. Shipments of phones under Rs 20,000 fell 47% in that quarter. Rising prices pushed many models into higher price bands. Counterpoint also says more price rises are likely after the festive sales. Counterpoint expects the Indian phone market to shrink by about 13% in 2026. Brands are also launching more 4G models and cutting some features to hold prices.
• What this means for people buying or selling used phones: When new budget phones cost more, more buyers look at used phones. A good used phone can now give more value for the same money. If you have a spare phone at home, this may be a good time to check its value. Phones with good battery health, no screen damage and the original box tend to sell faster. If you are buying used, check the battery, screen and network before paying. Make sure the seller has removed their accounts and reset the phone.