There’s no telling exactly what the new year and new administration in the US will bring. But there are likely big changes afoot in the world of tech, especially if President-elect Donald Trump enacts all the tariffs he threatened on the campaign trail. We don’t have a crystal ball that tells us exactly what may get pricier or by how much, but there are several categories of big-ticket products that are at serious risk of being priced out of reach for many folks.
Trump said on Monday that he’d put “an additional 10 percent tariff above any additional tariffs” on all products coming in from China, after campaigning on the pledge to implement 60 percent tariffs on Chinese imports. A lot of tech products are imported from China, including components used in products assembled elsewhere.
If you’re already in the market for tech and gadgets like TVs, laptops, or phones, the good news is many great options are currently on sale for Black Friday. So it may be smart to make a move on that big purchase now if you’re concerned about mitigating any regret in the new year if prices do, indeed, go up.
Let me be very candid with you here: The idea for this article stemmed from many of us at The Verge getting asked directly by friends and family, “What should I buy now before the tariffs come?” There’s no telling what companies will do if US tariffs against countries like China and Mexico really are enacted — they could eat the cost, or pass along some or all of it to us consumers. But if I had to guess, gadgets are going to get more expensive in the new year, not less.
We’re not saying you should go crazy and panic-buy stuff or go into debt over something you’re not even certain you’ll use. Trump has a long history of failing to follow through on campaign promises, business contracts, and policy announcements; the same thing could happen here. But if you’re trying to game out which products to buy this year instead of in 2025, hopefully this list can be of help.
The best laptop and tablet deals
- The latest 11-inch iPad Pro with M4 processor, 256GB of storage, and that lovely OLED display is $849 ($150 off) at Amazon when you click the on-page coupon. And if you prefer the larger model, the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro is $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon. The latest round of iPad Pros are incredibly thin and sleek, making them easier to hold during note-taking, drawing, or if you’re using one as a laptop replacement with added accessories. Of course, they don’t do much more than previous generations, but they certainly look great doing it. Read our review.
- The Apple Studio Display is down to an all-time low of $1,299.99 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 27-inch display boasts impressive 5K picture quality and pixel scaling for macOS computers, along with great speakers. However, be mindful that while it is a decent monitor, it lacks a variable refresh rate and HDR, which are features you’d expect to find in a display this expensive. Read our review.
The best TV and audio deals
- LG’s G4 OLED TV is on sale in the 55-inch configuration starting at $1,796.99 (about $803 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price yet. The 4K TV sports many of the C4’s standout features — including a 144Hz refresh rate — but it offers brighter picture quality and more accurate colors.
- The LG B4 OLED is another solid gaming TV, and you can get a 48-inch model for $599.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy or a 55-inch model for $999.99 ($400 off). It has an older processor and a dimmer screen than the costlier “Evo” models, but it’s a fine option if you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to experience 4K 120Hz gaming on an OLED panel.
- The Sony Bravia 8 OLED, which is the 2024 successor to the solid Sony A80L, is matching its all-time low of $1,398 ($402 off) in the 55-inch configuration at Amazon and Best Buy. You can also get a 65-inch panel for $1,698 ($301 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It’s 31 percent thinner in depth and offers thinner bezels than the model it’s meant to replace. You also get 120Hz gaming capabilities with automatic picture optimization on PS5 consoles, along with a handy multi-view mode that lets you game and view apps like YouTube at the same time.
- You can get the 65-inch Samsung S90D OLED starting at $1,397.99 ($800 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung, which is the lowest price we’ve seen on the 4K TV. It’s just a small step down from the S95D OLED, as it doesn’t have a glare reduction panel, but you still get sharp picture quality and a slew of gaming features, including a 120Hz variable refresh rate. Unfortunately, Samsung TVs still exclude Dolby Vision, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if that’s important to you.
The best phone deals
- The OnePlus Open is going for $1,199.99, down from $1,699.99, which is an excellent price for a great folding phone. It’s a year old at this point, but it should still receive another four years of security updates. You can get an extra $100 off with a trade-in if you go through OnePlus directly, but the discounted price is also available from Amazon and Best Buy.
The best deals on headphones and wearables
- You can buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with an Ocean Band starting at $699.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, which is $10 shy of its best price to date. The new black model is also on sale for $20 more at Amazon and Best Buy. The rugged wearable offers better performance than the original Ultra thanks to Apple’s S9 SiP, which lets you take advantage of the newer double tap feature. It continues to offer a wide range of features that’ll appeal to outdoorsy types as well, including robust water resistance, sensors for measuring dive metrics, a battery that lasts for days, and the brightest display of any wearable in Apple’s lineup. Read our review.
- The Garmin Fenix 7S Pro, one of the best fitness trackers you can buy, is on sale exclusively for Verge readers. Now through Cyber Monday, you can get the multi-sport fitness watch for just $529.99 ($270 off) at Wellbots with promo code VERGEBF270. In addition to a smorgasbord of health sensors and workout tracking, it has reliable multiband GPS, solar charging, military-grade durability, and weeks-long battery life. Read our review.
The best deals on other big-ticket tech items
- One of Best Buy’s early doorbusters is the Asus ROG Ally, which is matching its all-time low of $499.99 ($150 off) with a Z1 Extreme processor and 512GB of storage (My Best Buy Plus and Total members can save another $50). The handheld lets you play PC games on the go thanks to its 7-inch 1080p display, and while there are faster alternatives, it’s still serviceable for esports shooters, indie gems, and other lightweight titles. Read our review.
Victoria Song, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, Allison Johnson, Sheena Vasani, Quentyn Kennemer, and Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
source https://www.theverge.com/24305982/black-friday-2024-best-deals-tariffs-trump-save-ideas-cyber-monday