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Should I buy a gaming handheld now before tariffs increase prices?
Current gaming handheld prices in the U.S.
There are a bunch of gaming handhelds on the market right now, and prices are likely to go up in the U.S. due to tariffs.
These gaming handhelds are listed in alphabetical order.
It’s also now listed as $899 at the MSI website.
Meanwhile, TheClaw 8 AI+has gone up $100 and now sells for $999.99 at the MSI website.
I’m keeping an eye on gaming handheld prices in the U.S. so you don’t have to.
Additionally, the starting price of theLegion Go S(SteamOS) has also gone up by $50.
you’re able to still purchaseopen box options at Best Buy, though.
Will any gaming handhelds not get affected by tariffs?
The majority of gaming handheld production typically happens in China.
But we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
However, China’s 125% tariff was still in effect.
The tariffs shown below are where the rates will be after the 90 days are up if nothing changes.
Tariffs are basically taxes on imported goods.
I’ll give a shot to keep up with the latest tariffs as much as possible.
**There is a free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (USMCA).
However, products not covered by the agreement are affected by tariffs.
The current tariff situation is volatile and changes day to day. It’s hard to say when things could settle down.
Handhelds should be covered by USMCA.
What do tariffs do, anyway?
But what is a tariff, anyway, and how does it affect you?
Every country has tariffs basically a tax paid by companies importing goods into the country.
The higher the tariff, the more a company has to pay for import a product.
Gaming handhelds and tariffs FAQ
Why is tech getting more expensive in the U.S.?
On April 9, 2025, Trump’s extremely high 104% tariff on China went into effect.
In response, China put an 84% tariff on U.S. goods.
Trump then retaliated with a 125% tariff.
As such, higher tariffs on a product often lead to increased prices for that product at retailers.
Most significantly, handheld processors and display technology might have additional tariffs or manufacturing challenges that increase tech costs.
How long will tariffs last?
It’s hard to know for sure how long these high tariffs will remain in place.
When will prices (and tariffs) go back to normal?
That’s a very difficult question to answer and largely depends on how the current trade war plays out.
As such, we could go back to relatively normal pricing really soon, or it could take months.
What do tariffs do and how do they affect me?
Tariffs are basically taxes that countries put on imported goods.
Typically, the higher the tariff, the more expensive goods get.
