With today’s online marketing, it’s hard to miss the latest tech. Whether you watch irresistible tech items on TikTok or read about them on your favorite tech blog, the temptation to shell out your hard-earned dollars is near constant.
However, not all tech items are worth their price tag. As prices continue to rise and wages stay stagnant, it’s important to be smart with your spending. We’ve done some online research for you to compile a list of tech items you should think twice about purchasing.
1. Overpriced HDMI Cables
Nowadays, you can find HDMI cables at many different prices. A high-end HDMI cable with 8K capability can cost you thousands of dollars. Unless you have a TV that supports those HDMI capabilities, you’re wasting your money. For most people, paying $10 or less for an HDMI cable will be enough.
2. High-End Router for Basic Internet Use
Not all routers are created the same. However, spending $1,000 for a router isn’t worth it for most people. Unless you require extremely fast internet speeds to run on multiple devices, you’re better off paying your local internet provider a monthly fee to rent their router. Additionally, you can purchase a decent router for less than $100.
3. Expensive Smart Fridges
A fridge with a touchscreen, voice control, and phone notifications seems good until you view the price tag. Expect to spend at least a few thousand dollars to snag yourself a smart fridge. Note that, like most tech, some of the smart features are prone to issues and may lead to additional maintenance costs in the future.
4. Luxury Brand Phone Cases
What’s the difference between a $15 phone case and a $70 one? Usually just the price. Yes, an expensive phone case may have slightly better quality material, but don’t let the price tag fool you. Many expensive cases often don’t perform as well as they should. Do your research and find cases that are affordable and of good quality.
5. Premium Virtual Reality Headsets
There are now multiple virtual reality headsets. Some cost $200 and others more than $3,000. Some features on a $3,000 headset include syncing with some of your desktop apps and interacting with them on large screens. These are unique features that will surely become the norm in the future but are currently priced at a premium. If you have money to spare, you’re better off purchasing cheaper virtual reality headsets that give you more bang for your buck.
6. Smart Watches
Smartwatches are now more common and used for a variety of things. Aside from telling time, smartwatches allow you to track your steps, sync with your phone, and much more. However, most people won’t need all the bells and whistles. For example, if you want to track your steps, consider purchasing an Amazfit for less than $100. Compare this to other brands that are up to eight times the cost.
7. High-End Graphic Cards
Graphic cards alone can cost more than purchasing entry-level Macbooks. Unless you’re doing serious gaming or getting paid to have that kind of software, why spend over $1,500 for a graphics card? Even if you can afford it, the value won’t be there if you don’t use the graphic card’s full capabilities. You’re better off purchasing an entire gaming PC for a cheaper cost.
8. MP3 Players
Apple has revolutionized how we use our smartphones. It’s the norm to use your smartphone to listen to music. This is why separate MP3 players are not worth the price tag, even for less than $50. You’ll just have an extra device to carry, and you may need to pay extra for internet capabilities.
9. GPS Devices
Like MP3 players, GPS standalone devices no longer make sense. Your smartphone can quickly pull Google or Apple Maps to guide you to your destination. The less devices you need to carry, the better.
10. Cheap Micro SD Cards
It may be tempting to snag a one-terabyte micro SD for less than $50, but it’s not worth it. In fact, it may be more expensive in the long run. Many cheap SD cards either break easily or run the risk of inflating their storage size. If you need a lot of storage, bite the bullet and purchase a quality one instead.
11. Cheap Security Cameras
“Cheap” always tends to cost more in the long run. For example, cheap security cameras may give you all the promised monitoring capabilities but may not properly protect your data. Be sure to check the company’s privacy policy to understand how your data is stored. Saving a few bucks won’t help if your cameras get hacked.
12. Extended Warranties for Electronics
Extended warranties are a booming market. Although this is good for businesses, it isn’t good for you. For most products, an extended warranty isn’t worth the price. For example, if you’ve never had a phone replaced, paying $10 to $15 monthly is money you could save instead. Think twice the next time you’re offered an extended warranty for cheap electronics or ones you rarely have issues with.