Xiaomi has officially raised the retail price of several Redmi models in China, and the move has drawn wide attention because Redmi is known for aggressive pricing. The most affected devices include the Redmi K90 Pro Max and the Redmi Turbo 5 series, while the reason behind the sharp adjustment points to a global surge in memory chip costs.
The company says this is not a marketing strategy but a response to rising production expenses that it can no longer absorb. For consumers, the change matters because Redmi has long been positioned as one of Xiaomi’s most affordable performance-focused brands, so any upward pricing shift can influence buying plans across the market.
What Xiaomi Changed in April 2026
Xiaomi confirmed that the new pricing policy applies in mainland China and took effect on April 11, 2026. The change covers the Redmi K90 Pro Max, Redmi Turbo 5, and Redmi Turbo 5 Max, with some configurations returning to standard retail prices after an earlier festival promotion ended.
The clearest sign of the adjustment is the Redmi K90 Pro Max, which saw a base retail increase of about 200 CNY, or roughly $28 USD. Xiaomi also kept a special subsidy of 200 CNY for the 512GB variant, which shows that the company still wants to soften the impact for buyers of higher-storage models.
Why Redmi Prices Are Rising
The main driver is the dramatic increase in memory chip prices, which has hit smartphone makers across the industry. Xiaomi Mobile Division President Lu Weibing said the cost inflation has gone far beyond internal projections, and the scale of the jump has made it impossible to keep prices unchanged.
According to the information shared by Xiaomi, identical memory modules are now almost four times more expensive than they were in the first quarter of last year. A 12GB + 256GB memory package that once cost around $30 has reportedly climbed to about $120, which is a huge change for a component that strongly affects the final retail price.
That increase is especially painful for Redmi because the brand usually works with thin margins. Xiaomi has historically used Redmi to serve price-sensitive users, so when component costs rise this fast, the company has very limited room to absorb the impact without adjusting consumer prices.
The Models Affected by the Increase
The latest pricing update is not spread evenly across every Xiaomi smartphone, but it does affect a few key Redmi models. These devices are among the most visible products in Xiaomi’s current China lineup, so the impact is significant for both buyers and the brand’s market image.
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Redmi K90 Pro Max
The base retail price increased by around 200 CNY, equal to about $28 USD. This is the clearest confirmed price hike in the current wave of adjustments. -
Redmi Turbo 5
The promotional festival pricing ended, and the model returned to its normal retail level. In practical terms, this means buyers are now paying more than during the temporary campaign. -
Redmi Turbo 5 Max
This model follows the same pattern as the Turbo 5, with promotional pricing no longer in effect. The result is a higher standard purchase price compared with the festival period. - Redmi 512GB variants
Xiaomi has continued a 200 CNY subsidy on select 512GB versions. This does not cancel the impact of inflation, but it helps reduce the pressure on customers who need larger storage.
A Simple View of the New Pricing Situation
| Model | Pricing Change | Approximate Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi K90 Pro Max | +200 CNY | About $28 USD |
| Redmi Turbo 5 | Promo ended, back to standard price | Higher than festival offer |
| Redmi Turbo 5 Max | Promo ended, back to standard price | Higher than festival offer |
| 512GB selected variants | 200 CNY subsidy kept | Partial price relief |
Why This Matters for Buyers
For many smartphone shoppers, Redmi has represented a balance between performance and cost. That balance is now under pressure because memory is one of the most important hardware components in modern phones, and it directly affects multiple configurations from 256GB to 1TB.
When memory prices spike, manufacturers often have three choices: absorb the cost, reduce specifications, or raise the price. Xiaomi is choosing a mixed strategy, which means some consumers will still see support through subsidies, but others will face higher retail prices almost immediately.
What Xiaomi Said About the Outlook
Lu Weibing has warned that the current memory inflation is not a short-term problem. During remarks linked to the Mobile World Congress period, he indicated that the trend could continue through the end of 2027, which suggests the pressure on smartphone pricing may last longer than many consumers expect.
That forecast matters because it means the Redmi price adjustment may not be an isolated case. If component costs remain elevated, more Xiaomi models, including products sold under the POCO brand in some markets, could face similar pressure later on.
Could Global Markets Feel the Impact Too?
At the moment, the official pricing update is for China, but the smartphone supply chain is global. That means changes in component costs can influence other markets if manufacturers decide they need to protect profit margins or realign pricing structures.
For international buyers, especially those watching Redmi and POCO devices, the current move is worth monitoring closely. If memory prices do not stabilize, higher launch prices or fewer promotional discounts could become more common outside China as well.
What Consumers Should Watch Next
The most important detail for buyers is not only the current price increase but also the possibility of further changes in the next product cycle. Xiaomi has already signaled that it is fighting an industry-wide cost problem, and that makes future price stability less certain than before.
Consumers considering a Redmi purchase may want to pay attention to storage variants, because larger memory options are being hit hardest by the component inflation wave. The price gap between base and high-storage models may remain wide, especially if the memory market stays tight through 2026 and 2027.
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