Final answer:
The price of smartphones can increase due to factors such as demand, production costs, and technological advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the price of smartphones increases, several factors could be at play. One notable instance occurs when planned obsolescence is exploited by manufacturers, as seen in the case of Apple. The company, although not admitting guilt, settled lawsuits related to intentional slow-downs of iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 through software updates to hide battery issues. Consumers then felt compelled to purchase new phones at higher prices. Additionally, with the rapid pace of innovation and reduction in prices over time, consumers have been conditioned to upgrade their devices frequently. Hence, price increases may also occur when there's a shift to more innovative and feature-rich devices, which can be observed in Samsung's strategy that paid off, increasing their market share through innovative devices, according to an article by Corrie Salientes-Narisma in Inquirer Technology.
With the increasing adoption and dependency on smartphones, users are often purchasing new devices to access the latest technology and social media capabilities, sometimes at higher costs. People are generally using their smartphones more than they did in previous years, and their relationships with these devices have evolved to become more integral to their daily lives. The price increase can reflect the consumers' willingness to invest in the latest technology to stay connected and productive.