As the back-to-school PC buying frenzy peaks, the domestic computer market is experiencing a comprehensive wave of price hikes. Major brands like HP, Lenovo, and Asus plan to adjust prices around September 1, with overall increases reaching up to 15%.
Although adjustment timelines vary among brands, across-the-board price hikes have become an industry-wide trend. Over 80% of HP's products had their prices increased by August 28, with individual items rising by up to 15%. The brand's cumulative increase has reached 20%, with another round of adjustments scheduled for September 1.
Lenovo has finalized its new pricing scheme, which will take effect on September 1. Asus estimates that unit prices for its products will increase by at least 500 yuan after the holiday.
Entry-level low-end models are most severely affected by this round of price increases. Basic PCs previously priced just over 3,000 yuan are now approaching 6,000 yuan in the market.
Due to narrow profit margins, low-end models cannot buffer against upstream cost fluctuations, resulting in exaggerated price hikes. In contrast, mid-to-high-end models with inherent premium space have seen more moderate increases, making their price volatility more controllable.
The price hike trend has also heated up the second-hand PC market, with prices for many used models doubling and store trade-in values rising accordingly.
The recent surge in PC prices is primarily due to tight supply of upstream chips and storage components, along with continuously rising raw material costs. Meanwhile, the exclusive 500 yuan student purchase subsidy will end on August 31, further increasing the actual cost for buyers.
Additionally, the gradual decline in student demand during the back-to-school season is a key reason why major brands chose to concentrate price adjustments in September. For students and general consumers with urgent needs, the current cost of purchasing a PC has risen significantly.