How tariffs on laptops and PC hardware punish your wallet, by the numbers

Tariffs are taxes. When they’re applied, they raise the cost of goods, so right now, U.S. residents (and those near enough to be affected) must pay more on tech products and other affected items.

But despite the flat numbers you may have seen in the news (i.e., a 20 percent tariff on all imports from China, a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, and the looming possibility of a 25 percent tariff on semiconductor imports), price increases may not end up so exact. Their full effect isn’t known yet either, like possible lower availability of products, which could further affect costs. I cover these details in PCWorld’s FAQ on the tech tariffs, as well as in a quicker rundown if you only have time for the highlights. 

Even knowing that seeing what a 20 percent bump looks like in real numbers makes it feel more real—so I sat down and made some tables to illustrate. (Honestly, doing this exercise was as much for me as for you all.) The results drive home a point mentioned to me more than once during my research: Tariffs are a regressive form of taxes, meaning the less money you make, the harder you’re hit. At the same time, how pinched you feel will vary depending on the purchase’s importance.

Laptops

	Original MSRP	10% tariff increase	20% tariff increase
Lenovo Legion 5i	$1,399	$1,539	$1,779
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition	$2,519	$2,771	$3,023
Lenovo LOQ 15	$799	$879	$959
Asus Vivobook S 14	$1,199	$1,319	$1,439
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360	$1,699	$1,869	$2,039
Lenovo Chromebook Duet	$399	$439	$479

I pulled the details for six laptops that PCWorld reviewed before the Chinese tariffs began in February, looking to represent the usual range of purchases. At $500, you’ll pay $100 more; at $1,700, you’ll pay $340 more.

But for most budget buyers, another $100 can make a material difference in affordability—and ultimately, user experience. In this price range, performance can feel tangibly worse if you have to step down to a cheaper model. Meanwhile, laptops that cost $1,000 and up already begin with much more specs. Stepping down slashes luxury upgrades, rather than necessary ones.

No matter what, though, you end up paying more for less.

Graphics cards

	Original MSRP	10% tariff increase	20% tariff increase
Intel Arc B580	$250	$275	$300
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080	$999	$1,099	$1,199
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090	$1,999	$2,199	$2,399

Similar to laptops, the closer to entry-level you shop, the higher the real-world impact. A $50 increase on a $250 card can eat into budget for extras—a card with better cooling, quieter acoustics, or a factory overclock.

Whether you shop at the low- or high-end, though, the tariffs will further disconnect the actual cost for graphics cards from their MSRP. Partner cards already went for another 20 to 30 percent above the reference cards produced by AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. Add in both the tariffs and demand (especially for newer cards with little stock available) and a reference card’s list price will likely have little resemblance to street pricing.

Monitors

	Original MSRP	10% tariff increase	20% tariff increase
BenQ PD2730S	$1,200	$1,320	$1,440
Asus ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC	$400	$440	$480
Viewsonic TD1656-2K monitor	$350	$385	$420
HP Omen Transcend 32	$1,300	$1,430	$1,560
Lenovo Legion R27fc-30	$195	$215	$234

Would a difference of $40 make you choose a different budget gaming monitor? Maybe not, actually. Most people buy a monitor and hang on to it for far longer than their PC. In fact, if you’re a laptop user, a monitor may be a splurge or upgrade purchase—something to increase the comfort of your setup at home, rather than a necessity.

Still, the tariffs could cause a delay in when your budget will be ready for purchase—especially if costs continue to rise.

Peripherals and accessories

	Original MSRP	10% tariff increase	20% tariff increase
Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Dock	$200	$220	$240
Nuphy Air60 HE keyboard	$140	$154	$168
Turtle Beach Kone II mouse	$70	$77	$84
Lemokey X0 keypad	$33	$36	$40

Like monitors, you won’t buy a mouse, keyboard, or dock until you must (or you decide you want the upgrade). And because peripherals and accessories are largely more affordable, you might not notice a 20 percent increase if the price is low enough, as the Lemokey X0 keypad illustrates.

But the cost jump isn’t invisible. Sure, the Lemokey is already one of the most affordable gaming keypads available, so it still feels like a reasonable product for $40. But $14 extra for a gaming mouse or $40 for a dock aren’t nothing. You can buy yourself a game with that money.