It may be troublesome to know the fitting time to purchase new tech. Some purchases you must maintain off on both as a result of the expertise just isn’t prepared but, or as a result of costs are prone to transfer decrease quickly. Different purchases are considerably future-proof as a result of they embrace a brand new expertise or platform that’s prone to be supported for years to come back. Let’s take a look at two such merchandise you possibly can safely purchase now, and three that you must maintain off on buying.
Purchase now: any latest Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy S
Take pleasure in software program assist till 2032
If you are going to purchase a brand new telephone, getting a brand new Pixel 10 or any Samsung Galaxy S25 (together with the S25 Edge that we tested against the iPhone Air) mannequin ensures you will have software program updates for not less than seven years, as promised by each Google and Samsung. That theoretically means seven years of safety patches and new variations of Android, as much as Android 23. Not solely does that imply you will get new options and software program experiences, however going with a brand new Pixel or Galaxy S additionally helps resale worth.
Purchase now: any Apple laptop with Apple Silicon
Efficiency + vitality effectivity + robust resale
When Apple unveiled the primary M-series processor in 2020, the response was very constructive. Since Apple now controls the {hardware}, software program, and silicon in its PCs, it will possibly optimize in methods no different producer can. The effectivity and efficiency of the M-series chips had been and proceed to be off the charts. Better of all, going with a pc powered by Apple silicon means not less than seven years of software program updates, plus the additional advantage of very robust resale worth (like the most recent Pixels and Galaxy S telephones, as talked about above).
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Wait: AI devices
It is too early to choose winners; do not be left with a paperweight
Whereas AI is all the trend, do not be tempted to purchase AI devices simply but, just like the Humane AI Pin (which no longer works) or the Rabbit R1, each of which had been majorly flawed and had been purported to usher in our screenless future with omnipresent AI.
These early AI gadgets had been simply worse methods to entry AI than simply utilizing your telephone. That they had terrible battery life, would usually hallucinate, they usually’re tied to massive language fashions (LLMs) which will or might not exist as soon as the AI house will get extra mature — that means, you might be prone to be left with a brick if and when there is a pivot in LLM expertise. Not solely that, however these first-generation gadgets are costly ($700 for the Humane AI Pin and $200 for the R1) and require a month-to-month subscription or a devoted SIM card and plan to entry knowledge.
Nonetheless, that tide is popping. Units like the Plaud Note and Soundcore Work we saw at IFA 2025 give a greater indication of what is to come back for AI devices.
Wait: 8K TVs
The content material just isn’t there and will not be for years
Streaming 8K, which is an insane decision of 7680×4320 pixels, interprets to 33 million pixels of knowledge. That is 4 occasions extra decision than 4K, and it requires an web connection of not less than 100mbps to work as a result of you are going to be streaming 20-30GB of knowledge per hour. Due to that, excluding YouTube (which has a comparatively small library of 8K, principally of birds and rivers), we’re years away from 8K content material being accessible on Netflix or another streaming platform, for that matter. Whereas you should purchase 8K TVs immediately, you will pay an almost 50% premium to take action, and you will be left with a really high-quality panel for which there’s nearly no content material. So do your self a favor and do not buy an 8K TV proper now until you wish to depend on YouTube fowl movies.
Wait: folding telephones
Costs are going to come back down so much as soon as Apple enters the world in late 2026
Should you already personal a folding telephone, you are most likely fairly proud of it. Folding telephones provide large versatility and are lastly skinny and light-weight sufficient to really feel like common telephones when closed, and expansive tablets when open.
However when you’re available in the market to purchase a brand new folding telephone, you would be higher off ready. In the direction of the top of 2026, Apple is predicted to announce its first folding telephone. And we all know that when Apple does one thing (regardless of Samsung making superb folding telephones for now seven years), the competitors heats up and costs come down. Costs for folding telephones are nonetheless very excessive (to not point out the laptop-priced Samsung Trifold unveiled fully at CES 2026), and whereas we’re nonetheless years away from foldable costs coming all the way down to a degree similar to a daily flagship, you are going to see costs come down on folding telephones from late 2026 into 2027 as demand and competitors surges for this new kind issue as Apple enters the world. So wait on shopping for a folding telephone, for now.
Different issues when timing a tech buy
It isn’t straightforward to know the fitting time to purchase a bit of tech. One main consideration is what number of years the producer is predicted to supply assist. This assist means you will proceed to get new options and safety updates, plus it means you will have a a lot stronger resale worth. Additionally, it is necessary to not make tech purchases based mostly on new expertise like 8K or AI wearables till the expertise is extra established.
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