You May Soon Pay More for Apple Devices. Experts Weigh In on Trump’s Tariffs

The cost of the latest tech seems to rise every year — but this year smartphone and laptop prices could climb even higher because of tariffs. 

Last week, President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from China, a move that experts expect will hike up prices for imported tech and electronics, including Apple products manufactured in China, such as iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and AirPods.

“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. 

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

What’s going on with tariffs?

On Feb. 1, President Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from China went into effect. On Feb. 5. These tariffs were paused for small value packages (those under $800) until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue,” according to an executive order. 

In return, China imposed new  10% to 15% tariffs on certain US goods, including coal and crude oil, which were implemented on Feb. 10. Trump is expected to levy new tariffs in retaliation.

Products imported from China are already subject to tariffs that Trump ordered during his first term in office. The latest tariffs means prices on these goods could rise even higher.

The Trump administration also planned to implement tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico 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.

How much could iPhone and MacBook prices increase? 

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.

There’s also a chance that Trump could put tariffs on chips, which could impact the price of the products that use them, but that’s yet to be determined. 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. However, Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC, a manufacturing trade association, said some companies may shift to not having products imported from China, which could lead to an increase in imports from other countries this year. 

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 in the next year, there is no need to rush out to buy a new smartphone,” said DuBravac. “Technology is naturally deflationary, meaning that over time performance goes up and prices generally go down for products of similar quality.”