According to the CTA, this increase will be linked to plans for customs tariffs on Chinese imports wanted by Donald Trump, with a planned rate of 60%. According to projections, the new POTUS's customs policy will have major repercussions for gamers. The price of consoles would increase by 40%, up to $1,000 for the PS5 Pro. As for GPUs for gaming or AI, prices would increase from $900 to $1,300.
Import taxes will hurt the wallet
As for screens, desktop PCs and headsets, we are talking about respective increases of $109, $74 and $35. For laptops and tablets, the increase would be 46%, and 26% for smartphones. The Nintendo Switch 2 would be sold at a price significantly higher than that of the current generation.
Ed Brzytwa, CTA vice president of international trade, explains in an interview with Tom’s Hardware what “These taxes are paid by Americans, not foreign governments”. According to him, the impact will be heavy on consumers with modest incomes.
During his first term, Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese imports. But technology sector lobbies had achieved the feat of obtaining an exception for electronic products. It remains to be seen whether this will be the case for the billionaire's second presidency.
These additional costs will be paid by consumers
The CTA therefore anticipates that if these measures are applied, prices will be increased and production will be relocated to other countries to avoid taxes. According to experts, production will not take place in the United States because of high costs. American workers will therefore not benefit.
AutoAone CEO Philip Daniele announced during a conference call in September that these additional costs will be passed on to consumers. The best thing for players? Buy gaming equipment without waiting too long since taxes are scheduled for January 2025.
Sony Playstation PS5 Pro: read the review
The PlayStation 5 Pro offers improved graphics, more advanced ray tracing and higher frame rates, making it Sony's most powerful and expensive console. Its design is similar to the PS5 Slim, but slightly larger, with fins for better ventilation, and storage doubled to 2 TB. For optimized games, the PS5 Pro offers 4K resolution at 60 fps, or even 8K or 120 fps for some titles, with significantly greater visual detail. Despite its high price, it represents a solid investment for gamers looking for a smooth and immersive gaming experience for years to come.
