[News] China’s Smartphone Market Divides: Honor, Vivo at MWC vs Reported Memory-Driven Price Hikes This Week

China’s smartphone market is revealing two starkly contrasting realities. At MWC Barcelona, running from March 2 to 5, major brands are unveiling AI-powered flagships, foldables, and even robot phones, showcasing cutting-edge innovations to capture consumer attention. Meanwhile, smaller makers are struggling behind the scenes, as soaring memory costs are forcing some to adjust prices.

According to the South China Morning Post, several Android manufacturers—including Honor and Vivo—are set to debut experimental robots and other AI-powered gadgets at the show. At the same time, Yicai Global reports that the first wave of price hikes in China could take effect within a week, reflecting the ongoing cost pressures in the market.

Honor and Vivo Lead the Charge Amid Huawei and Samsung’s Latest Flagship Reveal

Among them, Honor, the independent brand spun off from Huawei Technologies in 2020, is set to provide more details about its long-awaited “robot phone”—a concept device combining AI capabilities with a fold-out gimbal camera. According to The Verge, while technical specifications remain sparse, the company confirmed plans to release the device in China during the second half of this year.

CNBC adds that the company is also set to feature its newest foldable smartphone, the Magic V6, at MWC Barcelona. In a further glimpse of its futuristic ambitions, Honor teased a humanoid robot as well, though details remained scarce, the report notes.

Meanwhile, South China Morning Post reports that Vivo is gearing up for the global launch of its flagship X300 Ultra at MWC to go head-to-head with Honor. But Huawei and Samsung have already made waves, releasing the Mate 80 Pro international edition and Galaxy S26 simultaneously last week, the report adds.

AI on Stage, Costs Off Stage

Under the MWC spotlight, the smartphone industry is busy telling a story driven by AI innovation. Yet from the supply chain to retail channels, the brutal reality may be how to cope with soaring memory costs. Yicai, citing multiple smartphone channels in China, reports that while brands flaunted terms like “edge models,” “AI agents,” and “on-device inference” on their opening slides, the first wave of price hikes could land within a week as memory costs surge.

Starting prices for many upcoming models are expected to climb 600–1,000 yuan, with mid- to high-end flagships rising 2,000–3,000 yuan, the report notes.

Notably, price increases aren’t limited to new launches—some existing models may reportedly see adjustments as well. Industry insiders cited by Yicai warn that if memory prices stay high, the smartphone market could face multiple price revisions throughout 2026.

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(Photo credit: Honor)