Core Viewpoint - The recent increase in mobile phone prices, including second-hand phone buyback prices, is driven by rising storage chip costs and the impact of AI infrastructure investments [1][6]. Group 1: Market Trends - The second-hand phone buyback prices in Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei market have generally increased, but not as dramatically as some online rumors suggest [3][4]. - The price of second-hand phones has been influenced by the rising costs of memory chips, which began to increase last summer [3][6]. - Specific models, particularly those with larger memory capacities, have seen more significant price increases in the buyback market [4][6]. Group 2: Price Data - A Huawei Mate 10 with 128GB memory that could not power on was quoted at around 80 yuan, up from 50 yuan last year, while an iPhone 8 was quoted at 200 yuan, with the 128GB version reaching over 300 yuan [4]. - The buyback prices for low-end models over six years old have started to rise significantly, with some prices increasing by 1.5 to 2 times since the second half of 2025 [5]. Group 3: Industry Insights - The increase in buyback prices is attributed to a shortage of storage chips caused by the booming AI industry, which has led to higher costs for consumer electronics [6][8]. - The proportion of memory costs in the bill of materials (BOM) for smartphones has surged from 10-15% historically to 30-40% currently [6]. - The competitive landscape in AI has driven significant investments in computing infrastructure, further straining the supply of storage chips for consumer electronics [8]. Group 4: Consumer Behavior - Consumers are advised to approach the buyback market with caution, as not all old phones will see significant price increases; actual buyback prices depend on model, memory, and condition [7][8]. - Some consumers are delaying phone upgrades while others are speculating on older models, which carries inherent risks [8].
财经透视镜丨“二手手机回收价大涨”?都是存储芯片供应被动挤压惹的“祸”
证券时报·2026-03-31 00:04