Ah, tariffs. The signature economic strategy of President Donald Trump has been erratic, fluctuating between implementation, suspension, and revival. Since the beginning of his second term, monitoring tariff rates has proved to be difficult. The most consistent result of these tariffs has been a sense of uncertainty. With Trump once again threatening fresh tariffs on the European Union, Mexico, Canada, and various Southeast Asian nations, consumers are bracing for possible effects.

Whether you see these tariffs as essential for rectifying global trade discrepancies or as an excessive measure, the reality is that if you’re considering a major purchase—laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, electric vehicles, smart home devices, or home appliances—you may face price increases soon.

Where might we observe price hikes? Here’s what experts indicate.

Dr. Tinglong Dai from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School characterizes the tariff landscape as extremely “dynamic.” He points out that many tariffs are more bluffs than actualities, and should they come to fruition, their longevity is uncertain. He suggests that history demonstrates a tendency for Trump to often retract, hinting at a significant likelihood of recurrence. Dai also notes that prospective price surges are unlikely to align with the tariff rates, probably hovering around 5 to 10 percent rather than 50 percent.

Professor Brett House from Columbia Business School cautions that consumer tech items could experience average price hikes of 20 percent in the near term. Large firms might alleviate some supply chain concerns, yet no tech company is immune.

Rick Kowalski from the Consumer Technology Association urges consumers to contemplate purchasing soon, as new tariffs on semiconductors could influence products such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and PC displays.

The product categories to monitor if you’re concerned about tariffs include:

Tech items produced in China and Southeast Asia might face the brunt of the impact. Previous tariffs resulted in price increases at Nintendo, Microsoft, and Walmart, as well as on products like Asus laptops, Anker chargers, and Xbox games.

Smartphones: While the latest Samsung foldable devices experienced minimal price hikes, the forthcoming Galaxy S26 series could be different. Trump has specifically targeted smartphones with tariffs.

Home security products: The smart home brand Wyze encountered a $255,000 tariff bill on a shipment from China valued at $167,000.

Drones: The majority of drones are manufactured overseas, with well-known brands like DJI located in China. Many DJI drones are already out of stock or in limited supply.

Christmas lights: Subject to tariffs, with potential price increases looming.

A new car: Vehicles, frequently produced in Canada and Mexico, are at risk of tariffs and supply chain challenges.

Video games and consoles: Microsoft has already elevated Xbox console prices, influenced by tariffs. Nintendo has reported similar predicaments.

Noise-canceling headphones: Anker has increased prices due to tariffs, and other popular headphones manufactured in Southeast Asia are expected to be similarly affected.

Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel contributed further reporting to this article.