Mangaluru, August 20, 2026: Mobile phone dealers across Mangaluru are witnessing a sharp decline in smartphone sales as rising prices push consumers towards repairing older devices and buying refurbished or second-hand handsets.

Smartphone sales see sharp decline

Muneer, secretary of the Dakshina Kannada Mobile Retailers Association, said sales have fallen significantly compared to previous years. While shops earlier sold around 15 to 20 smartphones a day, selling even five phones daily has now become difficult.

He said the slowdown has also increased demand for repairs, with customers choosing to extend the life of existing devices rather than purchase new ones.

“People who would earlier set aside damaged phones are now getting them repaired and reusing them,” he said, adding that display replacements and other repairs have increased. Repair-related business has risen by around 25%, according to him.

Refurbished phones gain popularity

Former association president Shailendra said the rising cost of new smartphones has also increased demand for refurbished and second-hand devices.

Customers who once bought new handsets are increasingly considering used phones as a more affordable option. He said phones that earlier sold for around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 in the used market are now fetching between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000.

Budget buyers struggle to find options

Shahul of Phone Zone in Hampankatta said his sales have declined by around 40% compared to last year. He attributed the fall largely to rising smartphone prices and the shrinking availability of budget models.

Most customers visiting his store have budgets between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, but suitable models within this range are becoming harder to find.

Festive season offers some hope

Prajwal, team leader handling Redmi sales in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, said the slowdown is visible across brands and outlets, with sales down around 30% from last year.

The decline has also affected brand sales promoters whose incentives depend on monthly targets. Dealers are hoping the upcoming festive season will revive demand, though some expect chain stores to benefit more because local dealers have limited scope to offer discounts.