Tech Tariff Anxiety Is Still High. CNET Survey Finds 64% of Shoppers Are Rushing to Buy Tech to Dodge Price Spikes and Shortages

CNET

15 hours ago

Cole Kan/CNET
Over the past few months, tariff threats have left Americans stressed about their finances. As the US foreign trade tug-of-war makes it more difficult to predict future costs, many people are opting to make purchases sooner, especially when it comes to tech.
A new CNET survey found that 36% of US adults feel the pressure to make purchases in anticipation of price increases and shortages, a 2% decline since our March tariff survey. But tech tariff anxiety is even higher, with 64% of shoppers saying they've bought or plan to buy a tech product soon to avoid price increases or shortages.
President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on numerous imported goods and countries, including a 50% tariff on all steel and aluminum and a 30% tariff on all Chinese imports. A new deal with China could soon push the tariff to 55%.
The game changer will be the reciprocal tariffs for countries that Trump deems responsible for the US trade deficit. Reciprocal tariffs initially were set to go into effect in April but were paused for 90 days to give time for negotiations. However, that time is ticking away, and the pause is expected to end on July 8 -- right at the start of one of the most popular sales events of the year, Amazon Prime Day.
Here's a deep dive into CNET's latest findings on tariffs and how you can save money even if the US foreign trade policy causes prices to creep up.
Cole Kan/CNET
Key takeaways 36% of US adults have felt pressure to make purchases ahead of price increases and shortages, down 2% from March.
Tariff anxiety is even higher for those looking to make tech purchases. 64% of shoppers have bought or plan to buy a tech product soon; 51% have bought or plan to buy a personal tech device soon (smartphone, laptop or tablet).
19% of adults have felt pressure to make purchases ahead of tariff price increases, but haven't made any yet.
39% have already purchased or are planning to buy smartphones due to tariff-driven price increases and fears of supply shortages, down from 48% in March.
Gen Z is turning to the second-hand electronics market (29%) more than other generations to buy more-affordable tech.
Americans are still worried about tariffs
Higher prices, even marginal changes, shrink the value of our paychecks and buying power, but US adults have different thoughts on how much that will change their purchasing plans.
In March, CNET conducted a survey gauging US adults' thoughts on tariffs, before Trump's Liberation Day announcement of a slew of them. Back then, over half of US adults (55%) didn't feel pressure to make purchases ahead of tariffs. That sentiment didn't change much in June, rising by only 2 percentage points.
However, tariff pressure is still a big deal for many US adults: 17% of US adults (in March and June) felt pressure and made purchases ahead of potential tariffs. And in June, 19% of adults felt pressure to make purchases but hadn't made any yet. That's down slightly (2%) since March. Here's a closer look.
US adults are worried tariffs will drive up tech prices
Tariffs could hit tech prices hard, even for items manufactured in the US. Experts say that if a tech device includes parts made in a country where tariffs are imposed, you can expect to pay more.
US adults are most concerned about tariffs increasing prices for smartphones and laptops.
Shoppers feel the most tariff anxiety around smartphones
Among the electronics that could be affected by tariffs, smartphones are the devices Americans are most focused on buying before prices rise. Fourteen percent of US adults have already purchased a smartphone, and 25% are planning to buy one, to sidestep possible tariff-led price increases or supply shortages.
CNET estimated that the potential effect of tariffs on Apple's iPhones could raise the current $1,600 price of a 1TB iPhone 16 Pro Max to more than $2,400, if the device is made in China and subject to the 25% Apple tax. The rumored iPhone 17, expected in September, could potentially cost even more, given that experts were already anticipating a price hike for the new line, regardless of tariffs.
Patrick Holland, CNET's managing editor for mobile, warns against panic buying a new phone, noting that manufacturers haven't yet raised prices on phones currently available.
"What's nice about this time of year is that Samsung, Google and Apple will all be announcing new phones over the coming months and you can find discounts on last year's models on Amazon or other third-party retailers as they make room for new models," said Holland.
An iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 will still be a solid phone pick within a year or two, Holland said. The Google Pixel 9A is another solid choice that costs about $500 before discounts.
If you're waiting for the iPhone 17, Holland says Apple usually discounts its older non-Pro iPhone models by about $100 when new devices are released.
Laptops are a top tech priority for tariff-concerned shoppers
Another personal tech device shoppers are eyeing is the laptop, with 23% of US adults saying they plan to buy a laptop soon to avoid potential price hikes.
Some manufacturers have warned that price hikes are coming as tariffs drive up manufacturing costs. That could be concerning with back-to-school season around the corner. If you're already on the hunt for a laptop, CNET experts don't recommend waiting.
Although the best deals won't hit until the holiday shopping season in the fall, if you need one ahead of the school year, shopping during Prime Day could help you find some savings.
"It might be worthwhile to pull the trigger now with the understanding that it could be a few dollars less when Black Friday rolls around," said Josh Goldman, CNET's computing and home entertainment editor.
It might be tempting to snag the cheapest laptop deal you can find, but Goldman doesn't recommend this.
"Any laptop or tablet under $300 will skimp on performance and/or features, there's no way around it," said Goldman. "It's knowing what you really need -- and can do without -- that's key to a good budget pick."
If you're looking for a traditional laptop, Goldman said you may be able to find an Acer laptop below $500. If you don't need Windows or Mac operating software, he suggests a Chromebook, noting that good ones often drop to less than $300 during Prime Day.
More shoppers are ready to buy home appliances before prices rise
Our latest survey found that a greater number of shoppers are planning to purchase home appliances (23%) than in March (19%) to avoid potential tariff-related price hikes or shortages.
Experts have previously told CNET that refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are likely to see price increases, since many of their components are made in other countries, even when the final product is assembled in the US.
If you're in the market for a new home appliance, keep an eye out for deals this week.
Fewer shoppers plan to buy TVs, gaming consoles and smart home tech
Compared with March, not as many US adults say they're looking to buy TVs (19%), video game consoles (17%) or smart home devices (15%).
Now isn't the best time to buy a new TV, according to David Katzmaier, CNET's TV reviewer and senior editorial director for personal tech. Instead, he recommends waiting until Black Friday and other holiday sales.
"If you don't need a new TV now, it makes sense to wait. In other words, tariffs aren't a good reason to buy a TV now," said Katzmaier.
If you're looking for new smart tech, Tyler Lacoma, CNET's home editor, has been tracking the prices of goods and electronics. So far, he's seen very little movement in smart home tech prices due to tariffs, but he doesn't know how long that will last, since most smart home devices are manufactured in China and elsewhere overseas.
"Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to get home tech you've been thinking about, especially if you're worried about tariffs pushing prices higher before end-of-year holidays," said Lacoma.
Most Americans are overlooking savings from shopping secondhand
To sidestep tariff concerns, 17% of US adults are turning to the secondhand electronics market for savings. Gen Z leads the charge, with 29% of US adults in this generation purchasing or planning to purchase secondhand electronics.
Can you save more by shopping for new tech during sales events like Prime Day or by buying secondhand or refurbished electronics? The answer depends on which tech you're buying.
When it comes to phones, you may be able to save 10% to 15% when you buy a refurbished device from a manufacturer, like Apple, Holland said. However, if new phone prices go up, the price of refurbished phones will increase, too.
You may be able to find deals on refurbished laptops to compete with Prime Day sales, Goldman said. However, the difference hasn't been significant enough to convince him not to buy new electronics.
If you buy used or refurbished tech, CNET experts recommend paying close attention to the warranty and return policy. And buy from trusted resellers, such as Backmarket, eBay and product manufacturers.
Read more: Tariffs Are Raising Prices. Here's How You Can Still Save on Tech
Expert tips to save money on new tech
If you're already planning to buy new electronics, Prime Day could be a good time to save. Here are some tips to help you find the right product at the best price.
Use price trackers
One tried-and-true method for scoring the lowest price is tracking product prices leading up to Prime Day.
"It's fairly common for some retailers to slowly increase prices on products that will be on sale during the shopping event," said Russell Holly, CNET's shopping managing editor. "That's because it makes the discount look more significant than it otherwise would look, but price tracking tools help us keep the retailers honest."
CNET's shopping experts always look at the past six months of prices before recommending an on-sale product, to make sure you're saving money. So keep an eye out on our Prime Day coverage for the real deals.
Holly also recommends using CamelCamelCamel.com to track price history on other items CNET may not be tracking. You can see historical prices and set up price drop alerts so you'll know if you're getting a good deal. CamelCamelCamel is free and will work only for Amazon, but you don't need an Amazon account to track prices.
You'll still want to track prices after sales end, too. Especially if they increased before a big sale.
"The real test in regards to tariffs will be whether those higher prices remain after the event has ended or they return to current norms," Holly added.
Lookout for Amazon's invite-only deals
You may be able to score limited-time offers with Amazon's invite-only deals.
"Invite-only deals are Amazon's way to create a digital line to get something that is deeply discounted with limited stock," said Holly. "It reduces the opportunities for scalpers to buy the products and resell them at a higher price, and ensures the people in this digital line are serious about the purchase."
You can filter to invite-only deals on Amazon, and they'll have a badge by the item a few days before -- or even during -- the sale. You'll need to request an invite, and access to the deal isn't guaranteed. Also, it's still worth checking the price history and seeing what competitors are offering.
Don't worry about reciprocal tariffs hiking Prime Day sale prices
The expiration date for the pause on reciprocal tariffs is July 8, during the Prime Day sale. If an agreement isn't reached by then, we could see high tariffs across multiple countries. But you shouldn't have to worry about prices randomly jumping higher due to tariffs during the sale if products are already in the US.
Most importantly, don't let the fear of higher prices lead you to make impulse purchases you didn't plan for. Buying big-ticket tech items on a whim can lead to financial trouble, like credit card debt.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,441 adults, of whom 1,056 were feeling pressure to make purchases ahead of tariffs. Fieldwork was undertaken between June 5 and June 9, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 plus).