Trump’s Tariffs Could Increase iPhone and Macbook Prices. But Experts Say Not to Panic Buy
Author: Tiffany Connors
Published on: 2025-02-05 05:49:43
Source: CNET
Introduction
The cost of your next smartphone or laptop could be higher than you planned.
President Donald Trump ordered a 10% tariff on imports from China, which went into effect Tuesday morning. China retaliated immediately by placing tariffs on some US products.
The tariffs could mean you’ll soon have to pay more for products imported from China, including electronics. Apple, for example, manufactures a lot of its iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and AirPods in China.
Some products imported from China are already subject to tariffs that Trump ordered during his first term in office. This weekend’s additional tariffs announcement could drive up prices even more. Trump also announced tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico over the weekend but paused those tariffs for at least a month amid negotiations with both countries.
Tariffs, in theory, are designed to financially impact other countries since their goods are being taxed. Tariffs are paid by the US company importing the product, and this upcharge is usually — but not always — passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
“I expect many items that come from China or have parts made in China to increase in price,” said Doug Carey, a chartered financial analyst and president of WealthTrace, a financial planning software company.
So should you buy electronics and other imported goods now to avoid tariff costs? We asked the experts.
Prices for tech like iPhones and MacBooks could spike
Experts expect the tariffs levied on products from China — and potentially Canada and Mexico — will translate into higher prices. That means the tech you use every day, like imported smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs and even kitchen appliances, could get even more expensive this year.
What could that look like? If the full cost is passed on to shoppers, we could see a 10% increase. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air currently starts at $849 on Amazon; a 10% hike would raise the base price to $934. The iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $1,000 at T-Mobile, could jump up to $1,100.
A 10% tariff on goods made in China doesn’t necessarily mean prices will rise by the same amount. In some cases, they may not increase much, if at all.
If companies want to stay competitive, they may absorb some of the costs to keep their prices lower, said Steven C. Conners, a certified estate planner and president of Conners Wealth Management.
Read more: Higher Tariffs Could Make Going Solar More Expensive
Should you buy tech now to avoid tariffs later?
If you were planning on buying a new iPhone, gaming console, MacBook or other tech, buying it now could save you money.
“Because of this, items that people should think about buying now rather than later are smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing and footwear,” Carey said.
But if you don’t have the cash on hand and plan to use a credit card or buy now, pay later plan just to avoid tariffs, experts say wait. With credit cards’ average interest rates currently over 20%, the cost of financing a big purchase could wipe out any savings you’d get by buying before prices go up due to tariffs.
“I would not recommend any panic purchases, especially if these items are not necessities,” Conners said.
One way to save, even if prices go up, is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release.
“If you aren’t planning to upgrade your smartphone in the next year, for example, there is no need to rush out to buy a new smartphone,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC, a manufacturing trade association. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning that over time performance goes up and prices generally go down for products of similar quality.”
Top Features
The cost of your next smartphone or laptop could be higher than you planned.
President Donald Trump ordered a 10% tariff on imports from China, which went into effect Tuesday morning. China retaliated immediately by placing tariffs on some US products.
The tariffs could mean you’ll soon have to pay more for products imported from China, including electronics. Apple, for example, manufactures a lot of its iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and AirPods in China.
Some products imported from China are already subject to tariffs that Trump ordered during his first term in office. This weekend’s additional tariffs announcement could drive up prices even more. Trump also announced tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico over the weekend but paused those tariffs for at least a month amid negotiations with both countries.
Tariffs, in theory, are designed to financially impact other countries since their goods are being taxed. Tariffs are paid by the US company importing the product, and this upcharge is usually — but not always — passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
“I expect many items that come from China or have parts made in China to increase in price,” said Doug Carey, a chartered financial analyst and president of WealthTrace, a financial planning software company.
So should you buy electronics and other imported goods now to avoid tariff costs? We asked the experts.
Prices for tech like iPhones and MacBooks could spike
Experts expect the tariffs levied on products from China — and potentially Canada and Mexico — will translate into higher prices. That means the tech you use every day, like imported smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs and even kitchen appliances, could get even more expensive this year.
What could that look like? If the full cost is passed on to shoppers, we could see a 10% increase. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air currently starts at $849 on Amazon; a 10% hike would raise the base price to $934. The iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $1,000 at T-Mobile, could jump up to $1,100.
A 10% tariff on goods made in China doesn’t necessarily mean prices will rise by the same amount. In some cases, they may not increase much, if at all.
If companies want to stay competitive, they may absorb some of the costs to keep their prices lower, said Steven C. Conners, a certified estate planner and president of Conners Wealth Management.
Read more: Higher Tariffs Could Make Going Solar More Expensive
Should you buy tech now to avoid tariffs later?
If you were planning on buying a new iPhone, gaming console, MacBook or other tech, buying it now could save you money.
“Because of this, items that people should think about buying now rather than later are smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing and footwear,” Carey said.
But if you don’t have the cash on hand and plan to use a credit card or buy now, pay later plan just to avoid tariffs, experts say wait. With credit cards’ average interest rates currently over 20%, the cost of financing a big purchase could wipe out any savings you’d get by buying before prices go up due to tariffs.
“I would not recommend any panic purchases, especially if these items are not necessities,” Conners said.
One way to save, even if prices go up, is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release.
“If you aren’t planning to upgrade your smartphone in the next year, for example, there is no need to rush out to buy a new smartphone,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC, a manufacturing trade association. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning that over time performance goes up and prices generally go down for products of similar quality.”
Pros and Cons
The cost of your next smartphone or laptop could be higher than you planned.
President Donald Trump ordered a 10% tariff on imports from China, which went into effect Tuesday morning. China retaliated immediately by placing tariffs on some US products.
The tariffs could mean you’ll soon have to pay more for products imported from China, including electronics. Apple, for example, manufactures a lot of its iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and AirPods in China.
Some products imported from China are already subject to tariffs that Trump ordered during his first term in office. This weekend’s additional tariffs announcement could drive up prices even more. Trump also announced tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico over the weekend but paused those tariffs for at least a month amid negotiations with both countries.
Tariffs, in theory, are designed to financially impact other countries since their goods are being taxed. Tariffs are paid by the US company importing the product, and this upcharge is usually — but not always — passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
“I expect many items that come from China or have parts made in China to increase in price,” said Doug Carey, a chartered financial analyst and president of WealthTrace, a financial planning software company.
So should you buy electronics and other imported goods now to avoid tariff costs? We asked the experts.
Prices for tech like iPhones and MacBooks could spike
Experts expect the tariffs levied on products from China — and potentially Canada and Mexico — will translate into higher prices. That means the tech you use every day, like imported smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs and even kitchen appliances, could get even more expensive this year.
What could that look like? If the full cost is passed on to shoppers, we could see a 10% increase. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air currently starts at $849 on Amazon; a 10% hike would raise the base price to $934. The iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $1,000 at T-Mobile, could jump up to $1,100.
A 10% tariff on goods made in China doesn’t necessarily mean prices will rise by the same amount. In some cases, they may not increase much, if at all.
If companies want to stay competitive, they may absorb some of the costs to keep their prices lower, said Steven C. Conners, a certified estate planner and president of Conners Wealth Management.
Read more: Higher Tariffs Could Make Going Solar More Expensive
Should you buy tech now to avoid tariffs later?
If you were planning on buying a new iPhone, gaming console, MacBook or other tech, buying it now could save you money.
“Because of this, items that people should think about buying now rather than later are smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing and footwear,” Carey said.
But if you don’t have the cash on hand and plan to use a credit card or buy now, pay later plan just to avoid tariffs, experts say wait. With credit cards’ average interest rates currently over 20%, the cost of financing a big purchase could wipe out any savings you’d get by buying before prices go up due to tariffs.
“I would not recommend any panic purchases, especially if these items are not necessities,” Conners said.
One way to save, even if prices go up, is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release.
“If you aren’t planning to upgrade your smartphone in the next year, for example, there is no need to rush out to buy a new smartphone,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC, a manufacturing trade association. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning that over time performance goes up and prices generally go down for products of similar quality.”
User Reviews
The cost of your next smartphone or laptop could be higher than you planned.
President Donald Trump ordered a 10% tariff on imports from China, which went into effect Tuesday morning. China retaliated immediately by placing tariffs on some US products.
The tariffs could mean you’ll soon have to pay more for products imported from China, including electronics. Apple, for example, manufactures a lot of its iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and AirPods in China.
Some products imported from China are already subject to tariffs that Trump ordered during his first term in office. This weekend’s additional tariffs announcement could drive up prices even more. Trump also announced tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico over the weekend but paused those tariffs for at least a month amid negotiations with both countries.
Tariffs, in theory, are designed to financially impact other countries since their goods are being taxed. Tariffs are paid by the US company importing the product, and this upcharge is usually — but not always — passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
“I expect many items that come from China or have parts made in China to increase in price,” said Doug Carey, a chartered financial analyst and president of WealthTrace, a financial planning software company.
So should you buy electronics and other imported goods now to avoid tariff costs? We asked the experts.
Prices for tech like iPhones and MacBooks could spike
Experts expect the tariffs levied on products from China — and potentially Canada and Mexico — will translate into higher prices. That means the tech you use every day, like imported smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs and even kitchen appliances, could get even more expensive this year.
What could that look like? If the full cost is passed on to shoppers, we could see a 10% increase. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air currently starts at $849 on Amazon; a 10% hike would raise the base price to $934. The iPhone 16 Pro, which starts at $1,000 at T-Mobile, could jump up to $1,100.
A 10% tariff on goods made in China doesn’t necessarily mean prices will rise by the same amount. In some cases, they may not increase much, if at all.
If companies want to stay competitive, they may absorb some of the costs to keep their prices lower, said Steven C. Conners, a certified estate planner and president of Conners Wealth Management.
Read more: Higher Tariffs Could Make Going Solar More Expensive
Should you buy tech now to avoid tariffs later?
If you were planning on buying a new iPhone, gaming console, MacBook or other tech, buying it now could save you money.
“Because of this, items that people should think about buying now rather than later are smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing and footwear,” Carey said.
But if you don’t have the cash on hand and plan to use a credit card or buy now, pay later plan just to avoid tariffs, experts say wait. With credit cards’ average interest rates currently over 20%, the cost of financing a big purchase could wipe out any savings you’d get by buying before prices go up due to tariffs.
“I would not recommend any panic purchases, especially if these items are not necessities,” Conners said.
One way to save, even if prices go up, is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release.
“If you aren’t planning to upgrade your smartphone in the next year, for example, there is no need to rush out to buy a new smartphone,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC, a manufacturing trade association. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning that over time performance goes up and prices generally go down for products of similar quality.”
