Smartphone prices are still rising. Here are 3 ways to get around this

In today’s market, your smartphone may be the only thing in your pocket that gains value. Although we have become accustomed to electronic devices becoming cheaper as we age, a combination of… Lack of RAMchanging tariffs and inflation are forcing months-old smartphones to command unprecedented mid-life price hikes of up to $200.

Meanwhile, new phones that typically get major upgrades every year don’t see meaningful quality-of-life improvements, yet we’re still paying a premium. New 256GB Samsung Galaxy S26 It starts at $900, raising the entry point for the company’s flagship phone line. The 256GB model of last year’s Galaxy S25 Also got a price hike, like Samsung Quietly increases the cost online Of its foldable devices and other devices.

It’s not just Samsung. Motorola has inflated the prices of many of its products Moto G models Just a few months after its launch, though, its devices are geared toward cost-conscious consumers.

The sticker shock in the mobile phone world is part of a broader contagion affecting the entire electronics market, including the electronics market PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S keyboards. But even though a hefty price tag is the new industry standard, you don’t have to accept it. With a little creativity and expanding your criteria, you can still secure a great phone without impacting your budget.

1. Avoid buying the latest phone

Most of us buy a new device to extend our phone’s battery life, get more storage space, or upgrade our camera. But over the past couple of years, many phones have seen only minor improvements in these areas. Phones from a year or two ago have similar cameras and batteries, and offer greater storage options, all while getting new features through software updates.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 looks particularly stagnant this year. In his country Galaxy S26 reviewCNET Managing Editor David Lomb found no particular upgrades that would justify the phone’s higher starting price, aside from increased storage and marginally improved battery capacity. While the phone’s cameras likely benefit from its newer, faster processor, Samsung is still using the same camera lineup dating back to the Galaxy S23: a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

If you are coming from a much older phone e.g Samsung Galaxy S21 (or older), you may benefit from upgrading to a less recent model, e.g Samsung Galaxy S24 Or S25. You can also save money by shopping with retailers instead of buying directly from Samsung.

You can also try to extend the life of your current phone. It may be more cost effective to Replace your phone’s battery-Back up old photos and videos to Edit storage And try New ways to take photos Instead of relying on purchasing a completely new device.

2. Make sure the cheaper phone gets software updates

I review a lot of budget phones, and the main way many of them skimp is by only offering software and security updates for two or three years.

With prices rising, especially for devices that cost $500 or less, you may end up buying a moderately priced phone It should not be used after its third yearwhich doesn’t give you much longevity. When the manufacturer does not provide security updates effectively, this phone becomes more vulnerable to data exploitation.

For example, while I absolutely love new $500 Moto G StylusI declined due to my commitment to only three years of security updates when other companies offer at least twice that. I have similar problems with Red Magicwhich makes affordable gaming-focused phones, but the company’s software and security support is also limited to three years. Likewise, the prices of TCL phones are very low, but the company It only pledges two years of support.

If device prices are rising, I’d like to see phone manufacturers focus on improving the lifespan of devices, especially since they know customers are less likely to spend $500 on a new phone every two to three years.

Samsung and Google phones under $500 often offer superior software and security support. Samsung, for example, guarantees this Galaxy A phones Six years of software updates, and $499 Pixel 10A He gets seven years. Although I had issues with the strong similarity between the Pixel 10A and Pixel 9a (I kept the same processor, camera and battery), when it was done The Pixel 9A is discounted to $399you’ll get a high-quality, affordable phone with six years of software updates.

3. Go to the renovated market

Apart from looking at sales of old devices, you can check out the refurbished phones they offer directly apple, Google and Samsung. Although these phones are technically used, they are repaired by their manufacturer and sold like new. When I browse these stores, I don’t usually see huge sales, but the devices are always marked down for less than their original price.

If you’re particularly concerned about cost, the used phone market is worth paying attention to. When I tried a iPhone 13 mini usedI’ve found that it’s essential to have a generous return policy so that your phone’s battery life and condition suit you. These phones will show visible wear, and their batteries may have deteriorated due to use by their previous owner.

However, used devices are often much cheaper than similarly priced new phones, and may be worth the extra cost of replacing the battery and getting a case.