New Car, Caviar, Four Star, Daydream

Money, it’s a gas. In a similar fashion to gas, it can also get quite expensive quite quickly. The iPhone for example has risen in average cost more than 60 percent since its launch in 2007. Inflation by contrast since then is only around 43 percent, so while your dollar is worth more, technology still carries a weightier price tag than it used to. Where then can we save some dollars? Are there opportunities when buying tech where it’s safe to save some money, or do “buy cheap, buy twice!” rules always apply? No need to have your credit cards at the ready, ladies and gentlemen. Settle in for buying advice, compliments of the house.

I’ve said it before both professionally and for personal use; technology works best when it’s meaningful and appropriate. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in a new product launch or the discovery of something faster or brighter or more portable. The truth of the matter is, the majority of technology consumers won’t see the benefits of something bleeding edge. Even if you do have the desire to scratch that new-iPhone itch, you can do so while saving some wedge. The iPhone SE has the same processing power as the current generation 13 models, but at almost half the cost at just $429. You lose a couple of features, screen size and camera options being the most notable, but the SE still takes stellar photos. If you’re that serious about photography, the $400 you saved easily picks you up a great, dedicated camera.

Laptops and other portables are a similar story. Samsung, Amazon and Apple’s tablets are fantastic and offer great value for money if purchased with what you’ll actually be doing with it in mind. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 often goes on sale for less than $200 and offers great performance and battery life. The basic, non-pro iPad is hugely capable and starts at $329. I actually own both an iPad Pro and an iPad mini, and can confirm that when using either for photo editing, the only discernible difference is screen real estate. An Amazon Fire HD 8 for $90? Really difficult to argue with that. I always recommend Dell and Asus when it comes to laptops, purely based on my own great experiences. The $500-$700 mark is generally where I advise starting, and online reviews are invaluable when you’re distilling down any manufacturers lineup of models.

This is I think a great time for a word of caution, as there is a trap I see a huge number of people falling into. Simply buying the cheapest of something is a surefire way to frustration and time wasted. A $150 laptop might seem like an attractive proposition and might work (slowly!) in very specific usage cases, but when you’re having to force your YouTube video down to minimum quality in order for it to play smoothly, you’ll be wishing you spent a little more. There’s a huge difference between cheap technology, and budget technology. Longevity is also something to consider; how long are you expecting this purchase to reliably perform? Speaking very generally, things will lose performance over time due to a number of factors. The more performance you start out with, the more you can stand to sacrifice to time.

There are of course times when you simply want something objectively nicer than the middle of the road option. I’m both guilty of it and a huge advocate for it. What’s important though is that you don’t feel like you’re duty bound to buy the top-option. Buy appropriately, and enjoy those extra dollars you saved.