Buying an iPhone in 2025 could become a real luxury if analysts’ predictions come true. The United States has announced a series of tariffs against China that threaten to drive up the price of Apple devices, and users who were waiting for the launch of the iPhone 17 in the fall could find themselves in for an unpleasant surprise in the form of a price increase of up to 43%.
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The measure announced by Trump, which imposes an additional 34% tariff on Chinese imports, is in addition to the 20% already in place, bringing the total to 54%. And although Apple has diversified part of its production to countries such as India, Vietnam, and Malaysia, these countries are also included in the new tariffs. Thus, the effect will be widespread across all products that depend on the Asian supply chain. According to estimates, Apple will be forced to increase the prices of the iPhone and Apple Watch by 43%, the iPad by 42%, and the Mac and AirPods by up to 39%.
The situation is so critical that some current models could reach stratospheric prices. The iPhone 16e, which currently costs $599 in the United States, could rise to over $850. The standard iPhone 16, with a starting price of $799, could exceed $1,140, bringing it on par with the current iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The question many are asking is: will Apple absorb some of the blow or pass the entire impact on to consumers? Some sources suggest the company has been preparing for this situation and has accelerated domestic product supply in the United States to avoid an immediate spike. According to the executive order signed by Trump, goods in transit before April 9 will be exempt from tariffs.
However, when supplies begin to dwindle, Apple will have to make difficult decisions. Raising prices could curb demand, but not doing so could erode its profit margins and negatively impact the company’s stock market value. Experts believe it’s unlikely Apple will not raise the cost of its products by at least 30%.
Trump puts Apple in trouble
It’s possible that Apple will delay the price increase until the launch of the iPhone 17, scheduled for this fall. This is according to Angelo Zino of CFRA Research, who believes the company could hold prices for a few months. Even so, everything points to the next generation of devices being more expensive.
In the past, Apple has already managed to get its flagship products, such as the iPhone and the Apple Watch, exempt from the tariffs imposed by Trump, but this time the story is different. So far, no exemptions have been granted, and according to the legal framework used (the Emergency International Economic Powers Act), any exception must come directly from a presidential order. Cook has already tried to approach Trump, including with multimillion-dollar donations, but so far without success.
Given this scenario, the experts’ recommendation is clear: if you’re planning to buy an Apple device soon, it’s best not to wait too long. There are already worrying signs in the market, such as the cancellation of Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US, directly attributed to the impact of the tariffs.
The new tariffs go into effect on April 9th. And while there may still be changes, there’s no guarantee that prices will drop again. So, if your iPhone starts giving you problems, this could be the last train before the tariffs turn it into a luxury product.
