iPhone panic buying sweeps US ahead of Trump’s China tariffs

• Apple Stores across the U.S. were crowded over the weekend as customers rushed to buy new iPhones ahead of a possible price hike. The surge in demand follows growing concerns over a 54% tariff on Chinese imports proposed by President Trump.

• There’s precedent for iPhone price hikes abroad: the U.K., Japan, Canada and Australia have all seen increases in recent years due to currency shifts and global pricing strategy.

• To soften the blow of looming tariffs, Apple is ramping up shipments from India, where iPhones face just a 10% tariff.

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Apple Stores across the United States were packed over the weekend of April 5 as customers scrambled to buy new iPhones ahead of a potential price surge.

The rush comes amid growing concerns over a 54% tariff on Chinese imports, promised by President Donald Trump, that’s set to take effect on Wednesday, April 9. Since the majority of iPhones are manufactured in China, analysts warn that a $1,000 iPhone 16 could soon carry a much steeper price tag.

“Almost every customer asked me if prices were going to go up soon,” one Apple Store employee told Bloomberg.

Proactive iPhone buyers

Some stores reportedly experienced higher sales this past weekend than they had in previous years, a clear indication of consumer anxiety. The uncertainty left many bracing for the worst, rushing to upgrade their devices before any new costs take effect.

Joe Heptt, a resident of Verona, New Jersey, told Straight Arrow News he decided to take action online.

“Like everyone else, I’ve been following the tariff news and the China situation, Heptt said. “Since most iPhones are made there, I figured prices would go up. I saw an upgrade offer on Verizon and thought, ‘Why wait?’ I was planning to get the iPhone 16 this fall, but I read it could jump by $350 — so I pulled the trigger now.”

Previous price hikes

There is historical precedent for such concerns. After Brexit, U.K. iPhone prices rose sharply. In 2022, Japan saw a 25% increase due to currency fluctuations. Canada and Australia have also faced price adjustments in recent years, often tied to exchange rates and Apple’s global pricing strategy.

So far, however, prices in the U.S. have remained relatively stable. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple is doing everything it can to keep them that way. He reported that “they’ve been stuffing the U.S. channel over the last several months with more units in order to avoid those tariffs.”

India to the rescue

Behind the scenes, Apple is also leaning on alternative supply chains. The Times of India reported that the company shipped five planes full of iPhones from India to the U.S. in the final week of March — an unusually high volume for this time of year. India, which began assembling iPhones in 2017, now produces flagship models as well. Devices shipped from India would be subject to only a 10% tariff — far less than China’s 54% — making the country a key player in Apple’s short-term strategy.

Still, price hikes may be hard to avoid. Analysts at Rosenblatt Securities estimate the iPhone 16 Pro Max could jump from $1,599 to $2,300 if the tariffs take hold. UBS projects a slightly smaller increase, to around $2,062.

While Bloomberg’s Gurman predicts Apple will avoid raising prices imminently, he also cautions that changes are likely on the horizon. “Something’s got to give,” he said. “Ultimately, I do strongly believe they will have to make some price adjustments — probably with the iPhone 17 launch later in the year.”

For now, buyers are taking no chances — and Apple Stores are feeling the rush.