Gadgets are an exciting thing to have, and nowadays there are a multitude of options to choose from. The unfortunate thing, however, is that not every gadget justifies its price tag. Here we have 18 gadgets that fall into this category.
Costly HDMI Cables
HDMI, also known as High-Definition Multimedia Interface, is a technology that assists in transmitting audio to video digitally. Our computers and televisions usually use these. Some HDMI cables on the market are as overpriced as $13,000, and no one knows why, as some of the basic cables can perform the same task.
Basic High-End Routers
Unless you’re an organization or business establishment, investing in a high-end router is unnecessary. Routers for regular home use don’t need to be too powerful, not just because they’re overkill but also because they’re highly expensive and have upgrades and advanced features that are unnecessary. There’s not much difference between high-end routers, which cost $500, and normal ones, which cost $20, but both versions have similar performance.
Extravagant Phone Cases
Kids nowadays are all about adorning their phones with funny little gadgets and shiny phone cases. Items such as luxury phone cases may look great, but often, the price tag attached to them isn’t worth the investment. This Medium article on the Top 10 Benefits of Using Phone Cases for Your Device mentions the main purpose of protecting your device. A basic one that retails for $25 does the same job as an expensive one for $300 and can still be of high quality.
Ergonomic Furniture: Gaming Chairs
If you’re looking to buy a comfortable gaming chair, it may not be wise to choose style over comfort. The more stylish the chair, the more you’ll pay for it. Simple ergonomic chairs provide the same comfort as the more extravagant-looking ones, which don’t have much substance to them. Expensive ones can average $600. You can also use a normal, comfortable office chair for your gaming sessions.
Refrigerators With Capabilities
Traditional fridges offer the same capabilities as digitally enhanced and fancy refrigerators. What buyers need to understand is that paying more for a fridge that has more features and costs $2,300 may not be the best idea. This is because technologies such as these become outdated very quickly.
Tech Accessories from Designer Brands
Nowadays, famous designers and celebrities stretch their fame across different gadgets and tech accessories. Things such as laptops and laptop accessories are now being endorsed by famous faces. Because of this, their price tag goes up and can retail at $200–300. Understanding that designer brands and normal brands function the same is key. You won’t be paying for quality.
Trash Cans Activated by Voice Commands
In the 21st century, after the advent of ‘Siri,’ Apple’s voice activation, we now have voice-activated gadgets everywhere. The latest among these are voice-activated trash cans, such as this one on the simplehuman website. They may be convenient for some, but it’s beneficial to know that the retail cost of $370 attached to them, in comparison to a normal pedal bin, doesn’t justify this convenience.
Innovative Water Bottles
Tracking how much water you’re drinking during a day isn’t particularly difficult for most people to do. Smart water bottles, which retail between $5 and $80 and help you do this, have reminders you can set. But let’s face it—is it necessary to pay twice the amount for a smart bottle when you can use a reminder on your phone?
Electronic Wine Openers
Who knew something as simple as a wine opener would turn into an electric gadget? It’s debatable how much of a difference it makes in comparison to a normal one, but it doesn’t seem fair to pay a hefty retail price of $30 for an electronic wine opener when you can get a cheaper one for $19.99 that does the same thing.
Solar-Powered Gadgets
Yes, solar-powered items are much better for the environment; however, it makes minimal sense to buy something at twice the cost because solar-powered items are trending. Higher-end solar-powered phone chargers, for instance, retail at $200 but aren’t as cost-effective and are slow and weather-dependent.
Digital Photo Frames
People love to take pictures any chance they get, and having photo frames in houses is a thing of the past as images are now either on phone galleries or uploaded on social media accounts. However, one thing that has taken over traditional photo frames is the digital version. The high-end ones tend to have a higher price and can often be less user-friendly. Their value is debatable, as they can cost more than $200.
Electronic Toothbrushes
Dentists usually support the idea of electric toothbrushes; however, the fancier ones don’t necessarily work better than the normal ones. They may have additional features and an additional price tag, but brushing is a simple act, and you don’t need much for it. Cheaper models are just as effective. The high-end ones are priced, on average, at $30.
Bluetooth Devices
Bluetooth has taken over with the majority of gadgets on the market, and as useful as it is, paying too much for it may not be worth the investment when you can get the same functionalities in a cheaper product. Certain brands of Bluetooth headphones, for instance, are more expensive because of their celebrity endorsements, such as Beats or Montblanc, which can cost more than $500.
Smart Mirrors
Although smart mirrors offer weather updates, news, and other information, their expensive price tags may not necessarily result in benefits compared to using a regular mirror and a smartphone. These can go for anything from $170 and up.
Cable Management Solutions
While cable management is crucial, costly solutions often don’t provide the same value as cheaper alternatives. Simple ties and clips can be just as effective at organizing cables.
Kitchen Gadgets With Wi-Fi Capabilities
Gadgets in the kitchen now come with Wi-Fi connectivity. They don’t necessarily add to your cooking experience, but they add convenience to it, along with exuberant costs. Traditional cooking gadgets often work a lot better, mainly because, back in the day, they were made to last.
VR Headsets
Both casual users and gamers tend to use VR (virtual reality) headsets more nowadays than before. With these, you have the option of getting the ‘limited edition’ types, which cost more, and have limited content available in this field for now. The expensive ones cost, on average, $600.
Exclusive Drones
Drones are great fun for kids and young adults to play with. However, as technology advances, more elaborate versions are being developed for organizations and for more exclusive uses. These can have a high market price of up to $3,000. If you’re looking for ones that are fit for recreational use, getting a cheaper version is just as good. CF
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