E-commerce platforms lean into affordability this festive season
Rising prices of electronics, which accounted for 18% of festive online retail in 2025, according to Redseer, add another dimension to this year’s season. Smartphone prices rose 16% on average in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research data. Mint reported in August that smartphone and laptop prices had risen 8-15% over the preceding year, driven by a memory-chip squeeze, demand for artificial intelligence hardware and a weaker rupee.
