Vivo, iQOO to reportedly increase prices of popular budget and mid-range phones from March
Vivo and its sub-brand iQOO are reportedly set to revise the pricing of several of their mid-range smartphones starting March 1st. The move is said to impact multiple models across both brands’ T-series (Vivo) and Z-series (iQOO) lineups, with price hikes ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 depending on the variant. Some of the affected models include Vivo T4R and iQOO Z10x.
The reason behind the increase is believed to be rising costs of memory components globally, particularly for DRAM and NAND flash storage, which directly affect smartphones with higher RAM and storage configurations. Tipster Sanju Choudhary has listed the Vivo and iQOO phones set to receive price hikes in March. Let’s take a detailed look at the complete list.
Vivo T4 series
The following Vivo T-series models are expected to see a Rs 2,000 hike across most variants:
Vivo T4
8GB + 128GB: Rs 24,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
8GB + 256GB: Rs 26,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
12GB + 256GB: Rs 28,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
Vivo T4R
8GB + 128GB → Rs 22,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
8GB + 256GB → Rs 24,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
12GB + 256GB → Rs 26,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
Vivo T4x
6GB + 128GB → Rs 16,999 (Rs 1,500 increase)
8GB + 128GB → Rs 18,999 (Rs 2,500 increase)
8GB + 256GB → Rs 20,999 (Rs 2,500 increase)
Show Full Article
iQOO Z10 series
Similarly, iQOO’s Z-series counterparts are expected to see identical price revisions:
iQOO Z10
8GB + 128GB → Rs 24,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
8GB + 256GB → Rs 26,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
12GB + 256GB → Rs 28,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
iQOO Z10R
8GB + 128GB → Rs 22,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
8GB + 256GB → Rs 24,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
12GB + 256GB → Rs 26,999 (Rs 2,000 increase)
iQOO Z10x
6GB + 128GB → Rs 16,999 (Rs 1,500 increase)
8GB + 128GB → Rs 18,999 (Rs 2,500 increase)
8GB + 256GB → Rs 20,999 (Rs 2,500 increase)
Why are prices increasing?
This isn’t the first time we’re hearing about smartphone prices increasing, as the shift began last year. It started with the new flagships, which launched at much higher prices than their predecessors. It then trickled down to existing phones, which saw a price hike across models. The reason behind this is said to be due to memory prices steadily rising over the past few quarters. Since RAM and storage are among the most significant cost components in smartphones, brands often pass on part of the increased cost to consumers.
The hike also signals that aggressive pricing will cause a shift in the budget and mid-range categories, possibly moving phones to a different price category altogether.
So if you’ve been eyeing any of the Vivo T-series or iQOO Z-series phones, now would be a very good time to buy them. Vivo’s T-series caters to the budget and mid-range segments, offering a balance of performance, camera capabilities, and design at competitive prices. iQOO’s Z-series, on the other hand, typically emphasises performance-driven hardware and gaming-centric features in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment, although you will find similarities in most phones with the T-series.
If you’ve been considering purchasing any of the Vivo T4 (review) or iQOO Z10 (review) series models, it may be wise to complete your purchase before March 1st to avoid paying the higher revised price. Even a Rs 2,000–Rs 2,500 jump can significantly alter value perception, especially in the sub Rs 20,000 bracket. For example, the Vivo T4x (review) was originally in the sub-Rs 15,000 price bracket, but it has now moved one tier above.
The Vivo T4x is highly recommended for its excellent performance, reliable cameras, and great battery life. It doesn’t have any major issues holding it back. The Vivo T4 is recommended for those who want a sleek and durable design, capable performance, massive battery with speedy charging. It, however, lacks an ultra-wide lens, making its cameras not so versatile. The Vivo T4R sits in the middle of these two phones with a slim and stylish design, while still offering dedicated gaming features.
Coming to iQOO’s Z10 lineup, the Z10R offers a premium design, good durability, excellent multimedia output, and good performance. Its selfie camera also supports 4K videos, making it a good option for vloggers. The iQOO Z10x is recommended for those who are into gaming but don’t want to spend too much. The handset delivers dependable performance, solid battery life, and loud stereo speakers. It also has good cameras as a plus point. The iQOO Z10 also offers impressive performance, outstanding battery life with fast charging speeds, and a punchy display. But photography enthusiasts may not like it as it lacks an ultra-wide camera, and low-light photography is average.
