CNET Survey: Tariff Worth Hikes Are Dashing US Adults Into Tech Purchases

There’s been one other twist in President Donald Trump’s tariff plans. After imposing a further 125% reciprocal tariffs on China final week, the administration exempted tech units, together with smartphones and laptops, a minimum of for now. There’s nonetheless a 20% tariff on all objects imported from China, which might nonetheless go up, which means tech might get much more costly. 

This is an instance of how tariffs work, on the whole. 

“If there is a 10% tariff on smartphones, meaning US-based corporations need to pay 10% extra to get the merchandise from abroad,” mentioned Patti Brennan, an authorized monetary planner. “That further 10% has to return from someplace, and I believe that the majority corporations are going to cross it alongside to the patron — which is what they’ve finished previously.”

These plans are continually altering, which raises a giant query. Must you purchase tech objects now or wait?

Earlier than the final spherical of tariffs was applied, a March CNET survey discovered that 33% of US adults felt pressured to buy in anticipation of tariff-related value hikes. And practically one in 5 US adults (17%) made a purchase order forward of potential price will increase that might come. 

This is what we discovered about how tariffs are altering US adults’ shopping for habits and professional recommendation on getting one of the best tech deal within the meantime.

Gen Z and millennials are dealing with extra strain to purchase now

In comparison with Gen X and boomers, youthful generations are feeling extra strain: 48% of Gen Z and 45% of millennials mentioned they felt strain to make purchases to keep away from tariff-related value hikes.

However over 60% of Gen X and boomers have not felt this identical strain to make purchases. Usha Haley, a professor on the Barton Faculty of Enterprise at Wichita State College, mentioned that youthful generations could also be extra vulnerable to see strain or the concern of lacking out than older generations. 

Most US adults are planning forward for price surges

Most US adults are making (or planning to make) modifications to their budgets to arrange for tariff-related value modifications. Shoppers are additionally slicing again on nonessential spending, like eating out and journey (40%), and saving extra from every paycheck (19%).

Tariff value hike threats are driving buyers to purchase big-ticket tech ahead of later

Most buyers who’re involved about tariffs driving up the price of tech merchandise both deliberate to buy forward of tariffs or bought electronics late final yr or early this yr. Smartphones and laptops are on the high of that record. 

By the numbers, 48% of US adults plan to purchase or have already purchased smartphones, and 42% have finished the identical for laptops. Different high tech objects that buyers are involved about embrace residence home equipment, TVs and good residence units. 

Some US adults are nonetheless delaying larger purchases for now 

It does not shock specialists that some US adults are delaying huge purchases over $500 (27%). Practically one in 5 (18%) who plan to make huge purchases will make the most of main gross sales all year long, which could possibly be a giant cash saver if tariffs drive up costs. Moreover, the survey discovered that 11% of US adults already made purchases forward of tariffs late final yr and earlier this yr to keep away from increased costs. 

When you’re anxious about costs going up and have already got the cash saved, shopping for objects you are planning for now could also be greatest.

“When you assume it is going to be costlier sooner or later, it might make sense to go forward and purchase it now,” mentioned Michael Coon, affiliate professor of economics on the College of Tampa. “However identical to the pandemic confirmed us with provide and demand constraints, if all people buys it now, the merchandise turns into costlier anyway.” 

If you could make a giant buy or plan to, you possibly can nonetheless avoid wasting cash. Coon recommends evaluating costs to get one of the best deal. The additional couple of minutes of evaluating retailer presents might prevent just a few hundred {dollars}. 

Learn extra: How A lot Will iPhone and Different Apple Costs Enhance With ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs?

Must you purchase new tech now or wait? 

It is the massive query that everybody desires answered — is it higher to spend cash on electronics now to keep away from potential tariff-induced value jumps? 

If you have already got funds earmarked for a purchase order, then buying now or throughout an upcoming buying occasion, like a rumored upcoming Amazon sale, might enable you lower your expenses and give you peace of thoughts. But when you do not have the cash saved, specialists do not advocate financing it. 

Brennan agreed, including that if in case you have the cash to purchase a brand new digital or tech gadget, go for it — simply be sure to really need it. 

“Do not buy it in anticipation of costs going up, as a result of we do not know what the final word final result goes to be,” Brennan mentioned. 

Above all, specialists say to be sure to store round to seek out one of the best deal on tech.

“You may spend an additional 15 to twenty minutes looking the web, however you find yourself saving a pair hundred {dollars},” mentioned Coon. “It is positively well worth the time to search for one of the best cut price.”

Suggestions to economize on laptops, TVs and telephones 

Searching for new electronics is about timing and realizing the professional methods to seek out one of the best offers. I requested CNET specialists about one of the best offers on laptops, TVs and smartphones to seek out out when it is best to purchase and what we have to learn about pricing for newer fashions popping out this yr. 

When to attain low-priced laptops

Whether or not you purchase a brand new laptop computer now or wait will depend on your wants and funds, mentioned Josh Goldman, an editor and certainly one of CNET’s laptop computer reviewers.

“Costs definitely aren’t going to get higher if the US will get concerned in a commerce warfare, so if somebody wants a brand new laptop computer and might afford to purchase now, I would not wait and see,” mentioned Goldman. “With Easter and spring gross sales, dads and grads, Memorial Day and back-to-school gross sales, we’re headed into one of the best time to purchase a reduced new laptop computer outdoors of Black Friday.”

If you do not have sufficient cash saved to purchase a brand new laptop computer, however you want one, Goldman recommends searching for a refurbished one at a reduced value — which should not be as affected by tariffs. He recommends Apple, Finest Purchase, BackMarket and eBay Refurbished for offers on used laptops with ensures. 

Now’s the time to purchase final yr’s TV fashions

When you’re available in the market for a brand new TV, David Katzmaier, senior editorial director and a CNET TV reviewer, recommends shopping for final yr’s mannequin now. You may discover TVs from 2024 at their lowest value level since retailers are eliminating final yr’s stock. 

With 2025 TVs popping out, count on costs to stay excessive on the newer fashions till the vacations, Katzmaier mentioned. However for those who do not want a TV, there is no have to rush into a purchase order.

“TVs final a very long time, and for those who needn’t purchase one now, my recommendation is to attend till you do,” mentioned Katzmaier. “Sure, tariffs might push costs increased later within the yr, however whether or not they’ll have an effect on TV costs round gross sales instances — assume Black Friday and later in November and December — is an open query.”

Telephone offers are on the market, however not as simple to seek out

Before you purchase a brand new cellphone, take a step again to evaluate whether or not you want one, mentioned Patrick Holland, a CNET editor and smartphone reviewer. Most smartphones sometimes final between three to 5 years earlier than you begin to have issues. However you might be able to repair a few of these {hardware} points for lower than getting a brand new cellphone. 

Smartphones sometimes final just a few years and we might not even purchase one till we actually want a alternative. So it may be robust to know when to purchase a brand new cellphone — even with out tariffs. 

How a lot the subsequent spherical of fashionable smartphones, just like the iPhone 17 or the Google Pixel 10, will price will not be introduced till later this yr, however these costs aren’t as risky as on a regular basis necessities like groceries, mentioned Holland. 

“In case your battery does not maintain a cost prefer it used to however every thing else in your cellphone is okay, it might be quite a bit simpler and cheaper to interchange the battery than to purchase a wholly new cellphone — tariffs or not,” mentioned Holland. 

When you want a brand new cellphone, search for offers. Some retailers and carriers supply trade-in presents to swap your outdated cellphone for a reduction on the brand new cellphone. Nevertheless, Holland identified that for those who depend on your cellphone provider to finance your smartphone improve, that may make it much more tough to discover a deal. 

Methodology

All figures, except in any other case said, are from YouGov Plc. The full pattern dimension was 2,305 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken March 3-5, 2025. The survey was carried out on-line. The figures have been weighted and are consultant of all US adults (aged 18-plus).