US President Donald Trump’s steep new import duties will drive up prices for most major tech products in the coming year, according to economists. But whether that will change the timing of your next tech purchase depends on what kind of tech you need.

We asked CNET’s experts for their thoughts on what devices and products you should look at buying now, and what you can wait on, covering everything from phones, earbuds and laptops to gaming consoles, smart thermostats, electric vehicles and cameras.

Many of these products are either imported in their entirety or contain components that are not made in the US, like graphics processing units for PCs. Importing all those separate components will lead to higher costs under Trump’s barrage of tariffs.

Read more: Tariffs Explained: Impacts for You as Trump Confirms Worldwide Tariff Wave

The tariffs will have an effect on a sweeping range of consumer expenditures, well beyond just tech products. Your groceries will likely see bumps in the prices of bananas, coffee and seafood, among other things. Much of the clothing, footwear and furniture we buy is made overseas. It’s an indication of how the modern economy is built on a global scale with often complicated lines of interdependence. The Trump administration is hoping that the tariffs will lead to more manufacturing on American soil.

If you’re not ready to make a purchase now, don’t let yourself be rushed. Especially for products priced in the thousands of dollars — you should always make sure that a purchase is a good fit for your budget. It’s also unknown at the moment how long the tariffs might be in effect.

«The tariffs are sweeping, and the effects are going to be even broader,» says Neale Mahoney, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and professor of economics at Stanford University. «It’s not a good time to be a consumer.»

Read more: How Much Will iPhone and Other Apple Prices Increase With ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs?

Even goods that aren’t directly impacted by the new tariffs could increase in price, according to Mahoney. During the first Trump administration, tariffs increased prices on washing machines, not dryers, but dryer prices increased as well. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, used car prices increased along with new car prices.

«There’s going to be some uncertainty as we move to what economists call a new equilibrium,» he says.

Read more: CNET Survey: Worries Over Tariff Price Hikes Are Pushing Americans to Buy Tech Sooner

Mobile devices

Phones

While Trump’s tariffs are aimed at increasing US-based manufacturing and boosting sales of products already made here, CNET’s managing editor for the mobile team, Patrick Holland, points out that there isn’t a mainstream phone that’s completely made in the US.

«Components come from all around the world,» Holland says. «That’s true for Apple, Samsung or Xiaomi. So Apple being based in the US is at a similar disadvantage from tariffs as Samsung is being based in South Korea.»

Holland is optimistic that Apple will find a way to offset or absorb some of the increased importation costs in the short term. Nearly all iPhones are made in China, with the rest also made overseas. 

Read more: Mortgage Rate Predictions: Will Tariffs Impact Spring Homebuying?

Holland’s advice is to hold onto your current phone for as long as you can, rather than running out to buy one in the hopes of beating a possible price hike.

Other experts are also warning against panic buying an iPhone, despite predicting that Apple’s prices could rise by around 10% in coming months. «[Tariffs] could lead to price increases of $50 to $150 on higher-end products like the iPhone Pro Max models and MacBook Pros,» Stephan Shipe, a certified financial planner and CEO of Scholar Financial Advising, told CNET earlier this week.

Wall Street analysts from Rosenblatt Securities, according to Reuters, anticipate that if the 43% tariff on China is passed to consumers, the cost of an iPhone 16 could rise from $799 to $1,142; the iPhone 16 Pro Max could increase from $1,599 to $2,300; and even the newly launched low-end iPhone 16e could increase in pricing from $599 to $856.

And prices could be driven even higher after China on Friday retaliated by placing export restrictions on rare earth elements used in producing phones, EVs and other electronics.

If tariffs and general inflation are affecting your ability to pay for a brand new, high-end phone, Holland’s best budget pick for those looking for a deal on a phone is the $500 Google Pixel 8A. «It has one of the best values of any phone sold today,» he says. «But I look forward to testing the recently announced Pixel 9A that goes on sale Thursday, April 10.»

Smartwatches

Smartwatches may not be affected by the tariffs this year, according to Vanessa Hand Orellana, CNET lead writer for smartwatches and wearable technology. «I’m not sure if it will hit this year’s smartwatch production cycle despite reports,» she says. «At this point in production, it’s likely that all the manufacturing pieces for the 2025 watch models have already been ordered.»

But for next year’s watch production, she’s hopeful that Trump will realize the economic blow to businesses and individuals and reverse his stance on tariffs just like he did with the TikTok ban. Otherwise, tariffs will no doubt affect the pricing of 2026 smartwatches.

Hand Orellana also cautioned against panic buying: «I know a lot of people who are stocking up on products right now because of tariffs, and I can’t help feeling that this doomsday-style planning is just going to leave me with a pile of stuff,» she says. 

Earbuds

If you’re in the market for a new set of earbuds, CNET executive editor David Carnoy says pricing will likely remain the same for existing inventory already in stores. 

«But as inventory is depleted, prices could rise if the tariffs remain in place. And all bets are off for new products coming to market,» Carnoy says. 

Current products should remain stable, but we could be in for «sticker shock» with new product releases from big names later this year. Carnoy has already seen Edifier increase its price of the NeoBuds Planar; they were initially set to be launched at $200, but when they hit the market on March 11, they were adjusted to $300 due to an increase in tariffs.

«As Edifier did, companies will bake in the price increase at launch. We were seeing $10 to $20 inflationary price increases on more premium next-gen earbuds and headphones even before the tariffs. We could see $40 to $50 price increases now with new products,» Carnoy warns.

Gaming consoles

High-end consoles

The question is whether retailers will instantly begin raising prices, or whether new pricing would only apply to inventory that’s imported from now on, CNET senior editor and gaming writer David Lumb says. He advises buying before the next restock in the next few days or the next week or two, just to make absolutely sure, if a purchase is something you’ve already budgeted for.

«If you really want a console already on the market, my instinct is to buy before the next restock to make absolutely sure — whether that means in the next few days or the next week or two,» Lumb advises. «Companies are reeling now, but still selling.»

The Nintendo Switch 2, introduced this week, is also likely to be affected. It won’t be available until June 5, but already US preorders of the Switch 2 have been delayed due to the tariffs. Preorders of the Switch 2 were supposed to begin on April 9, with a starting price of $450. It’s not yet known whether the pricing will increase, or what date preorders will begin.

«If people want a console currently on the market, like the PS5 or Xbox Series X, it might be smart to buy now,» Lumb says. «Even if retailers don’t need to raise prices, they might anyway out of uncertainty, panic or greed.»

Gaming PCs

Like laptops and phones, the biggest worry is over the internal components of gaming PCs. «These will almost surely get hit with tariff-related increases — especially since many are made by smaller companies than Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft that can absorb some or all of these tariff increases (if they want),» Lumb says. 

Several factors have already made GPUs a high-cost component, and this will likely only worsen with tariffs.

«GPUs have seen skyrocketing prices in the last 6 to 8 years due to successive event trends that caused scarcity — namely the crypto mining craze and pandemic-related supply chain issues, during which the world’s biggest GPU maker, Nvidia, steadily raised its prices,» Lumb explains. That, combined with its central role in the gen AI boom, caused stocks to skyrocket and Nvidia to become one of the richest companies in the world, he says. «So they won’t blink at raising GPU prices even more.»

AMD told CNET that while semiconductors are exempt from the new tariffs, it is «assessing the details and any impacts on our broader customer and partner ecosystem.»

Handheld consoles

As for handheld gaming consoles, like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Go S and the other smaller PC-on-the-go handhelds, Lumb predicts tariff pricing increases will kick in pretty quickly as these devices «don’t have the institutional resistance to keep prices low.»

«If you’re thinking about a handheld, it’s probably better to buy one now,» he advises.

So the gamers who are most advised to «buy now» are those buying PCs or handheld gaming devices. 

Computers

Laptops and PCs

The tariffs are going to require buyers to be smart shoppers, hunting for bargains.

«I’ve already seen prices increase on laptops since the threat of tariffs were known,» says Matthew Elliott, CNET senior editor for laptops and computers. «But most vendors and online retailers offer rotating sales, so you can still find a good deal if you have the time and patience to monitor pricing, and time your purchase for when a discount hits the model you want.»

Tariffs have already affected laptop pricing. Acer CEO Jason Chen said in February that the company would raise its prices by 10% in anticipation. «We will have to adjust the end user price to reflect the tariff,» the CEO of the Taiwan-based company said. «We think 10 (percent) probably will be the default price increase because of the import tax. It’s very straightforward.»

Even if computer companies want to shift and obtain their parts from the US, it’s not likely to be practical.

«All computers and peripherals are likely to be touched by these global tariffs in some way,» says Josh Goldman, CNET managing editor for computers. «While there are companies big and small that assemble PCs in the US and there are US component makers, it’s unlikely all parts can currently be sourced from US manufacturers.»

His advice is to get that computer soon if you need one, but — as Elliott notes above — look for sales and deals, like the upcoming Memorial Day sales.

«I wouldn’t wait to see if prices go up and out of financial reach,» Goldman recommends. «That said, spring is typically filled with sales on tech for Memorial Day weekend, dads and grads and then back-to-school. Discounts might not be as deep as in the past, but if you keep an eye on a model you want, you should be able to minimize the impact of the tariffs on your purchase.»

One tiny bit of good news is that you may not have to worry about the pricing of used and refurbished tech devices and laptops. They could be a good way to save money and keep tech out of landfill.

But don’t get too excited: «If the tariffs do drastically increase the prices on new computers for an extended time, it’s possible even the prices on refurbished devices will go up with demand,» Goldman warns.

Home tech

Now is also a good time to buy smart home tech like higher-end security cameras, video doorbells, smart thermostats and smart displays, according to the advice of Tyler Lacoma, CNET smart home and home security editor. Especially if you’re eyeing home devices in the over-$200 price point.

«The impact of tariffs will be most noticeable among smart home technology that already has higher prices,» Lacoma says. 

But don’t expect to find a secret cache of smart-home products that will go untouched by the tariffs.

«Home tech devices are a combination of computer chips, electronic components and many different frame materials,» he says. «I doubt there is any device that will be unaffected by the latest tariff news.»

Cameras

If you’ve got a camera on your wish list, you shouldn’t wait to buy it, says CNET senior writer Jeff Carlson — who’s written numerous books about photography and who co-hosts the PhotoActive.co podcast.

«I hate to inspire panic-buying, but I’d say if you’re already planning on buying a camera now but wanted to wait until the next revision rolls around, it’s possible that waiting will cost you more,» Carlson warns.

A lot of camera equipment comes from Japan, and as recently as a week ago, some photography experts were hoping that country wouldn’t be affected by the tariffs. But Carlson still found himself in an exceptionally crowded camera store recently, as buyers worried that any electronics from Asia might jump in price.

«And now we know that Japan is included, so they were right to come in,» Carlson notes.

Electric vehicles and other cars

Most Americans can’t rush out and stock up on SUVs just because of the new tariffs, even though car prices will almost certainly go up. But you might not realize that vehicles aren’t the only automotive item that will be affected — things like dashboard cameras and EV chargers for your home could also become more expensive.

«The tariffs will also likely affect automotive parts and accessories, so if you’re on the fence about picking up a dash cam, portable jump starter or extra EV charger, now might be a good time to pull the trigger,» says Antuan Goodwin, CNET writer and automotive and EVs expert.

The tariffs aren’t good news for car junkies, Goodwin notes.

«Many of the tariffs are laser-targeted at the automotive industry, so there’s not much that won’t be affected,» he says. «From the vehicles themselves to the parts they’re made of, consumers should expect that everything automotive, even for domestic makes, will get more expensive.»

The tariffs could also mean more expensive repairs and replacement parts for the cars we already own.

After surviving the endless night in New York City with the Fantastic Four, Marvel Rivals players are getting invited to the shores of Krakoa for the start of season 2 on April 11. The game dropped the first trailer for the new season, giving us our first official look at the new heroes, and a developer vision video dropped major news about the future of hero releases. 

The trailer features the former foe and sometimes-leader of the X-Men, Emma Frost, inviting people from across Rivals’ various timelines to the mutant nation of Krakoa, where everyone gets dressed up for a fancy gala — even Wolverine puts on a white tux. The event, however, is unceremoniously interrupted when Ultron shows up preaching extermination. 

We also got a look at some of the cosmetics in season 2, though it’s unclear which are from the shop and which might be in the battle pass. In addition to the dressed-up Wolverine, we also got looks at Magik and Psylocke in the traditional X-Men blue and yellow. Nonmutant guests are also getting in on the fun, with fancy attire for heroes like Cap, Widow and Luna Snow. 

New Heroes and balance changes in Marvel Rivals Season 2

Emma Frost joins the roster as a Vanguard who can project a shield forward, give herself damage reduction by going into her diamond form, and also choke-slam people while insulting them. We got a glimpse at her abilities in her hero trailer, but we don’t have detailed information about her abilities yet — expect that information to drop ahead of next week’s season launch. Ultron is coming in the season 2.5 update, which should be in late May. 

Some team-ups are changing in season 2, including three new team-up abilities that were previewed in the newest developer vision video. 

• Emma Frost allows Magneto and Psylocke to create illusions of themselves.
• Doctor Strange teams up with Scarlet Witch allowing her to use small portals to seemingly increase her damage output via a rapid-shooting alternate fire.  
• Cap finally teams up with Bucky, allowing the Winter Soldier to leap to allies.

A few existing team-ups are getting adjustments, with Psylocke, Winter Soldier and Doctor Strange being removed from older team-ups in favor of new ones, and Namor moving from working with Luna’s anchor to Hulk’s to empower his ultimate with gamma energy. Two team-ups are being removed entirely: Magneto can no longer team up with Scarlet Witch, and Thor is no longer anchoring Cap and Storm.

Rivals announced the full list of season 2 balance changes, including buffs to Peni, Mister Fantastic and Moon Knight, with Strange losing some damage for more survivability (via his new anchor buff) and Rocket getting several adjustments, while Loki and Adam Warlock receive nerfs to their Regeneration Domain and Soul Bond abilities.

Future seasons will be shorter, which means more new heroes

One of the most surprising moments in the developer video was the announcement that, beginning with season 3, seasons will be two months long instead of roughly three. There has been a lot of discussion online about whether Rivals’ pace of new heroes (about eight per year based on three-month seasons) was sustainable. Well, apparently the Rivals devs took that personally and are cranking up that pace to a new hero every month, meaning 12 new heroes per year. 

This feels borderline ludicrous compared with other hero shooters that average about three new heroes per year, or even MOBAs like League of Legends, which has averaged about four new champions per year over the past five years. Rivals benefits from having an overflowing stable of Marvel characters to pull from rather than inventing their own hero concepts, and compared with Overwatch, the developers seem less worried about mechanical overlap in their heroes, as seen with many support ultimates. Still, a new hero every month feels unheard of for a hero shooter.

New Krakoa map and competitive changes

Season 2 is adding two new maps, including a Krakoa-themed domination map at the season’s start. Yggsgard: Royal Palace (domination) and Tokyo 2099: Shin-Shibuya (convergence) will rotate out of the map pool for ranked modes, though they’ll still be available in quick play and custom games.

The threshold for competitive picks and bans, which currently only happen in diamond-ranked lobbies, will be lowered to gold 3. Players in Eternity or One Above All ranks will only be able to duo queue, instead of queuing with larger groups — a measure that’s likely intended to keep high-level teams from stomping lobbies. 

Speaking of ranks, season 2 will drop everyone by 9 divisions, which is equal to 3 ranks. That means players in Eternity will drop to diamond, and any players at platinum 3 or below will start their climb from bronze 3 again. (AGAIN… AGAIN.)

Rivals developers also announced that individual player performance will be weighted higher when determining competitive progress after a match, meaning if your stats outperform your team’s, you’ll earn more for winning and drop less for losing. This change can help elevate smurfs and other high-skill players in lower-ranked lobbies by getting them into their appropriate ranks faster. However, it can also lead to players stat-farming, instead of playing in a way that is most effective for winning games. Overall, given that Rivals doesn’t use any sort of competitive placement matches, this should be a net positive for the game.

Other announcements

Rivals is adding new skin recolors to certain hero skins and (finally) giving players the option to gift costumes to their friends so they can surprise someone for their birthday, which you definitely did not forget about.  

Missions are changing a bit, with the addition of weekly missions and a redistribution of where battle-pass-progressing chrono tokens are earned. The devs framed this as creating a «smoother expectation» of how to earn chrono tokens, but the surface-level description sounds like they’re just making it harder to earn battle pass progress over the season by tucking away more progress under missions with shorter time limits.

The developer vision update also gave us our first look at the competitive distribution, showing how many Rivals players are in each tier as of season 1.5. 

The Hellfire Gala trailer says season 2 will start on April 11 UTC. While it doesn’t give a specific start time, expect the between-seasons maintenance to finish sometime in the middle of the night in the US.

For more on Marvel Rivals, check out which heroes and roles you should play and how to get free skins.

It’s finally here. Well, almost. The Nintendo Direct event on April 3 gave us our first concrete information about its highly anticipated Switch 2 console. In addition to the official release date (June 5), we also got details about the specs, price and some hot new titles. Preorders were originally supposed to open on April 9, but the new tariffs mean that US customers will have to wait a little longer. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you want to know, including when and how you’ll be able to preorder one of these nifty new handhelds.

Where to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2

When can I preorder the Nintendo Switch 2

Preorders we’re originally set to open on April 9, and for most countries, that is still the case. However, in light of the new US tariffs, Nintendo has delayed preorders in the United States while it assesses «the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.» As of now, there are no details about when US preorders will start, but we’re closely monitoring the situation and will update this page as soon as new information is available.

Read More: How Nintendo is Combating Switch 2 Scalpers

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

The standalone console will start at $450, which is a $150 increase compared to the original console. You can also bundle it with Mario Kart World for $500, which saves you $30 compared to purchasing the game and system separately.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 be released?

The Switch 2 will officially begin shipping on June 5. As of now, Nintendo has stated that the preorder delay in the US will not affect the release date.

When can I preorder Nintendo Switch 2 accessories?

Nintendo and several other retailers already have preorder pages for controllers, cases and other accessories, as well as games. It’s likely that preorders will begin at the same time as consoles, but there’s no official confirmation as of yet.

When can I preorder Nintendo Switch 2 games?

As with accessories, we expect that Switch 2 game preorders will be available when console preorders go live.

Nintendo Switch 2 preorders: What are people saying?

Feeling about the Switch 2 are mixed — to say the least. While the new console certainly offers some nice upgrades over it’s predecessor, including a larger screen, improved Joy-Cons and boosted storage, many are wondering if it’s enough to justify a fairly significant price hike. Especially when you consider with the new $80 price tag of its two biggest launch-window games — Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. CNET gaming expert Scott Stein sums it up as a console that «feels a lot like an updated version of a system many people already own.» Additionally, the confusion about preorder availability has many gamers wondering if they’d be better off waiting a year or two and grabbing a refurbished console at a lower price.