Everything has a price, but how much something actually costs depends on how much and for how long you use it.
It's tempting to purchase something shiny and new, particularly since CES just ended last week, but breaking down how it will work in a budget is smarter than any smartwatch.
Office Depot looked at some of the most frequently purchased electronics—phones, laptops, tablets, video game consoles, smartwatches, wireless headphones, and smart home hubs—and surveyed owners to calculate cost per year.
Check out the full infographic below.
One of its findings: People are holding onto their phones for longer periods of time, especially during the wait for 5G.
Even so, respondents spend more on their phones per year, at $228, with an average price for a phone at $684 and an upgrade cycle of three years.
While laptops are generally a more expensive purchase than phones, they are replaced less often and average just about $190 per year.
The most cost-efficient devices are smart-home hubs that live in homes for about four and a half to five years and cost of about $34 annually.
Balancing the desire for something new versus a bank account is a fight between you and you (and maybe also a significant other).
But if you're looking to upgrade a device, you can save money and the environment by reselling and recycling.
