Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
The gap between budget and premium tech is a lot smaller than people think.
In some cases, it’s basically gone.
There are still a few areas where paying more makes sense…
🧠 Budget vs Premium Tech in 2026 (where the gap actually matters)
The rule I use now:
🟢 Buy once → go premium
🔴 Replaced often → don’t overspend
If it doesn’t age, spend more.
If it has a chip, assume it won’t last forever.
That one shift alone will save you a lot of money.
Where premium still makes sense
These are the categories where spending more actually holds up over time.
🔊 Speakers / audio systems
A good set of speakers is still one of the best “buy once” purchases.
They don’t really age
The tech doesn’t move that fast
And a great setup can last you years (if not decades)
We’re testing LG’s new Dolby Atmos Flex Connect system in the studio right now, and it’s a good example of this. Once you have a proper setup dialed in, you’re not looking to upgrade it every year.
⌚ Watches (non-smart)
Smartwatches are the opposite (we’ll get to that).
But a regular watch?
No software
No battery anxiety
No updates making it worse over time
You buy it once, and that’s kind of the point.
💡 Smart home (with nuance)
This one can be a good long-term buy…
But only if:
You stick to a stable ecosystem
And you’re not constantly swapping platforms
Things like smart lighting, switches, and basic automation can last but it’s very dependent on how you set it up.
🔴Where premium is a waste
A lot of “premium” tech just doesn’t justify the price anymore.
📱 Phones
The flagship phone market is the biggest example.
Yes, something like the S26 Ultra is an incredible device.
But the reality is:
Year-to-year upgrades are getting smaller
Prices are still going up
And mid-range phones are now very good
For most people, the difference just isn’t worth the extra $500–$800 anymore.
💻 Laptops (especially right now)
This is probably the biggest shift in the past year.
The MacBook Neo is a perfect example:
It’s fast
Battery life is solid
And it covers 90% of what most people need
We’re at a point where “budget Apple” is actually… good value which is not something you’d normally say.
🎧 Headphones
Unless you’re going full audiophile, this is diminishing returns territory.
Even with the new AirPods Max 2:
Yes, the H2 chip is a nice upgrade
Yes, they’re great
But are they dramatically better than solid mid-range options? Not really.
Most people will be just as happy (and save a lot of money) going a tier down.
The “it depends” category
📲 iPads / tablets
There’s no clear answer here. It really depends on:
What you’re using it for
And how often you’re pushing it
For casual use → base models are more than enough
For creative / pro work → higher-end still makes sense
🏠 Smart home
Worth calling out again because this can go either way.
Good setup = great long-term value
Messy setup = constant upgrades and frustration
🎥 Creator gear
For example, Lumix just released a new shotgun mic (DMW-DMS1) with:
32-bit float recording
Multi-channel capture
That’s genuinely high-end functionality in a compact setup.
So in some niches, spending more does unlock real capability. But again, only if you actually need it.
📊 Where to Spend vs Where to Save
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
Go premium (buy once) | Save your money (replace often) |
|---|---|
🔊 Speakers / audio systems | 📱 Flagship phones ($1,200+) |
⌚ Watches (non-smart) | 💻 High-end laptops (for most people) |
🏠 Smart home (stable setup) | 🎧 Premium headphones (non-audiophile) |
🎥 Creator gear (if you need it) | 📲 Over-specced tablets |
— | ⌚ Smartwatches (long-term) |
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
After 28 days using the S26 Ultra as my daily device, I’ve got a much clearer answer on whether it’s actually worth it or just hype.
Here’s what I break down in the video:
What the privacy display is really like day-to-day
The design, feel, and S Pen (and whether it actually matters)
Performance + battery after a full month of real use
How it connects with Galaxy Buds + ecosystem
What Galaxy AI is actually useful for (and what isn’t)
Camera + video quality in real-world scenarios
Gaming performance and overall experience
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