Summary
ThePlayStation 5 Procould become even more expensive in 2025 and beyond if President-elect Donald Trump enacts his proposed tariffs. Trump has long been a proponent of high tariffs on imports and has suggested particularly high taxes on goods coming from China during his campaign. Depending on how these policies play out during his term, consoles like thePS5 Promay pass these costs onto consumers.
Sony’s most recent console has already drawn criticism from some gamers for its high price tag. ThePS5 Pro costs $700, making it a whole $200 more than the disc-compatible version of the baseline PS5 and $300 more than the Digital Edition. While it’s unclear how much the proposed tariffs might affect that cost, some speculate that it could hit players' wallets hard.
A recent article from Gizmodo highlights howhigher tariffs could impact console prices, citing Trump’s proposed 60% tax on Chinese exports. While Sony is a Japanese company, some PS5 consoles and their components are made in China. Consequently, the tariff could see many consoles raise their prices by roughly 40% to make up for the higher export costs. For the upgraded PS5, that could mean a price tag of nearly $1,000. ThePlayStation 5 Pro already costs over $900 in the U.K., but it would be quite the sticker shock for U.S. consumers.
Proposed Tariffs' Impact on Console Prices Still Uncertain
The idea of a $1,000 PS5 Pro isn’t a comfortable one, but it’s still not certain that such a price hike will happen. Japanese-manufactured electronics may not face such a high rate, so Sony may not need to pass a higher cost burden onto buyers. The Gizmodo article also points out that the 50% tariff Trump imposed in his first term had an exception for electronics after successful lobbying from the tech industry. If something similar happens this time around, fans may not need to scramble for cash to experienceall the enhanced games on PS5 Pro.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Trump won’t even enact the tariffs he proposed during his campaign. Alternatively, he could impose a different rate or make exceptions for some products. It’s impossible to say for sure how the situation will play out before he actually takes office and enacts any formal legislation.
PlayStation 5 Pro
Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is the mid-generation evolution of the PS5, one that comes with an improved GPU and 2TB of storage space. The graphics card is advertised to offer 67% more compute units than the base PS5, along with 28% faster memory. The PS5 Pro also uses AI to offer an enhanced resolution for 4K TV and Advanced Ray Tracing.The console does not come with a disc drive or a vertical stand, both of which are sold separately.
