US PC prices could soar if Trump tariff threats come true

Date:
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Proposed import tariffs for the US could see PC costs rise as much as 46%,
with smartphones also becoming more expensive.

FULL STORY

New research from Canalys has confirmed recent healthy growth in the US PC market, with shipments rising 7% year-over-year to 17.9 million units in the third quarter of 2024, however the outlook for the near future isnt quite so positive.

The firm stated market recovery could slow down in the months ahead due to potential headwinds related to macroeconomic policies a result of Trumps upcoming presidency.

Further factors, like weaker momentum in the Windows refresh cycle despite
the outgoing OS, Windows 10, losing support in October 2025, are also set to impact the market.

US PC market facing upcoming challenges

With quarterly growth set to continue into the first quarter of 2025, Canalys is predicting a shrinking market in the second quarter, with third- and fourth-quarter growth barely in single-digit figures.

The predicted 2% growth for 2025 as a whole will be significantly less than
the 6% expected in 2024. Last year's figures have not yet been released.

Despite slowing growth, buyer splits remain fairly consistent, with consumers accounting for around 37% of purchases and commercial customers taking 43-44% of the market. Government and education customers make up the remaining
buyers.

Canalys Analyst Greg Davis commented: With the 2024 US Presidential election coming to a close, macroeconomic conditions in the US are not expected to be
as stable in the near-term as they have been over the last year or two.

The companys release cites recent Consumer Technology Association research, which suggests that proposed tariffs under Trumps upcoming leadership could increase laptop and tablet prices by as much as 46%. Smartphones could also
see a 26% price hike following proposed tariffs of 10-20% on imports from
most countries, and 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.

A struggling market and rising costs mark a significant change from Canalys expectations from September 2024, when the company declared that US PC shipments could grow by 6% in both 2024 and 2025.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/us-pc-prices-could-soar-if-trump-tariff-threats- come-true

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Proposed import tariffs for the US could see PC costs rise as much as
46%, with smartphones also becoming more expensive.

I'm down with it. I've been using the same PC for 6 years now and I'd be fine with going back to one of my old 32 bit PCs that are in the basement, if I had to.

While some people might agree with me on that, here's another shocker: I don't mind one bit if I had to quit using my cellphone. I never take it with me anywhere, unless I'm going on a long trip. Even then, I'll be the first to admit that I hate cellphones and I'd be fine with going back to the landline.

Especially if it helps President Trump accomplish his goals. His goals are my goals too.

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Proposed import tariffs for the US could see PC costs rise as much as 46%, with smartphones also becoming more expensive.

I'm down with it. I've been using the same PC for 6 years now and I'd be fine with going back to one of my old 32 bit PCs that are in the basement, if I

ad

to.

Good luck finding a updated OS that will work on that 32 bit machine. ;)

While some people might agree with me on that, here's another shocker: I

on't

mind one bit if I had to quit using my cellphone. I never take it with me anywhere, unless I'm going on a long trip. Even then, I'll be the first to admit that I hate cellphones and I'd be fine with going back to the landline.

I don't personally care for those either but, for a lot of people, they
seem to have become necessary. My favorite one was my old "non-smart" flip phone, but they upgraded their networks to make it obsolete. Now, the make them with batteries that are not user servicable to make sure they
eventually become obsolete.

I still have a "landline" in the form of a magic jack.

Especially if it helps President Trump accomplish his goals. His goals are my goals too.

Some are mine, some are probably not. I don't adopt every opinion of a President just because I voted for them.

In the case of the China tarrifs, I am not 100% sure what the goal there
is. They are not a good partner, so I certainly don't think we should be rewarding them with all of our business, but I also am not sure there are
many companies left here in the US who could (or would!) pick up the slack domestically.

I suspect it will just result in business being moved to another foreign country that also won't be a good partner.


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admit that I hate cellphones and I'd be fine with going back to the land

I don't personally care for those either but, for a lot of people, they seem to have become necessary. My favorite one was my old "non-smart" flip phone, but they upgraded their networks to make it obsolete. Now, the make them with batteries that are not user servicable to make sure they eventually become obsolete.

I wasn't even thinking about that, but that's another good reason to go back to landline phones. They're still the same old phones that they were in the 80s (maybe even earlier) and they still work just as good or better than a cellphone.

Especially if it helps President Trump accomplish his goals. His goals a goals too.

Some are mine, some are probably not. I don't adopt every opinion of a President just because I voted for them.

Same here. I won't defend everything he does, mindlessly, like leftists used to do with Biden. For example, he made a lousy choice in his pick for Agriculture Secretary.

is. They are not a good partner, so I certainly don't think we should be rewarding them with all of our business, but I also am not sure there are many companies left here in the US who could (or would!) pick up the
slack domestically.

I suspect it will just result in business being moved to another foreign country that also won't be a good partner.

The demand for electronics just doesn't seem important to me. Maybe there's more to it, like maybe it can have a negative impact on the medical industry or something.

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Some are mine, some are probably not. I don't adopt every opinion of a President just because I voted for them.

Same here. I won't defend everything he does, mindlessly, like leftists used

o

do with Biden. For example, he made a lousy choice in his pick for Agriculture >Secretary.

I missed that one. Who did he pick, and what is wrong with them?

I suspect it will just result in business being moved to another foreign country that also won't be a good partner.

The demand for electronics just doesn't seem important to me. Maybe there's >more to it, like maybe it can have a negative impact on the medical industry

r

something.

That it could. The medical industry does use a lot of computerized
equipment in hospitals. I also believe it could have more of an impact on every day life than we imagine. A lot of things that used to be more mechanical in nature now rely on computerized parts to do their jobs.
Anything that is refered to as "smart" almost certainly has some sort of processor included these days.


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Same here. I won't defend everything he does, mindlessly, like leftists u o
do with Biden. For example, he made a lousy choice in his pick for Agricu >Secretary.

I missed that one. Who did he pick, and what is wrong with them?

Sorry, I got it half wrong. He picked Lee Zeldin for head of the EPA (not secretary of agriculture.) The problem is that Lee Zeldin is a parasite who praises Andrew Cuomo, failed miserably to win the NY gubernatorial election, and he used Trump as a source of food and heat during Trump's recent campaign (just like a lice bug.)

Trump probably likes Zeldin because he's a military veteran, and I like that too, but that doesn't mean that we need him tagging along. (What ever happened to "I like winners, not losers?")

That it could. The medical industry does use a lot of computerized equipment in hospitals. I also believe it could have more of an impact
on every day life than we imagine. A lot of things that used to be more mechanical in nature now rely on computerized parts to do their jobs. Anything that is refered to as "smart" almost certainly has some sort of processor included these days.

At the Trump rallies, Trump said something about his plan to "bring manufacturing of circuit boards back the the USA," but I'm not sure if that includes computers and/or cellphones.

There has to be a limit to how much we can tolerate from China though, in exchange for access to their nifty devices. I think that's what Trump's tariffs are all about.

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Aaron Thomas wrote to Mike Powell <=-

Trump probably likes Zeldin because he's a military veteran, and I like that too, but that doesn't mean that we need him tagging along. (What
ever happened to "I like winners, not losers?")

"The way you solve things is by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing."
- Milton Friedman

At the Trump rallies, Trump said something about his plan to "bring manufacturing of circuit boards back the the USA," but I'm not sure if that includes computers and/or cellphones.

That would be chip manufacturing. But circuit boards is a step forward.

There has to be a limit to how much we can tolerate from China though,
in exchange for access to their nifty devices. I think that's what
Trump's tariffs are all about.

The tariffs are to create an incentive for companies to build factories in the U.S. Higher prices from China means that U.S. factories can be profitable.

It we get rid of most of the EPA rules, then eliminate the useless costs to employers of carrying an employee, and we can make it profitable to make things here. But the Left has worked hard for many years to make it unprofitable. So it will take time.


... Blessed are the meek, for they make great scapegoats.
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Trump probably likes Zeldin because he's a military veteran, and I like that >too, but that doesn't mean that we need him tagging along. (What ever happened >to "I like winners, not losers?")

Zeldin continues to get elected so, in Trump's eyes, that might be the type
of winner he is looking for.

At the Trump rallies, Trump said something about his plan to "bring manufacturing of circuit boards back the the USA," but I'm not sure if that includes computers and/or cellphones.

Those are parts of computers and automated equipment, for sure. Like I
said, I am not so sure any US companies will be able to match foreign
sources on cost, which will make it less likely they will try.

There has to be a limit to how much we can tolerate from China though, in exchange for access to their nifty devices. I think that's what Trump's

ariff

are all about.

I agree we really should not tolerate a lot of what they do. However, as I said before, I believe that ultimately we will wind up trading one foreign partner we don't trust -- China -- for another foreign partner that we also probably shouldn't trust -- whoever will wind up making the stuff we
currently get from China.

I could be wrong... someone domestic could figure out a way to make things
at a lower cost... but I am not counting on it.


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At the Trump rallies, Trump said something about his plan to "bring manufacturing of circuit boards back the the USA," but I'm not sure i that includes computers and/or cellphones.

That would be chip manufacturing. But circuit boards is a step forward.

That's too bad. It seems like we're making a big mistake by trusting China to make our smartphones and computers. They can do horrible stuff to us with that privilege. Who knows what they're putting in them?

The tariffs are to create an incentive for companies to build factories
in the U.S. Higher prices from China means that U.S. factories can be profitable.

It we get rid of most of the EPA rules, then eliminate the useless costs to employers of carrying an employee, and we can make it profitable to make things here. But the Left has worked hard for many years to make
it unprofitable. So it will take time.

I appreciate Trump's commitment. I respect the fact that there's no such thing as a magic wand. UNLESS congress and the senate cooperate. We have a big opportunity to make permanent changes to the constitution and I hope it gets done quickly.

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Trump probably likes Zeldin because he's a military veteran, and I like t >too, but that doesn't mean that we need him tagging along. (What ever hap >to "I like winners, not losers?")

Zeldin continues to get elected so, in Trump's eyes, that might be the type of winner he is looking for.

He lost the last time he ran for office. The people in NY's biggest cities didn't like him, and the small town people just wanted anything but Hochul. His campaign was weak.

I agree we really should not tolerate a lot of what they do. However,
as I said before, I believe that ultimately we will wind up trading one foreign partner we don't trust -- China -- for another foreign partner that we also probably shouldn't trust -- whoever will wind up making the stuff we currently get from China.

It sounds logical and likely. We can get a better trade partner for a while, then Democrats will get behind the wheel again and sell us out (again.)

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Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

That's too bad. It seems like we're making a big mistake by trusting
China to make our smartphones and computers. They can do horrible stuff
to us with that privilege. Who knows what they're putting in them?

There's already been some discussion on that. Some people have found mysterious chips on boards from China that weren't in the specs sent, and weren't documented.

With whatever level of VLSI we have today, we have single chips that do everything, making it much harder to vet the systems built on them.

I appreciate Trump's commitment. I respect the fact that there's no
such thing as a magic wand. UNLESS congress and the senate cooperate.
We have a big opportunity to make permanent changes to the constitution and I hope it gets done quickly.

The good news is that it's much easier to tear down. The Left had to build it up slowly so we wouldn't notice the hurtful impact.


... Solve the problems of the world: Vote anarchist.
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Zeldin continues to get elected so, in Trump's eyes, that might be the type of winner he is looking for.

He lost the last time he ran for office. The people in NY's biggest cities didn't like him, and the small town people just wanted anything but Hochul.

i

campaign was weak.

Hmmm, then a winner he is no longer!

I agree we really should not tolerate a lot of what they do. However, as I said before, I believe that ultimately we will wind up trading one foreign partner we don't trust -- China -- for another foreign partner that we also probably shouldn't trust -- whoever will wind up making the stuff we currently get from China.

It sounds logical and likely. We can get a better trade partner for a while, then Democrats will get behind the wheel again and sell us out (again.)

Or the cost of the goods will become too high, or the quality will drop off.


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That's too bad. It seems like we're making a big mistake by trusting China to make our smartphones and computers. They can do horrible stu to us with that privilege. Who knows what they're putting in them?

There's already been some discussion on that. Some people have found mysterious chips on boards from China that weren't in the specs sent, and weren't documented.

With whatever level of VLSI we have today, we have single chips that do everything, making it much harder to vet the systems built on them.

I read an article a while back about radiation emitted from cellphone batteries. Google says this about that:

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limits the SAR of a cell phone held up to the ear or head to 1.6 watts per kilogram."

That's concerning. What about when the FCC is controlled by Democrats? And who's inspecting each and every device's SAR level as it comes off the cargo ships? Nearly every human in America owns a cellphone and/or some other device with a lithium-ion battery. And how hard would it be (with all this VLSI) for the manufacturers to target certain people with lethal levels of radiation?

(I probably should go back to using a landline!)

We have a big opportunity to make permanent changes to the constituti and I hope it gets done quickly.

The good news is that it's much easier to tear down. The Left had to build it up slowly so we wouldn't notice the hurtful impact.

I can hardly wait!

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Aaron Thomas wrote to Dr. What <=-

That's concerning. What about when the FCC is controlled by Democrats?
And who's inspecting each and every device's SAR level as it comes off
the cargo ships? Nearly every human in America owns a cellphone and/or some other device with a lithium-ion battery. And how hard would it be (with all this VLSI) for the manufacturers to target certain people
with lethal levels of radiation?

I think that RFK's going to find a lot of this going on and not only in the electronics area.


... If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong.
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