Mid-Range Smartphone Pricing

OnePlus Nord CE 6 has received a price increase that pushes it further away from the budget-friendly image many mid-range buyers expect. The change is small on paper, but in this segment, a ₹2,000 jump can alter how the phone is judged against rivals.The revised pricing affects both available variants, and it arrives at a time when the smartphone market is already dealing with rising component costs. That makes the Nord CE 6 part of a wider industry shift rather than an isolated adjustment.New prices for both variantsThe 8GB + 128GB version of OnePlus Nord CE 6 now costs ₹33,999, up from ₹31,999. The higher 8GB + 256GB model has also moved up, now listed at ₹36,999 instead of ₹34,999.These changes may look modest compared with flagship pricing, but they matter more in the mid-range category. Buyers in this segment often compare every step in storage and memory pricing before deciding where their money goes.Why the increase mattersOnePlus Nord CE 6 was positioned as a practical option for buyers who want solid specifications without entering premium territory. With the new pricing, that gap narrows, and the phone becomes less aggressive as a value proposition.For many shoppers, the difference between a device that feels accessible and one that feels stretched is only a few thousand rupees. That is why the new pricing can influence interest even if the hardware itself has not changed.A wider market problemThe increase also reflects pressure that is spreading across the industry. Reports have already suggested that Apple may no longer be able to absorb rising component costs, with the iPhone 18 Pro series expected to see price adjustments as well.That signals a broader issue affecting both premium and mid-range phones. When costs rise at the chip and memory level, manufacturers often pass part of the burden to buyers.Memory and storage costs are driving the trendThe main issue behind the price pressure is the ongoing memory and storage chip crunch. Demand tied to AI infrastructure has changed the supply landscape, as chip makers prioritize data centers and other AI-related needs.As supplies tighten and demand stays strong, component prices climb further. Phones like the Nord CE 6 then feel the impact even though they are not part of the flagship category.How this changes the phone’s positionThe latest pricing makes the Nord CE 6 noticeably less affordable than it was at launch earlier this year. That shift can matter a great deal to buyers who weigh value in terms of specifications per rupee.The 8GB + 128GB model at ₹33,999 no longer looks as sharp in a crowded mid-range market. The 8GB + 256GB variant at ₹36,999 faces even tougher competition from alternatives that sit close to the same price band.OnePlus is not aloneThis is not the first price move linked to OnePlus hardware. The company was previously reported to have raised the price of the OnePlus 15R significantly, and Nord 6 followed in the same broader pattern.That sequence suggests OnePlus is responding to cost pressure in the same way many other manufacturers are. Instead of compressing margins indefinitely, the company appears to be adjusting retail prices upward.For buyers, that leaves fewer truly low-cost options in a segment that was once defined by aggressive pricing. If memory shortages continue, more phones could drift into higher brackets before long.As a result, shoppers considering an upgrade may need to watch pricing more closely than usual. The Nord CE 6 now stands as another example of how global supply pressure is reshaping what “mid-range” actually means. Source: tech.sportskeeda.com

OnePlus Nord CE 6 Gets Pricier, Mid-Range Value Feels the Pressure