Acer has outpaced its main rivals in a significant competition: it’s the initial major laptop manufacturer to disclose adjustments in pricing as a result of President Donald Trump‘s tariffs on goods imported from China. While Acer may lead the way, I anticipate that other companies will soon follow suit with similar announcements.
Due to the newly implemented tariffs, it’s anticipated that Acer, a company based in Taiwan, will increase the cost of its laptops by approximately 10%. This increase corresponds with the 10% tariff on Chinese imports that President Trump enforced on February 3, 2025.
Initially reported by The Telegraph, the decision to raise prices on Acer laptops sold in the U.S., which stems from the company’s CEO and Chairman, Jason Chen, is set to take effect within a few weeks. According to Chen, this price hike will not apply to products that were shipped out of China prior to February as they are exempted from the increase.
Furthermore, Chen also told The Telegraph:
To account for the new tariff, we’ll likely need to raise the final cost for our users by approximately 10%, due to the increased import tax. This adjustment is quite clear-cut.
Chen issued a cautionary note, suggesting that other companies might use the current situation as an opportunity to increase their prices beyond 10%, presumably to offset the tariffs. Regrettably, this development won’t just affect those in the market for Acer laptops, since a significant number of Windows laptops from major brands like Dell, HP, ASUS, and Lenovo are produced in China. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the 10% tariff will only impact Acer.
Is there an answer to tariffs and surging laptop prices?
It’s worth noting that most computers sold globally are manufactured in China. Unfortunately, finding an effortless solution to this issue persists while tariffs continue to be enforced.
During Trump’s initial term, Acer encountered a predicament where the administration enforced a substantial 25% tariff on desktops PCs manufactured in Chinese facilities. As a result, Acer shifted its desktop production outside of China, and Chen suggests that this could be an option for laptops as the company explores various supply chain alternatives. One of these possibilities includes setting up new factories in the United States, as mentioned by Chen to The Telegraph.
As a researcher, I posit that a strategic shift such as relocating an entire production line to foreign territories may not yield immediate results, with consumers bearing the initial brunt of costs. The rationale behind tariffs typically revolves around prompting manufacturing to return home, thereby stimulating employment opportunities and, over time, reducing prices once more. However, whether this anticipated outcome materializes is yet to be determined.
Increasing a product’s price by 10% is not insignificant. While Acer is known for providing numerous budget-friendly laptops, it also has its high-end hardware offerings. The newly announced Predator Helios Neo AI, set to launch in May 2025, starts at $2,200 and continues to escalate in price. This means that with a 10% increase, the actual cost could reach approximately $2,500. Even laptops initially priced around $1,000 will experience a slight squeeze as an additional $100 would be added to their original price.
The impact of U.S. tariffs on manufacturing hubs is resonating similarly in other places. NVIDIA’s newest RTX 5000 GPUs have surpassed the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for Founders Edition cards, and even out-of-stock third-party variants are experiencing regular price hikes.
Due to significant surge in prices for GPUs and laptops, it seems likely that we’ll see a similar trend in popular gaming handhelds such as the ASUS ROG Ally, Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and others. These devices have offered an affordable way to delve into PC gaming, but that affordability may soon be a thing of the past. Acer has been the first to announce a price hike, but I anticipate similar announcements to become regular headlines in the coming weeks.
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2025-02-18 22:09