POCO Hikes Philippine Prices: X8 Pro Max and F8 Ultra Jump Up to ₱12,000 Amid RAM Shortage

POCO has raised the suggested retail prices of several smartphones in the Philippines, with some models climbing by as much as ₱12,000 — the latest sign that the global memory shortage is now reaching into already-launched, value-focused phones. NoypiGeeks reported the revised SRPs on July 2, and independent Philippine outlets including GizGuide and Gadget Pilipinas corroborated the increases across POCO's premium, mid-range, and budget tiers.

Key Takeaways

• The POCO X8 Pro Max jumps from ₱25,999 to ₱36,999, an ₱11,000 increase.
• The POCO F8 Ultra rises to ₱51,999 (up roughly ₱11,000–₱12,000 depending on the source).
• Even budget units moved: the POCO C85 reportedly climbed from ₱5,499 to ₱8,999.
• The driver is the global memory (RAM) shortage fueled by AI infrastructure demand.
• Analysts cited by the reports expect the squeeze to persist into 2027 or later.

Which POCO phones went up, and by how much

Based on the SRPs published by NoypiGeeks and cross-checked with GizGuide, the steepest hikes hit the premium models:

• POCO X8 Pro Max: ₱25,999 → ₱36,999 (about ₱11,000 more)
• POCO X8 Pro: ₱18,999 → ₱25,999 (about ₱7,000 more)
• POCO F8 Pro: ₱29,999 → ₱39,999 (about ₱10,000 more, per NoypiGeeks)
• POCO F8 Ultra: → ₱51,999
• POCO M8 5G: ₱12,999 → ₱15,999
• POCO C85: ₱5,499 → ₱8,999
• POCO C71: ₱3,699 → ₱5,099

The reports differ slightly on the F8 Ultra's starting point: NoypiGeeks lists it moving from ₱39,999 to ₱51,999 (a ₱12,000 jump), while GizGuide and Unbox cite an original ₱40,999 and an ₱11,000 increase. Either way, the new SRP lands at ₱51,999. We note the discrepancy rather than smoothing it over, since only the new price is agreed across sources.

Why prices are climbing

The increases are not about new hardware — they reflect component costs. The reports attribute the hikes to a worsening global memory chip shortage driven by the AI data-center boom, which has diverted DRAM and NAND supply and pushed up prices industry-wide. As GizGuide notes, "Xiaomi earlier warned that the memory chip shortage would squeeze profitability, and hiking prices may be the only way to cope."

That pressure is not unique to POCO. It mirrors the broader wave of 2026 increases, including Apple's Philippine price hikes on MacBooks and iPads and rising Xbox console prices. Analysts quoted in the coverage — including IDC and NVIDIA's CEO — expect the crunch to run "well into 2027," with some estimates stretching toward 2028.

What buyers should do

For shoppers, the practical takeaway is timing. The coverage suggests buying sooner rather than later if a specific POCO model is on your shortlist, watching for retailer promos that may soften the new SRPs, and considering slightly older models that may still carry pre-hike pricing while stock lasts. With the memory shortage forecast to persist, further increases across brands are plausible rather than a one-off.

FAQ

Which POCO phone saw the biggest price increase?

The POCO X8 Pro Max and F8 Ultra saw the largest jumps, each up by roughly ₱11,000–₱12,000, with the X8 Pro Max now at ₱36,999 and the F8 Ultra at ₱51,999.

Why are POCO prices going up in 2026?

The increases stem from the global memory (RAM) shortage driven by surging AI infrastructure demand, which has raised DRAM and NAND costs across the smartphone industry — not from any change to the phones themselves.

Sources:

• NoypiGeeks
• GizGuide — POCO price hike, memory shortage
• Gadget Pilipinas — POCO devices price hike