Summary of Key Points
In the summer of 2026, there has been a widespread increase in prices for consumer electronics (computers, smartphones, tablets): products such as the iPad, Lenovo Legion R9000P, and Xiaomi phones have seen astonishing price hikes (with some increases exceeding 74%). The root cause of these price increases is not short-term cyclical fluctuations but rather the explosive growth of AI technology, which has led to a shift in production capacity for memory chips towards specialized AI applications. As a result, there is a supply shortage of consumer-grade chips, and the increased costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. What's more concerning is that although most AI software remains free, consumers are already paying for the infrastructure necessary for AI through the higher prices of related hardware. This phenomenon is referred to as the "invisible tax on AI," and it may just be the beginning of charging in the AI era.
1. How Excessive Are the Price Increases in Consumer Electronics? —— Everyone Is Completely Shocked
The old rule that "buying later gets a discount" no longer applies:
- Tablets: The iPad mini7 eSIM version has risen from 3,499 yuan last year to 6,099 yuan (a 74% increase), and the Huawei MatePad series has also increased by 700 yuan.
- Computers: The Lenovo Legion R9000P has gone up by 4,000 yuan in half a year (from 8,800 yuan to 13,500 yuan, a 51% increase), and the ThinkBook 16 with the same configuration has increased from 7,000 yuan to 12,000 yuan.
- Smartphones: Xiaomi has raised prices for the third time this year (with its main models increasing by 300-500 yuan), and the entry-level Redmi model has been taken off the market, with the new price starting at 1,399 yuan.
- Income Comparison: The actual growth rate of per capita disposable income for residents in the first half of 2026 was only 4.2%. The speed at which prices of consumer electronics are rising far exceeds wage increases, leading netizens to joke that "before our salaries even go up, the tools we use have already increased in price twice."
2. The Culprit Behind the Price Increases: AI Has Taken Over the "Market Share" of Consumer Grade Chips
Why is there a sudden shortage of chips? The answer is that AI has consumed most of the production capacity:
- Rising prices for memory chips: In the first quarter of 2026, the price of general-purpose DRAM (memory) increased by 93%-98% month-on-month, and another 58%-63% in the second quarter. The cost of 32GB of DDR5 memory has risen from 800 yuan to 3,300 yuan, meaning one stick of memory is now worth as much as an entry-level smartphone.
- Shift in Production Capacity: The three major global memory manufacturers (Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron) have shifted 70% of their new production capacity towards HBM (high-bandwidth memory) for AI applications. AI servers require significantly more memory than regular desktop computers, so manufacturers prioritize supplying this to large AI customers.
- Costs Passed on to Consumers: The proportion of memory costs in PCs has soared from 10%-15% to 35%, and the same is true for smartphones. Coupled with price increases in chips from companies like TSMC and Qualcomm, these costs are ultimately borne by consumers.
3. You Didn't Buy an AI Subscription, But You've Already Paid the "Invisible Tax on AI"
Although AI software is still free, you're already paying for it through the higher prices of related hardware:
- Free Software vs. Higher Hardware Prices: Most AI applications like DouBao and WenXinYiYan are free, with only a few premium features available for a fee. However, the increased prices of consumer electronics already include the cost of the underlying AI infrastructure. It's like paying for the restaurant's renovation before even eating there.
- "Crowdfunding" for AI Computing Power: AI companies need servers, which in turn require chips. As chip manufacturers divert production capacity to AI, the supply of consumer-grade chips decreases and their prices rise. Every time you buy a computer or smartphone, you're contributing to the construction of AI infrastructure.
- The Paradox of Time Differences: While AI software is still available for free trial, the costs associated with hardware have already been incurred. You haven't even decided whether to use AI, yet it's already taking money out of your wallet.
4. Is the "Entry Fee" for the AI Era Just the Beginning? More Costs Are Ahead
The increase in hardware prices is just the first step in the charging process; there may be many more hidden costs to come:
- Increasing Adoption of Software Fees: Currently, AI software is free to attract users, but in the future, free versions may become less common, and paid options will become more prevalent (for example, DouBao now charges a monthly fee of 68 yuan).
- Rising Barriers to Digital Living: In the future, similar to SaaS services and cloud storage, AI functions could be charged on a per-use or tiered basis. Although each charge may not be high, they can add up to a necessary expense for maintaining a normal lifestyle.
- An Unavoidable Future: As AI becomes integrated into every aspect of work, learning, and daily life, you'll have to pay for it, just as no one can do without WeChat or smartphones today.
In Conclusion
We haven't fully enjoyed the benefits of the AI era yet, but the costs have already arrived. The price increase in hardware is just the first "entry ticket," and the bills ahead may be even more frequent. Ordinary people need to prepare for an era where using AI will require constant spending.