Budget 2026 Explained: Phones To Appliances, What Gets Cheaper In Tech And What Stays Costly

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Indian Budget 2026 is here, and the impact of the same will be felt in all the domains. Specifically, regarding appliances and consumer technology, many things are going to change, albeit not instantly, but gradually. The main reason for this is that the government has decided to offer exemptions on the components used in manufacturing consumer tech products, which will ultimately result in lower prices.

Import Duty Changes That Will Affect Consumer Tech

Basic Customs Duty Exemptions: See, no major custom duty cuts are coming on consumer tech products like smartphones, laptops, wearables, and tablets. However, some parts of different appliances include microwave oven parts which could decrease the cost of microwaves in the country a little bit for the consumers. Premium smartphones and budget phones: No changes are expected in the price of these phones. Later in the year, we can see the price could dip a little for the budget phones or the companies offering more features in a limited amount. However, premium phones will get no relief and will be taxed heavily the way they are.Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman Bets On Orange Economy, Big Push For Animation, Gaming And VFX PCs and laptops: The price of the laptops will not come down for sure. But yes, the incentives offered in the manufacturing domain could help the brands in making better local versions of the machines, along with packing more in less price instead of cutting the price down. Smart TVs, local appliances, and home electronics: The parts used in making these items and the manufacturing processes are getting relief. Now, we don't know at this point in time if these products will get cheaper or not, but yes, the scope of the price cut is high here. AVCG sector: Keeping in mind the announcement related to 'Orange Economy' by Nirmala Sitharaman, high chances are that we will get to see more Indian brands jumping into creating gaming peripherals in the country and selling them at a basic price, so that it can be accessible for all those who aspire to game, animate, and more.