It’s always a good time to get a good deal. But as tariffs take effect on some imported goods — and as the Trump administration continues to negotiate tariffs with other countries — you may be especially interested right now in how you can save money while you shop.
Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine has taken the time to assess how you can find deals this year on investments, groceries, electronics, clothing, cars and travel, as well as how to take advantage of credit card perks — with a special emphasis on finding deals for products and services most prone to rising prices as the trade war evolves. In this article, we look at deals on electronics. (See below to find links to our other articles about deals.)
You’ll likely find the best deals on smartphones, TVs, laptops, tablets and other gadgets by shopping during retail holidays.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Discounts of up to 50% on electronics are possible around Labor Day, says Louis Ramirez, deals editor-in-chief for tech-review website Tom’s Guide.
Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and New Year’s sales are good times to shop for electronics, too.
You might also consider trading in your used device when you make a purchase. In addition to tariff-related price increases on new electronics, consumers will likely see a rise in the trade-in values for used devices, says Ramirez.
The trade-in value depends on the age, model and condition of your current device and varies widely; you can get as much as $800 to $1,000 or as little as $12 to $40 for your old device.
Devices from some brands retain their value longer than others. Laptops and tablets that are more than five years old often have minimal trade-in value.
But Apple devices tend to retain some value for five to seven years, says Ramirez.
Check out these devices
Shopping for previous-generation devices can be a great way to lock in low prices on quality electronics.
If you’re in the market for a new laptop or tablet, consider buying the 2024 MacBook Air (recently available for $800 at Best Buy) or the 2024 iPad Air (recently available for $499 at Walmart), rather than the 2025 models, which sell for $999 and $599, respectively.
Alternatively, opt for an AI-driven laptop. These laptops use software powered by artificial intelligence to enhance performance, user experience and functionality.
They’ve had a lukewarm reception from consumers, many of whom remain comfortable with PCs that don’t have these built-in AI features. So you can find significant markdowns on some AI laptops.
Acer, Dell, HP and Samsung are all lowering prices on their AI-driven models, says Ramirez.
For example, the Dell XPS 9350 Laptop with Copilot+ was recently available at Best Buy for $999, or $400 off its original price.
If you’re in the market for a TV, big-box stores such as Best Buy may be your best bet, especially around Labor Day.
Typically, you can get as much as $2,000 off select big-screen TVs from LG, Samsung and other brands during Best Buy’s Labor Day sale.
Amazon has also been known to sell smart TVs, such as the Insignia 24-inch F20 Series HD Fire TV, for as little as $65 on Labor Day.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related content
- Valuable (and Fun) Things You Can Get for Free
- Smart Ways to Save Money at Museums
- How to Find Deals on Travel in 2025
- Don't Miss Out on These Four Credit Card Benefits
- Three Ways to Find Deals in Your Investments This Year
- Three Ways to Spend Less on Groceries This Year
- Surprising Ways to Find Deals on Cars Despite Tariffs
- Strategies to Spend Less on Clothing and Online Shopping in 2025
-
Five Ways to Cash In On the $6,000 'Senior Bonus' DeductionTaxpayers aged 65 and older may be able to benefit from a $6,000 'senior bonus' deduction over the next four tax years. Here are five ways to make it pay.
-
Are AI Search Results Ghosting Your LinkedIn Posts? This Could Be WhyPosts generated by AI don't hold enough authority with AI search engines to significantly boost your visibility (yes, that's ironic!). Here's what you can do instead.
-
Student Loan Shake-Up: What the OBBB Means for Parent PLUS Borrowers, From a Financial Aid ExpertFor students starting a new program on/after July 1, 2026, loans will be capped at $20,000 annually, and parents can borrow no more than $65,000 total, a big change from the unlimited borrowing setup.
-
My First $1 Million: Health Care CFO, 52, Pacific NorthwestEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
The $2.5 Billion Amazon Settlement: Key Dates, Claim Eligibility and MoreAmazon agrees to a historic $2.5 billion settlement over its Amazon Prime memberships. Here's what you need to know about the case and filing a claim.
-
The 10 Best Travel Hacks Every Active Retiree Should KnowMore and more retirees are hitting the road for their dream trips, and with some creative travel hacks, you can travel the world without breaking the bank.
-
How to Add Your Favorite News Sources to Google Top StoriesGoogle now lets you choose which outlets you want to see more often in Top Stories. Here's how to set your preferred sources in just a few clicks.
-
Home Equity in Retirement: Should You Sell, Borrow or Rent?Learn how to preserve your property's value, tap equity for income and make smart choices about downsizing, renting, or leaving a legacy.
-
Foldable Phones: Are They the Future or Just a Passing Trend?Foldable phones offer eye-catching design and extra screen space, but not without compromises in cost, durability, and convenience. We weigh the pros and cons.
-
A Financial Adviser's Guide to Divorce Negotiations: Civil — or NotWhether you go through a friendly mediation or a contentious court battle, all divorce agreements need to address the same key issues.
