Pakistanis welcomed the new year with an unpleasant shock, as mobile phone prices increased nationwide on January 1, 2026. Budget-focused brands Infinix, Tecno, and Realme quietly issued revised price lists, pushing smartphones further out of reach for price-sensitive buyers. According to the information, all three brands implemented price hikes effective from the first day of the new year. While none of the companies officially disclosed the percentage increase, the revised retail prices indicate an average jump of around 5 percent across most models. Tecno and Infinix, both popular for entry-level and mid-range phones, adjusted prices on several devices spanning the Smart, Spark, Camon, Hot, and Note series. The increases mostly range between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000, depending on the model and memory configuration. Meanwhile, Realme also revised prices on its Note and C-series phones, continuing the broader industry trend. As a result, consumers looking to upgrade or buy a new smartphone now face higher costs, even in the budget segment. This move comes at a time when demand typically rises due to the new year, making the timing particularly painful for buyers. Below is a consolidated table showing a few selected models from Infinix, Tecno, and Realme that saw price increases starting January 1, 2026. This is not a complete list, and other models also experienced hikes. Mobile Memory Old Price (PKR) New Price (PKR) Increased Price (PKR) Tecno Smart 10 HD 64GB + 2GB 20,499 21,499 1,000 Tecno Smart 8 64GB + 2GB 20,639 21,639 1,000 Tecno Spark Go 2024 64GB + 2GB 24,499 25,499 1,000 Tecno Spark Go 2 64GB + 2GB 20,499 21,499 1,000 Tecno Spark 40C 128GB + 4GB 27,499 28,999 1,500 Tecno Spark 40 128GB + 6GB 33,999 35,999 2,000 Tecno Spark 40 Pro 256GB + 8GB 48,999 50,999 2,000 Tecno Camon 40 Pro 256GB + 8GB 67,999 69,999 2,000 Infinix Hot 60 Pro 256GB + 8GB 58,999 60,999 2,000 Infinix Note 50 Pro 256GB + 8GB 59,999 61,999 2,000 realme Note 60x 3GB + 64GB 21,999 22,999 1,000 realme Note 60x 4GB + 64GB 24,999 25,999 1,000 realme Note 60x 4GB + 128GB 27,999 28,999 1,000 realme C71 6GB + 128GB 36,999 37,999 1,000 With multiple brands raising prices at the same time, the impact is already visible in Pakistan’s mobile markets. The start of 2026 suggests higher smartphone costs ahead, especially for budget buyers who rely on these brands the most.