Budget 2026 electronics price changes: Made-in-India phones, EVs, solar panels get cheaper; imported luxury goods & high-end laptops to cost more. Details on duty cuts & hikes.
From Cheaper EVs to Pricier Laptops: How Budget Reshapes Electronics Prices (Image: File)
Union Budget 2026: The Union Budget for 2026-27, presented on February 1, outlines major customs tariff revisions to promote domestic electronics manufacturing, and these moves will directly shape consumer prices in markets. The policy seeks to cut costs for locally assembled products while pushing up prices of specific imported finished goods overall.
The Finance Minister proposed a ₹40,000 crore allocation for electronics manufacturing under the PLI scheme for the 2026-27 financial year. She also announced the development of high-tech tool rooms in two locations to promote capital goods manufacturing and strengthen the whole electronics ecosystem.
Electronics, particularly mobile phones, has been the scheme's top performer. According to CareEdge Ratings data cited in the Budget:
In September 2025, PLI spending across 14 sectors was ₹1.97 lakh crore, with a total disbursement of ₹23,946 crore. Disbursements have shown constant growth.
₹4,113 crore released in the first half (H1) of FY26, indicating a strong pipeline for the full year.
Rationalized customs charges on components are likely to cut prices in several domestically manufactured categories:
Mobile Phones & Tablets: "Made in India" devices are projected to become cheaper due to duty relief on critical components like camera modules and display panels.
Microwave: Basic customs duty exemption on certain parts is designed to reduce production costs.
EV Batteries: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells are now exempt from basic customs duty, a step expected to cut the cost of electric vehicle batteries and related equipment.
Solar Panels: Duty reductions intended to support renewable energy adoption are set to ease prices.
Personal Use Imports: The customs duty on all dutiable goods imported for personal use has been reduced from 20% to 10%.
Higher tariffs on finished goods imports and global supply chain pressures are expected to increase costs across other product segments:
Imported Luxury Goods: High-value watches and premium electronics imported as finished items will become more expensive as the government aims to protect local manufacturers.
Smart TVs: Prices may climb between 3% and 10% because of ongoing global memory chip shortages (DRAM and NAND) and currency swings, which could offset earlier GST benefits.
High-End Laptops: Manufacturers such as Dell and Asus have warned of price increases of up to 30% for 2026 models, driven by a 25–40% rise in RAM and SSD costs.
General Home Appliances: Refrigerators and air conditioners continue to face pricing pressure due to a weakening rupee and higher costs of imported control components.
