Save vs Splurge on these tech items
Every year brings a slew of new tech products that are usually outright unaffordable. While some of these gadgets are cool, not all of them are worth your hard-earned money, especially when there are lower-cost alternatives.
Believe me. Years of testing has taught me that price and quality don’t always go hand in hand. For example, when it comes to audio, you’re often paying for lower audio quality to get the experience of the newest tech. When it comes to tech hardware, never buy a tech product based on the promise of future software updates. So I’ve rounded up tech you should splurge and some where you can save.
Lights
An LED light bulb that plays tunes? Yes please!
PRO TIP: When it comes to light bulbs, always look at the energy used, the better warranty— and light appearance.
Splurge: GE LED + Bulb and speaker
$28
GE's new line of light bulbs is a bit steep, but the remote makes the price a little easier to swallow. And you can sync up to 10 bulbs. The great thing is that the bulbs are super easy to install and link up together to Bluetooth (without a hub), to create a surround sound experience. When it comes to the quality of sound, and lights I would splurge with this.
Link: LED+ Speaker (gelighting.com)
SAVE: Feit Electric Speaker Bulb
$15
The Feit speaker also connects through Bluetooth, but only pairs up 2 bulbs. There is a case to be made for the cheaper bulbs, but don’t skimp too much or you might be hitting performance issues.
EXTRA: ECOSMART’s LED light strips are a great way to add a colorful background to your next TikTok or light up your holiday party and cheaper compared to most light strips.
Smart glasses
Smart glasses/spectacles/sunglasses are almost at a tipping point, with companies like Facebook, Google and Apple in the limelight. We know that this technology is not just a cool experiment, but a sure thing for the future of technology.
Here’s the thing, this is the newest tech, but there will be so many new iterations and versions to come (cheaper ones too).
SPLURGE: Ray-Ban stories
$300
If you want to play around with taking pictures and video and listening to audio you should just buy the Ray-Ban Stories, they offer everything the Bose has + with the addition of capturing content from your POV.
Link: https://amzn.to/3m1SmpO
SAVE: Bose smart glasses
$219
The Bose Frames are an entry in the combined sunglasses-and-headphones category. And cheaper than the RayBan’s but you’re sacrificing the video capture capability.
LINK: https://amzn.to/3m1cjgi
Audio
Advances in technology have made true wireless earbuds smaller, lighter, and more affordable. If true wireless earbuds from Apple (Air pods pro $249) don't fit your budget, it's Cleer to the rescue. When it comes to audio you want to look for noise reduction technology.
SAVE: Cleer ALLY PLUS II Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds
$110
These are noise canceling true wireless earbuds that deliver industry leading noise cancellation. The battery life lasts for up to 11 hours of playback with just the earbuds.
Onto strong wireless connectivity (which is a must), enhanced call quality with dual-microphones and Qualcomm cVc 8th generation noise reduction technology make these a perfect companion for on-the-go lifestyles.
While some true wireless earbuds, such as Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro, are unrepairable once the battery dies, others, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds would need only minor alterations in design to make them fixable.
Keep in mind: Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. At first, the effect is barely noticeable. But over a few years, you may find that your wireless earbuds, which played music for five hours per charge when you first got them, now provide you with only an hour of play time. Eventually they simply won’t hold a charge at all, according to Wirecutter.
LINK: https://amzn.to/3s45eiL
Fashion Tech
Splurge: VIEV Jacket
This a wear with anything practical investment
Skincare Tech
Splurge: NUFACE
Pricey, but NuFace is a quality spa at home. FDA-approved, pro-level, at-home skin devices that are supposed to help with collagen production and tightening muscles in the face.
LINK: https://amzn.to/3s3q5Tr
Chargers
SAVE: Belkin Magsafe iPhone battery packs
There are a number of different MagSafe-compatible portable batteries out there, all of which magnetically attach to your iPhone 12 or iPhone 13.
You never want to use fake untrustorhy devices to charge your phone. Fake ones from Amazon for example can cause fires. But Belkin has been producing high-quality charging accessories for iPhone for years, and they were the first to create third-party wireless charging products for the iPhone 12. Although the battery is smaller than some other choices at 2,500mAh, it is also smaller and lightweight for sleek portability.