When Are Off-Brand Gadgets Good Enough?


Gadgets can get expensive quickly, and we technophiles can end up spending a lot on our toys. We’re wondering which tech products you’re more likely to skimp on (and which ones you’re not).

Photo by RogueSun Media.

I used to buy expensive earbuds, but after my last pair, I opted to go for a cheap, off-brand, $20 pair instead. They may not sound as good as the $100 pairs out there, but I found that if I’m in a situation where I’m wearing earbuds instead of a full set of headphones, I’m not going to notice or care — so I’m fine using cheap ones as long as they fit in my ears. And in some cases, like HDMI cables, there’s no point spending more on “name” brands — they all work the same.

We’re wondering what similarly generic tech you guys use. When is cheap and off-brand good enough? Whether it be photo equipment or MP3 players, let us know what tech you prefer to spend less on in the comments below.


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