OnePlus 15R, POCO X8 Pro, Realme 16 Series Prices Hiked in India

Amid high demand for chipsets, memory, and other key smartphone components, several brands have increased the prices of their devices in India. The list of smartphones that have recently received price hikes includes the OnePlus 15R, POCO X8 Pro, Realme 16, Realme 16 Pro, Realme 16 Pro+, Lava Agni 4, and more. It is worth noting that some of these phones are witnessing repeated price hikes. Here's everything we know so far regarding the price increase.

Smartphones Price Hike in India

OnePlus 15R Price Hike

The OnePlus 15R was launched at Rs 47,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. While it saw a price hike of Rs 2,500 last month, its price has recently gone up by Rs 4,500, taking the total to Rs 54,999. Meanwhile, the 16GB + 512GB variant retails for Rs 59,999.

Key Specifications

Is the OnePlus 15R Worth Buying?

The OnePlus 15R comes with a massive 7,000mAh battery, a 165Hz display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, a 50MP main camera, and an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and is touted as a value flagship for multitasking, gaming, and daily use. However, the smartphone is comparatively more expensive than the OnePlus 13s, which is priced at Rs 52,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model. The OnePlus 13s includes a 50MP telephoto camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and an LTPO AMOLED display with a compact design, making it a slightly more interesting option between the two.

POCO X8 Pro Price Hike

The POCO X8 Pro debuted in India in two storage variants -- 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB -- priced at Rs 32,000 and Rs 35,999, respectively. However, they can now be purchased for Rs 34,999 and Rs 37,999, respectively, suggesting a price hike of Rs 2,000 in India.

Key Specifications

Is the POCO X8 Pro Worth Buying?

The POCO X8 Pro is a strong device with features like a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits peak brightness, the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, a 6,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging support, and dual rear cameras. However, the price increase brings the device closer to the OnePlus Nord 6, which features a 165Hz display, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, and a 9,000mAh battery with 80W charging, making it a better option compared to the POCO X8 Pro.

Realme 16 Price Hike

The Realme 16 5G was initially announced at Rs 31,999, Rs 33,999, and Rs 36,999 for the 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 256GB storage configurations, respectively. However, after the price hike in India, these variants are now available at Rs 33,999, Rs 36,999, and Rs 39,999, suggesting an increase of Rs 2,000 for the base variant and Rs 3,000 for the other two variants.

Key Specifications

Is the Realme 16 Worth Buying?

The Realme 16 5G is a decent mid-range smartphone, offering a huge 7,000mAh battery and a 50MP selfie camera. It is a good device if you prioritise battery life, but it struggles when compared directly with the POCO X8 Pro 5G, which offers the Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, 100W charging support, a 50MP OIS Sony IMX882 main camera, and more. Even against the Realme 15 5G, the Realme 16 5G feels like a downgrade in terms of display quality, cameras, and charging speed.

Realme 16 Pro, Realme 16 Pro+ Price Hike

The Realme 16 Pro launched at Rs 31,999, Rs 33,999, and Rs 36,999 for the 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 256GB variants, respectively, while the Pro+ model was launched at Rs 39,999, Rs 41,999, and Rs 44,999, respectively, for the same configurations. However, following the price increase, the Realme 16 Pro now costs Rs 33,999, Rs 36,999, and Rs 39,999, whereas the Realme 16 Pro+ is priced at Rs 46,999, Rs 48,999, and Rs 52,999, respectively.

Key Specifications

Are the Realme 16 Pro and Realme 16 Pro+ Worth Buying?

The Realme 16 Pro offers a 6.78-inch 1.5K flat AMOLED display, while the Pro+ features a 6.8-inch 1.5K HyperGlow 4D Curve+ display. Both phones offer a 144Hz refresh rate and up to 6,500 nits peak brightness, suggesting that both smartphones are good for media consumption.

The Realme 16 Pro is touted as the more balanced daily driver for most users, as it offers a 6.78-inch 1.5K 144Hz flat AMOLED display, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Max chipset, which is considered efficient for multitasking and gaming, a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 200MP OIS main camera and an 8MP ultrawide sensor, along with a 50MP selfie camera and a 7,000mAh battery with 80W charging. You can consider the Pro model if you want great value, a lighter design, a huge battery, and capable cameras.

Meanwhile, the Pro+ variant comes with a more premium design. It features a larger 6.8-inch AMOLED curved HyperGlow 4D display, the faster Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, which offers noticeably smoother multitasking, gaming, and AI features, along with a superior camera setup featuring a 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto camera. You can consider this device if you want a more flagship-like experience. It is a strong device, but by spending a little more, you can also consider the OnePlus 13s or OnePlus 15R.

It is worth noting that several phones in India are getting expensive primarily due to memory components, global geopolitical conflicts, currency depreciation, and a deliberate market shift toward premium devices. Major brands like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi, Realme, and Nothing have raised their prices by Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,000 on their new and recently launched smartphones.

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