Ai+ Raises Phone Prices by Up to Rs 3,000 From November 15

Ai+ is about to make its phones more expensive in India, and the increase is bigger than a rounding fix. From November 15, 2026, several models in its Pulse 2 and Nova 2 lines will cost Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 more, depending on the model and storage configuration. If you've been weighing one of these phones, the next two weeks are the window to act at today's prices.

Which models are affected

The hike doesn't touch the whole range. The company is targeting specific Pulse 2 and Nova 2 models, with named examples including the Ai+ Pulse 2 FE, the Ai+ Nova 2 Neo 5G and the Ai+ Nova 2 Ultra 5G. Increases vary by configuration, so a higher-storage version of a phone may move by a different amount than its base variant. Ai+ has also kept at least one model out of the revision, which tells you the pricing change is being applied selectively rather than across the board.

The Nova 2 Power 5G, Nova 2 Pro 5G and Nova 2 Ultra 5G are currently listed with bank offers folded into their quoted prices. That matters when you compare. A phone that looks cheaper on a sticker may be cheaper only if you qualify for a specific card discount, so check the effective price at checkout rather than the headline figure.

The Ai+ NovaFlip 5G is not part of the change. Its 8GB/256GB configuration stays at Rs 49,999.

Why the company says it's raising prices

Ai+ attributes the increase to higher component costs and other expenses. It announced the revision in a statement on October 28, 2026, which set the effective date at November 15. The company hasn't broken out which components are driving the change in the statement, but the broader pattern in the market points to memory. Rising memory chip costs have been squeezing margins across budget and mid-range Android phones, and manufacturers at this price tier have less room to absorb those increases than premium brands do.

Ai+ isn't alone. Samsung, Oppo and Realme have also raised prices on select models for similar reasons. When several brands move at once on the same cost pressure, it usually means the adjustment is coming from the supply side rather than a single company's strategy. Buyers shouldn't assume a hike at one brand means a bargain elsewhere, though. Competitors often adjust prices on different models, at different times and with different storage tiers.

What the market data suggests

A post on X from India Plus, citing market figures, put Chinese phone brands' share of the Indian market at an eight-year low of 67 to 68 percent for July to September, a period it links to soaring memory chip prices. The same post says those brands cut budget models, and that Lava and Ai+ together grew their combined share from 2 percent to 7 percent. Those numbers are reported by India Plus rather than verified independently here, but they fit the picture of a budget segment under cost strain.

That's the part worth watching. If Ai+ is gaining share at the budget end while raising prices on some of its models, the company is betting that buyers will accept a higher price for a brand that's been picking up momentum. Whether that holds will depend on how competitors respond and whether memory costs ease. Neither outcome is clear yet.

What buyers should do

If you're eyeing one of the affected models, the practical move is simple: buy before November 14 if the price suits you, and compare the effective price with any bank offers included. If the phone you want isn't on the list, there's no need to rush. Prices in this segment shift often, and a model that isn't being revised this month may still change later.

For existing Ai+ owners, the hike doesn't change how your phone works. Software updates and warranty terms are a separate question, and any changes to those would come from the company directly. Keep an eye on its announcements if you're planning a purchase, since the revised prices will be the ones that apply from November 15.

My read is that this won't be the last round of budget phone price revisions this year. Memory costs are the variable to watch. If they stay high, expect more models to be quietly repriced, and the phone that looks like the best value today may need a second look by year's end.