What ₦100,000 to ₦300,000 now buys: Smartphone price reality for Nigerians
By Aboki Forex —
Nigerians are paying more for fewer smartphones as global shipments fall and memory costs surge. The International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts worldwide smartphone shipments will drop 16.7% in 2026 to just over 1 billion units, while the total value of the market rises 6.3% to $613 billion.
The average selling price of a smartphone is expected to reach $581 in 2026, a 27.6% increase in a single year. Rising DRAM and NAND memory costs are hammering manufacturers, especially those at the budget end of the market.
What the entry-level market now offers
For years, Tecno, Infinix, itel and Redmi made smartphones accessible to students, workers and small business owners. That entry-level space has not disappeared, but buyers are getting less for their money.
Current Nigerian listings show the itel A100C selling from roughly ₦105,000, while some configurations of the A100 and A100C sit around ₦115,000 to ₦150,000. These devices focus on the essentials: 4G connectivity, large batteries and modest displays.
Redmi is another option around this price point. 2026 price guides put the Redmi 14C and Redmi 13C in the ₦110,000 to ₦125,000 starting range, though retail prices vary by configuration and seller. At this level, expect basic performance, limited RAM and storage on some variants, LCD screens and cameras built for everyday photography.
Stepping up to ₦150,000 to ₦200,000
The Infinix Smart and Hot ranges dominate this territory. Listings show the Infinix Smart 20 around ₦160,000 to ₦195,000, while the Hot 60i is available around ₦195,000 to ₦200,000 depending on seller and configuration.
Itel is also moving beyond its ultra-budget image. The itel City 200 can be found around ₦157,000 to ₦187,000, while the itel Power 80 sits around ₦200,000 to ₦230,000 in current listings. For buyers with ₦150,000 to ₦200,000, the expectation now is a more capable everyday phone, often with 128GB storage, 4GB RAM or expandable memory, a better display and a larger battery.
The ₦200,000 to ₦300,000 bracket
This is becoming the space for Nigerians who want a phone that can last several years. Tecno's Spark range is a major player. Current listings show the Tecno Spark 40 around ₦193,000, while the Spark 50 is listed around ₦217,000 to ₦250,000 depending on configuration and seller.
Infinix's Hot range is similarly placed. The Hot 60i is around ₦200,000, while the Hot 70 appears around ₦230,000 to ₦270,000 for some 128GB configurations. Redmi also competes here, with the Redmi 13 around ₦260,000 and the Redmi 15C reaching roughly ₦250,000.
At this level, buyers should increasingly expect larger storage, stronger processors, improved cameras, bigger batteries and faster charging.
Why prices keep climbing
IDC says the problem is not simply manufacturers choosing to make phones more expensive. Memory prices have surged, with DRAM and NAND costs reportedly rising by more than 300% year on year. Manufacturers that once absorbed component increases are now passing them to consumers.
That creates a particular problem for Nigeria, where exchange-rate movements, import costs, taxes, logistics and retail margins amplify global price increases. A phone selling for $100 internationally does not translate neatly into a ₦100,000 device on a Nigerian shelf.
The ₦300,000 question is evolving. A few years ago, that budget felt significant. Now, it increasingly marks the upper end of the mainstream budget segment, not premium territory. IDC expects pressure on low-cost Android phones to continue, with vendors reducing entry-level models and pushing buyers towards more expensive devices.
For Nigerian consumers, the new rule is simple: if you want better performance, storage, camera quality and longevity, be ready to spend more. The era of the extremely cheap yet surprisingly capable smartphone is fading.