IT Device Price Surge Draws Attention to Used Market

As memory semiconductor prices soar due to the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the cost of IT devices such as laptops and tablet PCs is rising in tandem. Memory prices have jumped five to six times higher than a year ago, making the memory chip alone for one laptop approximately 550,000 won more expensive.

Consequently, consumers feeling the price burden are shifting their focus to purchasing used IT devices. Those deterred by the high prices of new products are turning to the second-hand market, with transaction volumes for laptops and PCs on used trading platforms increasing by over 200%. A team leader at a used laptop sales company explained that about 30-40% of new laptop demand seems to have migrated to the used market due to the price hikes.

With experts predicting a memory semiconductor shortage that will persist for several years, driven by factors like the expansion of data centers and physical AI, and considering the increasing memory chip capacities in PCs and smartphones, the price burden for IT products appears set to continue affecting consumers for the foreseeable future.