PSA: You have less than one month left to buy cheap gaming handhelds in the US

Emulation handhelds are about to get a lot more expensive in the US.

Apr 3, 2025 - 12:36
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PSA: You have less than one month left to buy cheap gaming handhelds in the US
TrimUI Smart Pro in front of Nintendo Switch
Credit: Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
  • A new executive order removes the de minimis exemption from imports under $800.
  • This will increase the cost of gaming handhelds by at least 30% starting on May 2, 2025.
  • A minimum fee of $25 will apply to cheaper handhelds, increasing to $50 on June 1, 2025.

The proliferation of cheap gaming handhelds from the likes of TrimUI and Anbernic may be coming to a close, as a new executive order is set to eliminate the de minimis tax exemption on products under $800 coming from China on May 2. Under the new rules, all products will be subject to a minimum duty rate of 30% of their stated value.

However, the minimum fee per product is $25, meaning that gaming handhelds with a stated value under $80 or so will pay an even higher percentage in fees. This minimum fee will increase to $50 on June 1, which doubles the effective price of many budget handhelds.