Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
A lot of tech right now is genuinely good.
But that doesn’t mean it’s worth the price.
In a few categories especially, you’re paying way more than the actual upgrade you’re getting.
💸 The Most Overpriced Tech Right Now (and what to buy instead)
Here’s what stands out right now 👇
📱 Flagship phones ($1,200+)
You could argue most flagship phones are overpriced now.
Samsung S26 Ultra.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max.
They’re great but the upgrades year to year are getting smaller, while prices keep creeping up.
And meanwhile…
Fast performance.
Excellent cameras.
Much faster charging.
Great displays.
For most people, the difference just isn’t worth the extra $500–$800.
When it makes sense:
If you care about ecosystem (Apple) or want the absolute best camera tuning.
What to buy instead:
→ OnePlus 13 / 15
→ Oppo Find X9 Pro
Source: CNET
🖥️ Apple Studio Display / XDR
The Studio Display XDR is pushing ~$3,000 depending on config.
And yes — it’s a great display.
But…
There are high-end monitors from Dell and others that get very close for significantly less.
And in some cases, give you more flexibility.
We’re testing this properly right now, but early take:
👉 It feels overpriced for what you actually get.
When it makes sense:
If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and want the cleanest possible setup.
What to buy instead:
→ High-end Dell ultrawide / 5K monitors
→ Other pro displays in the ~$1,500–$2,000 range
Source: YouTube
🎧 Audiophile gear
This is where things get subjective.
High-end speakers and headphones are indeed better.
But are they 2–5x better than good consumer options?
That depends who you ask.
A lot of people genuinely can’t tell the difference once you hit a certain level. Which makes this category feel very overpriced for most buyers.
When it makes sense:
If you really care about sound and know what you’re listening for.
What to buy instead:
→ Mid-range headphones / speakers
→ “Prosumer” audio gear (sweet spot for value)
Source: What Hi-Fi?
💾 Storage, RAM, and GPUs (AI tax)
This is probably the most overpriced category right now.
Storage.
Memory.
Graphics cards.
Everything has been pushed up by the AI boom, and it’s getting ridiculous.
Example:
Upgrading storage in a PS5 can cost almost as much as the console itself.
PC GPUs? Still inflated.
SSDs and RAM? Way higher than they should be.
👉 You’re basically paying an “AI tax” right now.
When it makes sense:
If you genuinely need the performance right now.
What to buy instead:
→ Wait (if you can)
→ Buy only what you actually need (not future-proofing)
🍎 Unexpected: Apple = value right now
Apple used to be the expensive option.
Now in some cases, it’s actually the value pick.
Mac Mini.
MacBook Neo.
Even base MacBooks.
They’ve increased base specs while keeping pricing relatively stable.
Meanwhile, PC components have gone up.
So for a lot of people a Mac is now the simpler and better-value buy.
Source: CNN
📊 The smart buyer’s cheat sheet
Overpriced pick | Better move |
|---|---|
📱 Flagship phones ($1,200+) | OnePlus / Oppo flagship alternatives |
🖥️ Apple Studio Display / XDR | High-end Dell / 5K ultrawide monitors |
🎧 Audiophile gear | Mid-range / prosumer audio |
💾 SSDs, RAM, GPUs | Wait or buy only what you need |
🍎 (Reverse) PC builds right now | Mac Mini / base MacBooks |
What feels the most overpriced right now?
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
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