AI-driven component costs fuel back-to-school electronics price surge

As university freshmen prepare for the new academic year, many families are discovering that one of the biggest expenses isn't tuition, but the "back-to-school trio" of a smartphone, laptop and tablet.

Prices for the three essential devices have climbed sharply this year, with entry-level bundles typically costing at least 1,000 yuan ($149) more than a year ago and some higher-spec configurations rising by nearly 50 percent, according to retailers.

The price increases have fueled discussion on social media, where hashtags including "phone prices up more than 20 percent" and "sub-5,000-yuan laptops basically gone" have ranked among trending topics in recent weeks.