All articles tagged with #price increase
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is reported to have a higher price and continue facing crease-related durability concerns, highlighting a trade-off between innovation and practicality in the latest foldable smartphone.
In Europe for April 2026, Switch 2 led hardware sales with 196,359 units, followed by the PS5 at 135,985; PS5 is down 40.4% year over year amid price increases, while Switch 2 remains the top mover. Lifetime totals stand at about 4.53 million for Switch 2 and 32.48 million for PS5.
Sony has confirmed that price increases apply to all PlayStation Plus tiers—Essential, Extra, and Premium—effective May 20, 2026 for new customers, with Extra priced at £11.99/month (£34.99 for three months) and Premium at £14.99/month (£43.99 for three months) in the UK; annual subscriptions remain unchanged for now, following an earlier PS5 price rise.
Sony has increased PS Plus prices for Extra and Premium in multiple regions (new 1-month and 3-month rates), while the 12-month option largely remains unchanged; Australia shows increases even for 12-month. The rollout followed Sony's note about Essential price hikes and has drawn criticism, with many users shifting to annual subscriptions to avoid monthly increases.
Sony will raise PlayStation Plus prices in some regions, including the UK, with the basic monthly plan increasing by £1 to £7.99 and the three‑month option to £21.99 from May 20; changes do not apply to current subscribers except in Turkey or India, and Sony hasn’t specified pricing for other tiers or the 12‑month option amid broader industry cost pressures.
Tesla raised prices on higher-end Model Y trims in the U.S. for the first time in two years: Premium RWD and Premium AWD each +$1,000, and the Performance variant +$500, while entry-level trims stay at $39,990 and $41,990. The move aligns with a shift toward higher margins as demand stabilizes and comes alongside new paint colors and signals for a future Model Y L three-row version.
Costco’s redesigned triple chocolate muffins are smaller, pricier per ounce, and criticized for a dry, gummy texture and off-taste after a 2024 recipe change, prompting returns and concern among shoppers including talk of canceling memberships.
Nintendo is offering a limited Switch 2 bundle at $500 that includes a digital game choice (Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia) at select retailers for a limited time, ahead of a September 1 price increase that lifts the base price to $500 (Europe €499.99, Canada CAD $679.99). Nintendo notes this pricing change may dampen second-year sales and recalls that earlier bundles with Mario Kart World expired last Christmas.
Nintendo announced a Switch 2 “Choose Your Game” bundle that ships with digital download codes for three games instead of physical cartridges, letting buyers pick from options like Mario Kart World, Pokopia, and Bananza. The move appears aimed at boosting hardware sales ahead of an imminent $50 price increase, and readers broadly see it as a consumer-friendly way to add value and flexibility—though some prefer physical copies and resale potential and debate the overall worth of digital bundles.
Nintendo’s stock dropped about 7% after the Switch 2 price rise failed to reassure investors, who fear rising production costs—driven by component costs and AI-related price increases—won’t be fully offset, especially with no major new games on the 2026 horizon.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa explained at a financial briefing that the Switch 2 price increase was driven by multiple ongoing market shifts—rising component costs (especially memory), foreign exchange rates, and oil prices—that would deteriorate hardware profitability if left unaddressed. The company prioritized sustaining a profitable hardware business to support long-term growth, with price adjustments varying by region. Nintendo emphasized its core strategy to boost hardware adoption first and then sell software, and pledged a robust software lineup to justify the higher price.
Pokémon Pokopia has sold over 4 million copies five weeks after its March 31, 2026 launch, while Nintendo announced a Switch 2 price increase to $499 in the US and €499 in the EU (Japan’s price rise already in effect by May 25, 2025) due to rising DRAM and BOM costs, and projects Switch 2 sales of 16.5 million units in FY2027, down from 19.86 million in FY2026.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa apologized for the Switch 2 price increase, which will raise prices worldwide (US +$50; changes start in September, earlier in Japan), and pledged a robust software lineup to boost ownership value. He cited rising costs and supply-chain improvements, noting first-year Switch 2 sales were strong and demand remains firm in year two.
Nintendo has announced a global price increase for the Switch 2, with US pricing rising from $449.99 to $499.99 and most European prices from €469.99 to €499.99 from September; UK pricing will be confirmed later, and Japan prices rise later this month. Nintendo apologised, citing market conditions and higher RAM/storage costs, as it noted nearly 20 million Switch 2s sold since last June and a 52% year‑on‑year profit increase. The move follows similar price hikes by Sony for the PS5.
Leaked marketing images show Sony’s Xperia 1 VIII with a redesigned square camera island and four colors (Graphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red, Native Gold). A May 20 launch is tipped, and rumors suggest Sony will drop the continuous optical zoom for a 3x zoom on a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED with Xperia AI; a ~19% price rise over the Xperia 1 VII is rumored, with HK pricing and Amazon/European leaks pointing to a late May–June release.