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Trump administration's tariffs to make horrific RTX 5080 price skyrocket as AIB issues warning of impending hike

The RTX 5080 was launched at an official starting price of $999. (Image source: Nvidia, Unsplash, edited)
The RTX 5080 was launched at an official starting price of $999. (Image source: Nvidia, Unsplash, edited)
A "Major AIB" has issued a warning that the impending reinstatement of Trump tariffs could make the already abysmal RTX 5080 price even worse. If the incoming tariffs take effect, the RTX 5080 could cost more than 50% above MSPR in a few months.

We have been reporting on the horrible state of the RTX 50 stock and price since the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 were first released on January 30, 2025. It is no secret that the RTX 50 launch stock was abysmal, and the “official” MSRPs of the RTX 5090/5080, and later the RTX 5070/5070 Ti, were nothing but smoke and mirrors.

As if things weren’t bad enough, a new leak from Moore’s Law Is Dead claims that the RTX 5080 price could jump to as high as 60% above MSRP.

RTX 5080 could soon reach insane new levels

A “Major” AIB source informed MLID that they are offering “5080s to our retail customers for more than $1,400 before mark-up”. However, retailers keep buying the RTX 5080 at such a high cost because the AIB has warned them that “things could get much worse soon”.

How much worse? The AIB source mentioned that they expect the RTX 5080 to “remain over 35% above MSRP”. However, this figure could shoot up to as much as 60% if the US Section 301 tariffs enacted by the then-President Donald Trump in 2017 come into effect.

The AIB explained that the US Section 301 tariff exemptions granted to them are expiring in June “like they are supposed to as of now”. So, if the tariff exemptions expire and the tariffs are applied, the RTX 5080 produced by this “Major” AIB will get considerably more expensive.

RTX 50 prices are unlikely to drop in the foreseeable future

Taking into account MLID’s latest report and the fact that even system integrators seem to be having trouble sourcing the RTX 5090 at a reasonable price, it is highly unlikely that the situation will improve in the short term. In the midst of this, gamers have no options but to either wait and pray or pay quite a bit more.

For what it’s worth, both Nvidia and AMD are gearing up to launch their budget-friendly GPU options in the RTX 5060 and RX 9060, respectively. Assuming that the GPUs don’t suffer the fate of their bigger brothers, gamers will at least have some next-gen options to consider.

RTX 5080 possible price increase leak. (Image source: Moore's Law Is Dead)
RTX 5080 possible price increase leak. (Image source: Moore's Law Is Dead)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2025 03 > Trump administration's tariffs to make horrific RTX 5080 price skyrocket as AIB issues warning of impending hike
Fawad Murtaza, 2025-03-25 (Update: 2025-03-26)