Shopping for a new tech product is exciting, but not everything on the market is worth the hype (or your hard-earned cash). However, some tech purchases are not as essential as they seem.
Smartphone Upgrades Every Year
There’s something undeniably tempting about upgrading your smartphone every time a new model drops. The sleek design, the promise of faster performance, and the camera that claims to make you look like a professional photographer overnight—it’s hard to resist. But the thing is, a lot of those annual upgrades boil down to minor improvements that you probably won’t notice in your day-to-day life. For example,what can the iPhone 16 dothat the iPhone 15 can’t? In my opinion, there is not much.
So, what’s the smart move here? Hold onto your phone for at least two to three years before upgrading. Most phones receive software updates for several years, meaning you’ll still get the latest features and security patches without buying new hardware. When you eventually upgrade, take the time to consider what you need from your next device. Is it the latest and greatest, or just something that fits your lifestyle and budget?
Warranties and Insurance
You just bought a new gadget that probably costs more than your monthly rent, and the salesperson is offering you “peace of mind” in the name of an extended warranty or insurance for an extra $100 or so. Is it worth it?
Most tech products, especially big-ticket items like laptops, phones, and TVs, already have a manufacturer’s warranty. This typically covers defects and malfunctions for the first year. And really, if something is going to break, it will probably happen within that first year. After that? Well, tech evolves so quickly that by the time your device is in real danger of breaking down, you’re probably eyeing the next upgrade anyway.
Dedicated E-Readers
I know this might ruffle a few feathers, butdo you really need a dedicated e-reader? Sure, they’re sleek and lightweight, and they give off that “I’m totally going to read more this year” vibe. Thanks to their e-ink screens, they’re also great for reducing eye strain and are perfect for long reading sessions without the distraction of notifications.
But in an age where your smartphone or tablet can do literally everything, investing in a gadget just for reading seems a little over the top to me. If you’re a hardcore bookworm who can devour a 700-page novel in one sitting, maybe an e-reader makes sense for you. But for the rest of us regular readers, isn’t it easier—and more affordable—to download theKindle app or its alternativeson a device you already own?
Smartwatches
Smartwatches are cool. They have heart rate monitors and step counters and can tell you how well (or poorly) you slept. Most people I know get a smartwatch and mess around with it for a couple of months, and then it just becomes a glorified notification device or, worse, a really expensive step counter. If you’re just curious about your daily step count, your phone already does that (though it might not be as accurate as a smartwatch). Otherwise, get a fitness band.
Battery life isn’t as great, either. While some people are fine with charging their watch every night, it’s just one more device to plug in at the end of the day. Meanwhile, traditional watches can run for years without needing a battery change. And I often find them way more stylish, too.
So, unless you’re training for a marathon, need detailed cardio stats, or have a medical need for constant health monitoring, I think a smartwatch is an unnecessary tech purchase.
Curved TVs
I’ll admit that when curved TVs first hit the market, I was intrigued. The idea behind them is that the curved design supposedly creates a more “immersive” viewing experience by wrapping the screen around your vision field, like being in a mini-theater. In theory, this sounds great, but in practice, not so much.
To actually feel any immersive effects of a curved TV, you must sit dead-center, right in the sweet spot, and at the perfect distance from the screen. If you’re off to the side even a little bit, all you’re getting is a distorted, warped picture that’s anything but cinematic. And honestly, how often do you sit perfectly centered in front of your TV? If you’re like me, you’re lounging on the couch, maybe not directly in front of the screen, or you’ve got a group of people over for a movie night. In those situations, curved screens just don’t deliver.
You’d be better off investing in a high-quality flat screen that offers better overall picture quality at all angles without hassle.
VR Headset
Most people I’ve talked to (and I’ve experienced this myself) tend to use their VR headset for a few weeks or maybe a couple of months, and then it just sits there. It’s a bit like buying a treadmill, thinking you’ll use it every day, and then realizing it makes a great clothes rack. That “I’ll use it all the time!” enthusiasm quickly fades when you have to actually put it on, adjust the settings, and find a place in your house where you won’t accidentally knock over a lamp while flailing your arms.
There are still plenty of kinks with using VR headsets,which is why VR doesn’t interest me. You’ve got everything from motion sickness to clunky controls to a limited library of games and apps that actually make the tech worth your time. Not to mention, the more affordable headsets don’t offer the best visuals, so you might find yourself squinting at pixellated dragons rather than feeling like you’re truly in another world.
Blu-ray Players
Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Primehave made it ridiculously easy to access an enormous library of content. You can binge-watch entire seasons, rent or buy the latest releases, and even stream in 4K—all without getting up from the couch to switch discs. Convenience is king, and Blu-ray just can’t compete with that.
Besides, do you want to dedicate an entire shelf (or more) to plastic cases when you can store thousands of movies in the cloud or on a hard drive the size of your wallet? I can’t be impressed when I walk into your living room and see a stack of discs next to your TV. It’s not cutesy or demure.
I’m not saying Blu-ray doesn’t have its niche. If you’re a hardcore cinephile and you need uncompressed video quality and Dolby Atmos sound, by all means, enjoy your collection. But I don’t think Blu-ray players are worth the investment for the average person anymore.
Many Smart Home Devices
Now, I’m not saying all smart devices are a waste, but many of them seem to be innovations for innovation’s sake. They promise convenience but often add unnecessary complexity to simple tasks.
Take the smart refrigerator, for example. Aside from looking flashy in the kitchen, what exactly does it do that justifies the extra cost? Sure, it can tell you when you’re out of milk or let you know what’s inside without opening the door. But really, how hard is it to open the fridge and take a quick look for yourself? Plus, with all the tech involved, repairs are bound to be more complicated and expensive.
Then there’s the smart water bottle. While I appreciate the sentiment behind encouraging healthy habits, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve gone too far here. Do you need a $50 bottle to remind you to drink water? Your body does that for free. It’s called thirst, a pretty good reminder that you need to drink water. But if you’re worried about drinking enough water, you can just set a reminder on your phone.
I can’t skip over the infamous smart toilet. I’ll admit, there’s something undeniably luxurious about a high-tech toilet that can warm your seat, play music, or even analyze your “output.” But I don’t think I want my bathroom breaks uploaded to a cloud somewhere. Besides, if the electronics malfunction (which they can), you’re suddenly dealing with an expensive, high-tech mess in a place where things are supposed to be simple. I’d rather stick with the classic porcelain throne and maybe invest in a nice toilet seat cover.
At the end of the day, it’s important to ask yourself when shopping: Is this gadget solving a real problem in my life, or is it just adding unnecessary complexity?
