Qualcomm is set to raise smartphone processor prices by a double-digit percentage after September 1, a move that will ripple through the entire Android device ecosystem.
The price increase comes as the semiconductor giant faces mounting pressure from rising manufacturing and memory costs, which have pushed smartphone bill-of-materials costs up by 10-30% across the industry during 2025-2026.
The flagship squeeze
Reports from May 2026 suggested the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, Qualcomm’s next flagship processor, could be priced above $300. That represents a significant jump from the previous generation’s $240 to $280 range.
Rising memory chip prices have been a primary driver behind the broader cost inflation. The 10-30% surge in bill-of-materials costs hasn’t been kind to anyone in the supply chain.
