Anbernic, a well-known manufacturer of retro handheld consoles, has announced the suspension of all orders to the U.S. due to "changes in U.S. tariff policies." The company advises customers to opt for products shipped from their U.S. warehouse, which are not subject to import duties and can be purchased confidently. Orders requiring shipment from China will not be processed at this time.
Anbernic is renowned for its affordable Game Boy clones, which are typically shipped directly from China upon release, with additional units later stored in U.S. warehouses. Their website allows customers to select between shipping from the U.S. or China, though not all products are available from U.S. locations. Consequently, some popular items like the Anbernic RG CubeXX and RG 406H are no longer accessible to American customers.
The suspension of orders is a direct result of the Trump administration's tariffs, which have reached up to 145% on imports from China, with potential increases to 245% on certain products like electric vehicles. These tariffs are often passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices for tech and gaming products, including Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and gaming laptops.
Anbernic is actively seeking solutions to mitigate the impact of customs fees on customers during this period of transition.
In related news, Nintendo officially unveiled the Switch 2 during a 60-minute Nintendo Direct earlier this month. Originally, pre-orders were scheduled to begin in early April in the U.S., but due to tariff-related uncertainties in both the U.S. and Canada, the pre-order date was postponed to April 24. Nintendo has maintained the $449.99 price for the Switch 2 console and its games, but has increased the prices of most Switch 2 accessories.
