On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an order implementing reciprocal tariffs against nearly 90 countries worldwide. In this mix, there are nations like Taiwan, China and Vietnam — countries that are critical to the production of all your favorite gadgets.
So, the question on our mind (and the minds of many Americans) is a simple one: how are these tariffs going to impact the price of the gadgets we love?
The answer is a complicated one, but in short, we're already seeing it being felt all around us. Early analysis indicated it would be felt worst on budget tech, but we're starting to see real risk to price increases on more expensive options like iPhones, AirPods, Macs, and Nintendo Switch 2.
On top of that, Acer has already announced a 10% increase in prices, and we're already starting to see some price rises that companies are not telling you about! So consider this your one-stop shop for the latest news on gadget cost rises.
Brands that could face price increases
The Trump administration's tariffs will take effect April 9 at 12:01 a.m. (ET). While it's still uncertain how manufacturers and retailers will react, here are a few popular brands that could potentially be impacted by the tariffs. If you can afford to stock up on these brands now — here are the sales worth shopping.
- Apple: iPads/MacBooks from $329
- Dell: monitors from $114/laptops from $279
- Hoka: sneakers/apparel from $9
- HP: 60% off + extra 10% off AI PCs
- Lenovo: up to 60% off ThinkPad, Yoga, more
- Lululemon: "We Made Too Much" finds from $9
- Nike: up to 40% off men's and women's shoes/apparel
- Samsung: up to $1,000 off Galaxy smartphones
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What could be the real price of Nintendo Switch 2?
Welcome to Tech Tariff Watch! We're in this for the long haul to see how Trump's reciprocal tariffs will hit your wallet, as signs are looking increasingly likely that the increased cost to companies will be passed onto consumers.
And we start with the big one: Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders have been delayed (they were supposed to begin on April 9), so the company can evaluate "the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions." Let's break down what this could mean by looking at some data points.
- According to Nikkei, the original Nintendo Switch costs $257 to manufacture.
- Given the $299 MSRP of this system, that points to a 16% profit margin for Nintendo, which could be similar math that the company's following for the Switch 2 (manufacturing cost of $377.16).
- A lot of the Switch 2's manufacturing has been moved to Vietnam, and this country has been hit by a 46% tariff. Following this math, that could mean a manufacturing cost increase up to $550.
- So worst case scenario — if Nintendo wants to keep this 16%, the price could be adjusted to $638. But that doesn't stop the company reducing that margin and going for a $600 or less.
Of course, I want to preface this by saying it's all entirely a prediction. This math explores the worst case scenario, and doesn't take into account the fact that Vietnam has offered to drop all its tariffs on the US.
Come April 9, the reality may leave Americans less hard hit. But speaking to analysts, one thing seems to be agreed across board — the price of Nintendo Switch 2 is going to increase.
What about Apple tech?
Let's turn our attention to Apple — specifically iPhone, AirPods, Mac and Apple Watch. Across the board, everything has seemingly been hit,
Taking these into account, analysts from Rosenblatt Securities said Apple could up the prices of iPhones and Apple Watch by 43%, which means the base iPhone 16 could go up to $1,142 from $799.
Speaking personally (just my opinion), I don't believe the price increase will go this far. As Kimberly Gedeon reported, the profit margin on higher-cost items is usually larger, and Apple is definitely on the more premium side of things.
But if I was to put a tin foil hat on and guess the future based on what's happening here, I think an iPhone 17 could realistically get a $100 uplift in cost.
Tariff buster: get $50 off AirPods Pro 2
With the anticipation that the price of AirPods Pro 2 could go up in price due to Trump Tariffs, it makes this deal sound all the sweeter. Right now you can get $50 off the AirPods Pro 2.
RIP $899 Asus Zenbook A14
Back at CES 2025, I fell in love with the Asus Zenbook A14, and it is fundamentally a great laptop. But the price of the spec I tested ($1,199) was wrong in terms of targeting the MacBook Air M4.
Well, the base model has gone live at Best Buy...for $999. This is $100 more than the previously advertised $899 price tag. Whether this is anything to do with tariffs has not been confirmed, and we've reached out for comment.
But the connection is just a little too convenient to not assume it had a little impact here.
G'afternoon, all! Deals editor-in-chief Louis here breaking down the latest tariff news and price increases. I'll be honest: At this point it's hard to predict if a current price increase is due to the latest round of tariffs or if it's just retailers playing with pricing. (Which is something every retailer is guilty of). However, one thing is pretty certain — the cost of our favorite gadgets/devices is certainly going to increase.
In fact, buying cheap tech could take a hit this year as countries like Taiwan are hit with significant tariffs. Many chips are assembled in Taiwan and if chip prices rise, it's highly likely devices like laptops and tablets could see price increases. According to CFR Research, Taiwan has a market dominance of 68% when it comes to making cutting edge chips.
Currently, Taiwan has received a 32% reciprocal tariff, which PC manufacturers will likely pass onto the consumer.
When will the tariffs take effect?
The baseline 10% tariff that President Trump announced last week went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on April 5. The individual reciprocal rates will kick in at 12:01 a.m. on April 9. The individual rates were imposed on countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits. They will remain in effect "until such a time as President Trump determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated," according to a White House Fact Sheet.
South Korea is facing a 25% tariff on goods entering the U.S. However, Samsung TVs maybe be able to dodge that bullet because most Samsung TVs sold in North America are actually made in Mexico. Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have a trade agreement whereby goods that fall under the USMC agreement would be excluded from tariffs. So it appears Samsung TVs would be safe for now.
That said, other Samsung devices, including its smartphone and chip foundries, may suffer because those devices are primarily made in countries that are seeing stiffer tariffs.
Tariff buster: My favorite coffee machine for just $69
Buying coffee from your local cafe can get expensive fast. That's why I love this Ninja Coffee Machine. If you're a regular coffee drinker, this budget machine can save you a significant amount of money. I've been using mine for over a year and while it's not as slick looking as some of Ninja's newer machines, it gets the job done well. It sold for $49 during Black Friday, but even at $69 it's an epic steal.
Apparel brands face huge tariffs...
It's not just tech that could see price increases in the coming days. Some of our favorite workout clothes could soon see an increase in price. Apparel brands like Lululemon and Nike rely on factories in Vietnam and Cambodia to produce their apparel. These countries are now facing stiff tariffs of up to 45%.
Athletica, for instance, makes 86% of its products in Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Bangladesh, according to the WSJ. My advice: If you need new apparel and can afford to shop now, take advantage of current sales to avoid potential price increases down the line.
What tech should you consider or avoid as prices rise?
Largely, most tech will get more expansive thanks to the new tariffs, especially anything with a screen since 100% of displays are made in countries that are getting slammed with higher tariffs like China or Vietnam.
So, if you've been waiting to pick up a new laptop, phone or TV, now might be the time to look at what's already in stock.
Here are 27 tech purchases you should consider.
iPhone 17 could be much more expensive
While Apple is better positioned to combat the tariffs than many companies, products it makes won't be unaffected.
Analysts from Rosenblatt Securities suggested that prices for Apple's next flagship phones could leap by 43%, meaning the top-end iPhone 17 Pro Max with 1TB of storage could cost as much as $2,300. A massive hike from the current $1,599 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Other analysts pegged that estimate as too conservative. Still, it is an indication of how out reach some products might quickly become for even the more spendy shopper.
Tariff check: everybody's waiting to see the impact
Due to the new tariffs that came into effect on April 5th, we’re temporarily pausing US sales on a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems (Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U). For now, these models will be removed from our US site. We will continue to provide updates as we have them.April 7, 2025
Whether it's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders being delayed to evaluate the impact, or Framework pausing sales of its laptops, companies are waiting with baited breath to see how these tariffs will impact the total cost.
We're on the lookout for anymore deals you can snag to make the most of pre-tariff mania.
iPhone sales are surging, as people are 'rushing in worried' to beat Trump tariffs
As we reported this morning, Apple is experiencing a surge in iPhone sales as customers aim to purchase devices before impending U.S. tariffs potentially increase prices.
Apple Store employees report holiday-level traffic, with many customers inquiring about future price hikes, though no official guidance has been provided.
To mitigate the impact, Apple is stockpiling iPhones and redirecting units manufactured in India, which face lower tariffs than those from China.
Despite efforts to diversify manufacturing to countries like Vietnam and India, Apple still confronts significant cost increases due to the tariffs, potentially affecting profit margins and pricing strategies.
We're just hours away from the start of the Trump administration's tariffs. While we don't expect prices to sky rocket at the strike of midnight, it's likely that price of certain items could increase in the coming days and weeks. Tom's Guide U.S. Editor-in-Chief Mike Prospero has been checking the price of 200 popular products on Amazon to see if they've been affected by tariffs or just the threat of tariffs. Hit up the link below to see what he found.
I looked at 200 popular products on Amazon to see which have the biggest price hikes
