Would you pay 10 percent more for your iPhone?

Just how sensitive to pricing are iPhone buyers?

Last week President Trump pondered slapping Chinese-made iPhones and MacBooks with a 10 percent tariff, claiming "people could stand that very easily." While that threat appears to have been put on hold for now, this is bound to raise concerns over at Apple HQ.

Must read: iOS 12.1: Tips and tricks to help you get the most from your iPhone or iPad

Now, let's be clear here. Apple is not a Chinese company, and US buyers would be the ones paying the tariffs. It could also be argued that more people benefit from the lower priced Chinese-made iPhones and MacBooks than would benefit from these devices being manufactured in the US.

But facts and politics don't always go hand-in-hand. The reality is that tariffs could be slapped on Apple products, and prices could go up overnight.

Also: 13 wacky phones unlike anything you've ever seen

Which raises an interesting question -- would Apple buyers "stand that very easily"?

iPhone tips, tricks, and shortcuts you need to know for iOS 12.1

It's interesting to note how as of late Apple has been bolstering revenue despite flagging sales by selling more expensive devices to those loyal customers. For the last quarter, the Average Selling Price (ASP) for the iPhone stood at $793. For the year-ago quarter is stood at $618.

That's an impressive rise in ASP, and does indicate that buyers aren't as price-sensitive as we might imagine.

But paying more for a new iPhone is one thing. Paying more for the same iPhone because of a "Trump tariff" might not go down so well.

But Apple is in a position where it could cushion the blow to consumers quite a bit.

After all, iPhone brings in billions of dollars in revenue and doesn't have to endure in razor-thin profit margins. Apple could give up some of this to absorb the impact a little, which is something that many other companies couldn't do.

Also: The first Android phone was an ugly thing, and I loved it CNET

While this could be painful for Apple, similar tariffs on competitors operating on shoestring margins could be devastating.

And that might also be good for Apple.

So, would you pay more for an iPhone, or would you look for a cheaper alternative?

How to secure your iPhone from hackers, snoopers, and thieves (iOS 12.1)

Related stories:

• Demand for new iPhones weaker than Apple expected, claims report
• Apple knows the days of record iPhone sales are over, and wants you to stop obsessing over how many it now sells
• Apple was right, people love expensive iPhones
• The new iPad Pro has a surprise new feature
• Your old $99 Apple Pencil is now junk
• iOS 12 tells you (almost) everything you need to know about your iPhone's battery
• Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR: Features and specs compared
• Meet Apple's iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR: Prices and specs