US - Many people are flocking to Apple Stores to buy iPhones and other Apple products because they are worried, they will be more expensive.
"Almost every customer is asking me if the price of iPhones and AI products will increase soon," an Apple Store employee told Bloomberg. "Everyone seems anxious and rushed to ask questions after the new tax policy."
At Apple stores, there are no long lines, but the atmosphere is "similar to a product launch." A manager revealed that sales of devices, mainly iPhones, increased over the weekend, right after US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on a series of countries.
On social networks like Reddit and X, many people also asked questions and shared ways to buy Apple devices before the tax increase. Meanwhile, according to 9to5mac, Apple has not yet instructed retail employees on how to respond when asked about the price increase of iPhones and the company's hardware devices.
The US plans to tax imported products from China and India at 34% and 26%, respectively, expected to be applied from April 9. These two countries are currently responsible for assembling most of Apple's iPhones.
There are signs that Apple is stockpiling devices in the US ahead of the new tax. The Times of India on April 7 quoted a senior Indian official as saying that there were five flights loaded with iPhones and other Apple products from India and China "in just the last three days of March".
"Apple factories in India, China and other key locations have shipped products to the US in preparation for higher tariffs," a source said.
According to observers, stockpiling a lot of goods could help Apple delay the impact of tariffs in the US market - the company's largest market. However, in the future, they may have to change their policies if the tariff barrier remains the same or continues to increase.
Previously, experts predicted that iPhone prices could increase by 30-40% if Apple passes on the new tax costs to consumers. According to calculations by the analysis team at Rosenblatt Securities, the price of the cheapest smartphone model currently, the iPhone 16, could increase from $ 799 to $ 1,142, equivalent to 43%. Similarly, the most expensive phone, the 1TB iPhone 16 Pro Max, could increase by $ 700 to $ 2,300.