If you’re confused about how the White House’s shifting tariff policies will impact the price of your next big tech purchase, you’re not alone. President Donald Trump’s latest executive order slashed “de minimis” tariffs on low-value shipments (under $800) from China to 30%, after previously upping it to 145% last month. This lower rate is only in effect for 90 days beginning May 14, but talks between the United States and China are expected to continue in the meantime.
Though this update may seem like a win, it’s still the largest import tax since the Great Depression. Price increases are particularly pertinent for people looking to buy smartphones and laptops, which combined make up 16% of China’s exports to the U.S., according to the BBC.
Multiple experts told HuffPost before Trump’s inauguration that personal electronics could get significantly more expensive. It was announced in April that electronics would be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, but with sector-specific tariffs likely to come soon, you should still expect price hikes. (Luckily, we have guides to buying tech like AirPods and robot vacuums.)
So if you’ve been hoping to buy a new smart watch, e-reader or other personal electronics in 2025, you might want to jump on that purchase sooner rather than later. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the tech worth adding to your cart ASAP. They’re splurges even now, but you could be saving money in the long run, and reviewers say these devices are worth having.
Ed Brzytwa, the vice president of international trade at Consumer Technology Association, previously told HuffPost that the prices of “laptops and tablets are predicted to rise by 46%.” Yikes.
If this is motivating you to finally take the plunge on that new tablet, know that we crowned the 10th-generation Apple iPad our top pick in our iPad buying guide, and it also has a stamp of approval from Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, Wired and CNET. It has an 11-inch display, an A16 Bionic chip and all-day battery life, making it great for streaming, reading, drawing, gaming, making video calls and so, so much more. You can get it now in four colors and three storage capacities (128, 256 or 512GB).
The 2024 model of the MacBook Air has the M3 chip for faster performance, and can last up to 18 hours before needing a charge. Available in four colors and with three storage capacities, other features of the laptop include a 13.6-inch liquid retina display and half-inch thin design, so you can easily stick this in a backpack or tote and take it on the go with you. As someone who bought a MacBook Air last year (though I have the older M2 version) and used my previous MacBook Air for over eight years before that, I can attest to the performance and ease of setup of these computers. Trust me, this is worth the investment.
Both myself and former HuffPost shopping writer Haley Zovickian are Kindle Paperwhite devotees. She previously wrote, "With the Kindle, instead of lugging around a 15-pound bag of books from place to place, I can hold thousands of titles at a fraction of the weight in my bag or a large pocket, completely comfortably. This has been nothing short of game-changing."
My Kindle Paperwhite is the reason I was able to more than double the amount of books I read in one year, from 12 in 2022 to 28 in 2023. My Kindle has essentially paid for itself, too, since I use the Libby app to check out digital copies of library books to read on my Kindle for free — no more time or money spent agonizing over bookstore prices, and I can have my next read in my hands within minutes of adding it to my TBR list.
While the experts we spoke to didn't specifically name headphones as one of the subcategories likely to be affected by tariffs, we think they count as personal electronics, too. And ICYMI, we chose the AirPods Pro 2 as our top pick for the best value among all the different models in our AirPods buying guide.
Why? Well, they have active noise cancellation, as well as a transparency mode and adaptive audio, so when you do want to hear your surroundings, you can. The conversation awareness feature even automatically lowers the volume of whatever you’re playing when you start speaking to someone. That’s in addition to their six-hour listening time and dust-, water- and sweat-resistant design.
You can charge the case wirelessly with a MagSafe charger or use the included USB-C cable. This is also the only AirPods model with silicone tips; you can ensure they fit your ear using the four pairs of different sizes included in the box.
Finally, the Pros debuted a hearing health experience this year. You can use them to take hearing tests and track your data, set up a hearing aid feature if you need it and protect your ears by preventing excessive exposure to loud noise.
Another category of personal electronics that could be affected? Digital cameras like GoPros. The Hero12 model can take ultra high-definition HDR photos and videos, but isn't nearly as bulky as other expensive cameras. It's also super durable, able to be dunked underwater down to 33 feet and still deliver high-quality images thanks to the water-repelling lens cover.
"I was always under the impression that GoPros were more for people who lead way more adventurous lives than I do," says Adam Schubak, growth strategist for the HuffPost shopping team, "but I decided to make the investment ahead of my wedding and honeymoon. I was so happy with the video quality that we ended up using it to record our ceremony in lieu of hiring a videographer. Since then, I take it with me on every vacation and family gathering to capture memories that I can relive at the click of a button."
If you’d prefer an e-reader from a non-Amazon brand, The Verge named the Kobo Libra Colour the best non-Amazon option in 2024. As the name implies, this e-reader does have color, but that’s not the only cool feature: If you buy the Kobo Stylus 2 (sold separately) you can annotate and highlight your books, as well as write in the built-in notebook feature, turning your the e-reader into a kind of journal, too.
The Libra Colour also has physical page-turning buttons (so you can avoid accidental swiping), and no lock screen ads — something you have to pay extra for with the Kindle. The Libra Colour also supports a ton of file types, including EPUBs. You can get it in white or black.
Promising Amazon review: “I am an avid reader, but have always preferred physical books. I decided to take a chance on this e-reader because of all the positive video reviews I saw. It does not disappoint. I’m soaring through books faster than ever. I love that I can see the book covers in color. When the book is in “sleep mode” you can still see the cover of the book that you were reading, which makes it feel akin to picking up and setting down a physical book. I’m also grateful for how It seamlessly imports e-books borrowed from the library. It’s going everywhere with me now!” — Jenna
No Apple products? No problem. This Samsung Galaxy smart watch is one of the highest-rated smartwatches on Consumer Reports, where it earned a score of 92 out of 100 for its ease of use, accuracy in measuring metrics like heart rate and durability.
The watch comes equipped with Galaxy AI, which among other things, can provide you with a daily Energy Score of your physical readiness each morning based on the previous day’s data. And just like how an Apple Watch can pair with your iPhone, you can connect the Galaxy Watch 7 to a Samsung Galaxy phone to answer texts and calls, play music and more. The watch comes in two sizes and three colors.
Promising Amazon review: “I got this so I could check messages while I'm working, tattooing, without having to remove my gloves. I wound up using it for so much more and don't know why I didn't pull the trigger and buy one a couple of years ago. I haven't worn a watch in 30 years and was worried about comfort. It was super comfortable straight out of the box. Buy one!” — Saltass
Calling all gamers: You might want to add that console you've been eyeing to your cart ASAP — like the Nintendo Switch, for example. You can operate the Switch as a handheld, as a tabletop console or by connecting it to your TV. The Joy-Con controllers are detachable, for local wireless multiplayer gaming. This version comes in a fun neon red and blue color scheme.
Boasting what one Amazon reviewer described as “amazing quality for the price,” JBL’s Tune 510BT headphones are designed to deliver the brand’s “pure” bass and a slightly astonishing 40-hour battery life for well under $50 (for now). They have a space-saving folding design and are compatible with both iOs and Android. Get these while they’re still fairly affordable.
If you prefer Android products and are looking for a tablet, CNET recommends the Google Pixel Tablet as a great option, especially for families. You can get it with or without a charging speaker dock at Amazon (Target currently only sells it with the dock, but CNET does recommend including the dock for an enhanced experience). The 11-inch tablet features Google AI, as well as Google apps like Gmail, Docs, Photos and more. This includes the Google Home app, which lets you control any Google smart devices you have, from the popular Nest thermostat to lights, cameras and more. Find them in two colors and two sizes.
Another fabulously affordable headphone option that may not stay that way for much longer, Soundcore’s P20i earbuds clock in at a mere $20 — for now. The water-resistant buds are designed with powerful bass and 22 convenient EQ presets that can be accessed through Soundcore’s app. A single charge offers up to 10 hours of listening, and the compact carrying case is equipped with a lanyard for easy transport.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to purchase a new smart watch, that time is now. And there are few smart watches more popular than the bestselling Apple Watch Series 10. The watch is equipped with safety features like fall and crash detection, which can notify emergency services in the case of an accident. You can also use Emergency SOS to call for help with one touch.
Of course, smart watches are also known for health and fitness tracking, and the Series 10 lets you monitor your workouts, plus health metrics like heart and respiratory rate. The watch case is crack- and dust-resistant, and comes in two sizes; you can also choose among multiple band sizes and color combos.
With four gigs of RAM and 64 gigs of storage space, this under-$200 laptop can support a variety of everyday computing tasks. The generous 14-inch screen makes using this machine a breeze, and a variety of USB ports and a card reader enable to put all of your accessories to good use.
If you prefer an over-the-ear style for headphones instead of earbuds, look no further than Bose's beloved QuietComfort headphones. Available in seven colors, these bad boys are noise-canceling (a feature you can toggle on or off), have high-fidelity audio and provide 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. They also come with an audio cable so you can listen to them without Bluetooth, too. And as the name suggests, the ear cushions can keep your ears nice and comfortable as you listen.
Available with 32 or 64 gigs of storage and with or without lockscreen ads, Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is a budget-friendly choice that offers plenty of diversions in the form of streaming, social media and more, along with a 13-hour battery life. The 1,080-pixel display measures over 10 inches and is compatible with Amazon’s stylus, which is sold separately. This model offers 25% faster performance than its predecessor, according to Amazon, and superior durability.
Based on some review feedback, we’d advise checking Amazon’s list of Fire-compatible apps to ensure that this tablet can run your favorites.
In the market for a new smartphone? Now's the time to grab one, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra just might be the one for you. Not only is it stunning, but it has a professional-grade camera, 5G connectivity and an included stylus pen to make tapping, swiping and more even easier. The phone also lets you play around with Galaxy AI, in case you want to test out the Portrait Studio, live translations and other functions. You can choose from two memory storage sizes.
With 4.7 stars across over 6,600 ratings on Amazon, the PlayStation 5 console is worth its steep price, according to reviewers. Enjoy immersive sound as you play, thanks to Tempest 3D AudioTech, not to mention fast loading times and a terabyte of storage, so all your favorite games can be ready for you to jump in and play.