You’ve probably heard more than you ever anticipated about tariffs—taxes levied by the government on other countries for their imports, based on a percentage of a product’s value—by now. The White House’s use of tariffs as a weapon is causing almost constant uncertainty in global trade, in particular that between the US and China.
One stated goal of tariffs is to get US consumers to buy more domestically made items. The reality is that products made in the US cost a lot, and the overseas supply chains and manufacturers’ prowess (coupled with far less expensive and, many would argue, exploited labor) keep the cost of things low—or, at least, lower than it would be if made in the States.
Since the White House began all this tariff talk earlier this year, things have only grown more confusing. Trump levied tariffs, scaled some back, doubled down with China, cut deals, killed the de minimis exemption that allowed stores like Temu to flourish, then extended deadlines on reciprocal tariffs via a 90-day pause. There’s also a 50% tariff on the steel found in household appliances like refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines, many of which are made in Mexico.
The reciprocal tariffs are back in the news, ready to kick off tomorrow, August 7. They’re not as high as when the ultimatums began, but still up there for countries like Brazil (at 50%), Syria (41%), and even Switzerland (39%). The ongoing antagonism of our North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, continues, as both were hit with 25 to 35% tariffs on anything not covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico is still negotiating.
Japan and South Korea—countries that provide about 4% of the electronics imports to the US, according to the US International Trade Commission—negotiated their way to 15% tariffs, better than the threatened 25%. Meanwhile, the 19% tariff on imports from Cambodia and Thailand is bad news for Apple and Nintendo customers.
Today, the administration said it will officially also impose 50% tariffs on India in three weeks, double what they were before. Ostensibly, this is because India purchases oil from Russia. This comes after Apple moved almost all iPhone production to India to try to avoid China tariffs. It’s by no means a coincidence that the White House also said today that Apple will pledge $100 billion for US manufacturing, on top of a previous vow to spend $500 billion in the US.
You can see the announced tariff rates here or check out Statista’s map below. Few countries have made deals yet that are set in stone.
(Credit: Statista/The White House)
The situation remains a confusing mess for manufacturers, shippers, investors, and, of course, consumers like you. But despite concerns about a recession and 60% of US adults saying they planned to make budget changes to prepare for price increases, for most consumers, it hasn’t been a huge deal yet. That’s speaking generally. Prices have gone up or will continue to increase. Select technology categories are only likely to increase as time goes on.
So if you’re worried about higher costs impacting your tech purchases—and 64% of people in a recent survey say they are—you have good reason to feel that way. Here are seven tips to help you save.
1. Purchase What You Can Afford Right Now
If you already have your budget and sights set on purchasing a big-ticket, brand-new product like a phone or laptop, don’t hesitate. It is not going to get cheaper in the long run. Even if a product doesn’t increase in price immediately, components likely will. Things will add up eventually.
According to our tariff tracker, which looks at month-to-month pricing of do-it-yourself PC components, cost appears to be holding steady on most items so far. Some prices, such as those for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X chip, even went down in June. The exception is graphics cards, according to our separate GPU price tracker.
Our sister site has seen similar results with its own tariff tracker, which covers more general tech and household items. Prices appear steady month-to-month through July on items like the iPhone 16 and an Anker 30-watt power bank, but increased for the Xbox Series X (in May) and Samsung DU7200 TV (in May and June). The AirPods Pro 2 and a Bose TV speaker both actually saw a decrease in June, then went back up to the original price in July.
Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist for OpenBrand, which tracks price changes, told PCMag’s Michael Kan in April that the “small stuff” may experience the most significant impact given its thin margins. “Items like small notebooks, basic PCs, headphones, and Bluetooth speakers are likely to take a bigger hit, in terms of price increases, than items like powerful laptops, high-end gaming machines, noise-cancelling headphones, and premium sound systems,” he said.
In his story on the viability of cheap laptops going forward, PCMag principal writer Brian Westover notes that budget buyers will be hardest hit. “Some companies may eat part of the rise,” he writes. “But rates in the 100% range, if they stick, are impossible for any company to simply absorb.”
Our camera analyst Jim Fisher offers this analysis: “It’s better to get something now, as retailers and importers will likely pass the bulk of the cost of tariffs onto consumers.” He adds that renting equipment can be a good option for photographers. Plus, there’s an active second-hand market, which brings us to our next tip.
2. Opt for Refurbished Products
(Credit: Elnur/Shutterstock)
Buying refurbished tech, which is fixed, cleaned, or otherwise spiffed up, is always worth considering. And because refurbs are typically already in the country, they’d be exempt from tariffs. Vendors likely will still jack up prices anyway to keep up with all the other increases, but there isn’t much anyone can do about that. For more, read our 10 Things to Know Before Buying Refurbished Electronics.
Numerous online stores specialize in refurbished electronics that are traded in. Reebelo, BackMarket, and Gazelle sell cell phones and often tablets, and some go even further, offering everything from childcare gear to sporting goods. Meanwhile, you can direct some of your own equipment to these sites, as a trade-in or an outright sale, to get some money back. Your old goods will, in turn, feed the beast that is the refurbishment market.
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3. Consider Products With Limited Tariff Implications
(Design: Lily Yeh | Image Credit: Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images)
Not all countries are being treated equally, so do your research. For instance, Samsung was rethinking its investment in Mexico in March, when the US announced the initial tariffs against Mexico and Canada. Knowing where a product originates may help, but that’s not always easy to determine. Try searching online for a company name and country to see if they manufacture there.
What product is made in what factory is always subject to change. For example, Apple is moving a lot of iPhone manufacturing from China to India, expressly to avoid higher tariffs. Phone shipments from India have surged enormously already. The current announced India tariff is 25%, but still under negotiation as of this writing.
4. Optimize What You’ve Got
(Image: Shutterstock/Sensvector)
If your tech is getting slower, consider some quick fixes to avoid having to buy new or refurbished items. Factory reset that old phone and start from scratch, or follow our tips to make your old phone faster. Buy tune-up software like Iolo System Mechanic (software, as an “intangible good,” isn’t subject to tariffs). Or change settings on your PC or in Windows to clear out the cruft and get your machine working better.
Basic computer upgrades can go a long way. Westover writes that a “new SSD or additional memory can do wonders for a system that has started feeling sluggish.” Those purchases, even with the tariff trickledown, will be much cheaper than getting a new computer.
5. With Chinese E-tailers, Try to Buy Local
(Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The de minimis duty-free option, the exemption that allowed packages valued at under $800 to come in duty-free, was a key factor when it came to getting cheap stuff from overseas. In April, the Trump administration killed it, via executive order, for items coming from China and Hong Kong. It is eliminating the de minimis on cheap goods for all countries effective August 29.
This move effectively killed the option to “shop like a billionaire” on sites like Temu and Shein, which had to raise prices on the stuff they ship in from China. USA Today tracked some of those outlets’ products in April and found that the majority had prices go up even before the repeal. Temu decided to only show US shoppers “local” items—that is, merchandise already in a US warehouse. The need for local-shopping-only didn’t last, as the exorbitant Chinese tariff dropped from 120% to 54% on May 13. (Today, it stands at 55%.)
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Thus, in June, limited sales of China-based goods, sans tariffs, returned to the Temu app—along with free shipping. Today, the China tariff is at 30% and is no longer automatically applied to Temu buyers. However, many customers claim the product selection is drastically reduced.
Shein already offered a “local warehouse” option for some products in its online store and has partnerships with the 400 physical Forever 21 stores in the US. TikTok warned sellers in the TikTok Shop to brace for tariff-related changes. Meanwhile, TikTok attempted some local service expansions.
The local warehouse option, if available where you like to shop, could save you a little money. In the short term. Eventually, they’ll have to replenish their local warehouse, and that stuff has to come from somewhere. Chances are it won’t be coming from within our borders.
With the signing of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the de minimis exemption will be completely eliminated in two years, on July 1, 2027. There will be exceptions for items bought during travel, but breaking the new law will carry a civil penalty of $5,000 on the first violation and $10,000 for every subsequent violation.
6. Don’t Stick With Just One Brand
(Credit: James Martin/Getty Images)
PCMag’s own Alan Henry wrote a piece over a decade ago arguing that brand loyalty is for suckers. “When you trust any one company to meet all of your needs, you shut off the ability to make smart decisions about what you use, when you use it, and why,” he wrote. “Instead, that loyalty forces you to contort your needs into whatever shape that company gives you. They tell you what to buy, instead of the other way around.”
There’s perhaps never been a better time to heed these words. Your favorite brand may only have products coming from China, which means you’ll be punished for sticking with them. Shop around instead.
7. Buy Made in the USA Products—If You Can Find Them
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
The stated goal of many tariffs is to increase the amount of products made in the US and keep all the money here. Americans wanted to do that even before Trump’s second term, according to a 2022 Harris Poll conducted with Retail Brew about shopping preferences. Of course, these same consumers don’t want products to get too expensive.
As we pointed out in our last look at the tech that’s actually made in the US, “American electronics manufacturing is about making high-value, high-quality products with a focus on customer support. But that means the majority of the affordable gadgets found on Walmart shelves will continue to be made abroad for the foreseeable future.”
It’s almost impossible to find electronics made entirely with parts sourced in the US. (Some product categories aren’t even assembled here at all.) For example, the only US-assembled smartphone is the Liberty Phone, but it’s not made entirely with US-sourced parts. It retails for $2,000. Compare that to Purism’s own China-assembled Librem 5, an almost identical handset. It goes for $799.
In other words, you’ll have trouble finding any totally US-built products to buy (or that you can afford).
About Eric Griffith
Senior Editor, Features
