You can pay more for your Apple device right away. Experts are considering Trump’s tariffs

The cost of the latest technology seems to be rising every year – but this year Smartphone and Laptop prices You can climb even higher due to customs duties.

Last week, President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from China. The move that experts are expected to raise prices for imported technologies and electronic devices, including Apple products manufactured in China. iPhone, iPad, MacBooks and AirPods.

“We expect a lot of items when parts that come from or are made in China increase their prices,” he said. Doug Carrya certified financial analyst and president of WealthTrace, a financial planning software company.

If you’re in the market for new Apple devices, like the PlayStation 5 Pro, or imported gaming systems, here’s how tariffs can raise prices and what you should do to prepare.

What’s going on with the tariffs?

On February 1st, a 10% tariff on President Trump’s imports from China came into effect. February 5th. These duties will be suspended for small value packages (those under $800) until “the right systems are in place to complete and properly handle and collect tariff revenues.” It’s been done.” Presidential Order.

In return, China has imposed a new 10% to 15% tariff on certain US goods, including coal and crude oil, which took place on February 10th.

Products imported from China are already subject to tariffs ordered during Trump’s first term in office. Latest duties mean that prices on these items could be even higher.

The Trump administration also planned to implement tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, but suspended tariffs for at least a month in negotiations with both countries.

In theory, tariffs are designed to have a financial impact on other countries as the goods are taxed. Customs duties are paid by the US company that imports the product. This upcharge is usually passed to consumers in the form of a higher price, but not always.

How much can the price of iPhone and MacBooks increase?

Experts expect tariffs imposed on products from China and potentially Canadian and Mexican products to lead to higher prices. This means that you use every day, such as imported smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. tv set And more Kitchen Appliancesthis year could be even more expensive.
What does it look like? If the entire cost is given to the shopper, it can be increased by 10%. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air It currently starts at $849 on Amazon. A 10% increase will increase the base price to $934. iPhone 16 Proit can start at $1,000 on T-Mobile and jump to $1,100.

It is also possible that Trump may impose tariffs on chips, which may affect the price of the products that use them, but that has not been decided yet. A 10% tariff on goods made in China does not necessarily mean that prices will rise at the same amount. In some cases, it may not increase very much.

He said that if a company wants to stay competitive, it could absorb some of its costs to lower prices Stephen C. Connerscertified real estate planner and president of Conners Wealth Management. but, Shawn DobrabbachThe chief economist of IPC, a manufacturing association, said some companies could move to not have products that are not imported from China, leading to an increase in imports from other countries this year. He said.

read more: The higher the tariff, the more expensive the solar

Should I buy high tech now to avoid tariffs later?

If you are planning to buy a new iPhone, gaming console, MacBook, or other technology, buying now can save you money.
“Because of this, the items you need to buy now, not later, are smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing and footwear,” Carrie said.

However, if you don’t have cash on hand, if you plan to use a credit card or buy now, the experts say you will wait if you pay later plans just to avoid customs duties. Masu. Currently, the average credit card rate is over 20%, Financing costs for large purchases You can wipe out any savings you earn by purchasing before prices rise due to customs duties.

“I don’t recommend panic purchases, especially if these items are not essential,” Connors said.

One way to save money is to buy last year’s model rather than the latest release, even if prices go up.

“If you don’t plan on upgrading next year, you don’t have to hurry to buy a new smartphone,” Dubravac said. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning performance increases over time and generally prices drop for similar quality products.”