With Donald Trump’s tariffs coming into effect today, the cost of an iPhone could rise- and if it was manufactured in the U.S. entirely, it could rise further.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China and other major tech exporters are going into effect today, and consumers could feel the strain in the form of higher prices for smartphones.
The White House has said that the purpose of the tariffs is to encourage companies to build in the U.S, but experts have said moving the supply chains required for products such as the iPhone could increase prices to as high as $100,000.
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment on the tariffs on China via email.
Trump’s tariffs went into effect on April 9, meaning the cost of importing goods into the U.S. from other countries is much higher. The tariffs are particularly high on China, which faces a 104 percent tax on all imports.
However, China and other affected countries are essential to the supply chains for technologies like smartphones, computers, and lithium-ion batteries, meaning costs could soar if manufacturing were moved entirely to the U.S.
This led to Apple reportedly flying phones directly from China and India by the planeful in order to avoid the tariffs, according to The Times of India.
As of the end of 2024, the average price for an iPhone was $1,018. According to the Mac Observer, up from $918 the year before.
