OpenClaw demand in China is driving up the price of used MacBooks

BEIJING — The rising popularity of the OpenClaw artificial intelligence tool in China is significantly increasing the demand for used Mac computers. Jeremy Ji, the chief strategy officer and international business manager at ATRenew, a company that buys and resells secondhand consumer electronics, revealed that this trend is reminiscent of the pandemic era when many sought new personal computing devices due to remote work. OpenClaw serves as an AI agent capable of handling personal tasks like emailing and online shopping autonomously. Interestingly, its usage in China has surpassed that in the U.S., according to insights from American cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard. However, the software's free availability brings along security concerns, leading users to operate OpenClaw on separate cloud servers or laptops to prevent potential risks. As the trend accelerates, many consumers are opting for pre-owned devices. Ji noted that from March to May of this year, ATRenew has maintained its pricing for Apple products at levels typically seen during peak seasons, such as the launch of new iPhones, rather than the usual spring price decreases. Currently, new MacBooks are priced around 15% higher than their used counterparts. The shift in demand has favored Apple’s Mac Mini for early adopters of OpenClaw, prompting many to trade in older models with M1 and M2 chips for newer versions featuring the more efficient M4 or M5 chips. Ji remarked that while there is a general increase in demand for laptops, Mac devices are experiencing the most significant growth due to the OpenClaw trend. Consumer interest in powerful secondhand MacBooks remains robust, leading ATRenew to raise its buyback prices to ensure a steady supply. Ji anticipates this trend will persist throughout the year, spurred by OpenClaw’s recent promotion by major Chinese tech companies like Tencent. OpenClaw, launched by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger in November, has seen a surge in usage recently, with Ji indicating that while he couldn't disclose specific numbers, ATRenew previously processed around 100,000 devices daily. He predicts that the share of MacBooks and other personal computing devices in ATRenew’s business could increase from 15% to 20%. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has even likened OpenClaw to the next ChatGPT, calling it the most successful open-sourced project in history. Alongside this AI-driven demand, prices for memory chips, essential for smartphones and laptops, have also risen, influencing many consumers in China to favor used Apple smartphones over flagship Android alternatives.