5 Electronics That Are Rarely Worth Buying at Full Price

If you’re thinking about upgrading an electronic device this year, you may have chosen an especially bad moment. RAM prices remain under heavy pressure, and because memory affects so many products, the ripple effects can show up almost everywhere. In a market like this, any discount helps. The good news is that some gadgets seem to be on sale so often that paying full price makes little sense — the smarter move is usually to wait.

There are plenty of products that fit that pattern, but here we’re focusing on a few higher-priced examples, using Amazon sales for consistency. Price-tracking tools such as camelcamelcamel.com also make it easy to see how low items typically go and how often they drop. The five categories below are among the ones we think you should almost never buy at full MSRP.

AirPods

Apple’s AirPods are popular, but they still carry Apple’s premium pricing. The encouraging part is that Apple’s two pricier models — the AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3, listed at $549 and $250 — are discounted frequently. The AirPods Max 2, a newer product that launched in 2026, has already been cut several times, sliding from $549 to as low as $399. The exact sale price varies, but the markdowns happen often enough that you rarely have to wait long. That matters, especially given how expensive the AirPods Max are compared with rivals such as Sony.

The AirPods Pro 3 follow a similar pattern. Since arriving in 2025, their price stayed steady only briefly before beginning a bumpy but clear decline through repeated sales, at one point reaching $169. That is roughly a third off the regular price for a product that is still relatively new. With the gap between generations now relatively small, the latest model is often the more sensible choice.

And these are not used units or third-party refurbishments. They are sold through Apple’s official Amazon storefront, which still offers the usual Apple buying protections, including the option to add AppleCare+. There are some advantages to buying directly from Apple as well, but that only really matters if Apple’s own price matches Amazon’s lowest deal.

Anker products

Anker is widely regarded as a top name for power banks, chargers, cables, and related accessories. Many of its products are already reasonably priced, but its higher-end gear is not cheap by normal standards. For example, one of its best-known 10,000mAh battery packs sells for $79 and only occasionally drops by about $20. Even so, that seems more like the exception than the rule, because many Anker products do see frequent, significant discounts.

Consider the large Anker Prime power banks, including the 25,000mAh and 26,250mAh models. The latter can support charging up to 300W and is priced like serious desktop hardware at $229.99. The smaller unit sells for $119.99, while the larger one has dropped as low as $159.99, and the 25,000mAh version can fall to $87.99. Those markdowns appear often enough that waiting is usually worth it if you want to save close to $100.

The same pattern shows up with Anker’s premium wall chargers. The 160W charger regularly falls from $149.99 to $99.99, while the 140W version has been seen as low as $47.48 from $69.99. One of its 3-in-1 wireless iPhone chargers drops from $149.99 to $99.74, and its $300 Prime docking station has gone down to $209.99. These are all newer products, but the frequency of the sales gives buyers little reason to rush. Anker’s other brands, including Eufy, also see plenty of discounts.

Smartwatches

A smartwatch can be useful for health and fitness, but prices can be hard to justify. Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch models can cost several hundred dollars, and even some budget-friendly options come close to $100. Still, this is another category where promotions happen often enough that buying at full price usually is not necessary.

At the lower end, devices such as the Amazfit Bip 6 sell for $79 and can drop to $59.99, the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 starts at $69.99 and has fallen to $41.81, and Nothing’s CMF Watch begins at $99 and has been sold for $61.75. All of them are new devices that see frequent sales.

More premium watches above $100 also get marked down more than many shoppers expect. The latest Apple Watch SE 3, which lists for $239 on Amazon, has gone as low as $189.99. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8, priced at $299.99, has been discounted to $218.49, while Garmin’s previous-generation vívoactive 5, normally $299.99, has dropped to $173 during stronger promotions.

Even the most expensive smartwatches, which can cost as much as a smartphone, sometimes see appealing discounts — though those deals often apply to older or renewed models. An Apple Watch Ultra 3 priced at $643.98 can fall to $588.95, and Garmin’s $1,099 fenix 8 has been reduced to $849.98 in less frequent sales. For products at this price level, those discounts can make the purchase feel much more reasonable.

Smart cameras

Smart cameras for indoor and outdoor use are a major part of many connected homes. They are not especially expensive, but the savings can be substantial if you wait for a sale. For instance, Eufy’s subscription-free 4K indoor security camera sells for $139.99 and can drop to $79.98. The cheaper E30 4K indoor camera, listed at $69.99, has been seen for as little as $34.88.

Competing brands behave much the same way. The Wyze Cam Pan v3 normally sells for $87.98 but has repeatedly dropped to $30.98, while the Reolink E1 security camera pair, usually $89.99, has been available for as low as $49. If you are outfitting an entire home, these kinds of discounts can cut the total cost by hundreds of dollars.

Game controllers

First-party game controllers are usually not cheap. The PS5 DualSense controller costs $74 on Amazon and only occasionally goes on sale, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller is $89 and tends to receive only minor discounts. These controllers also continue to face stick-drift issues, which means many players may eventually need a repair or replacement after regular use. Third-party controllers often offer much better value.

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller, which is widely regarded as one of the best controllers available, normally costs $59.99 and often drops to $47.49. Other retailers sometimes offer even deeper cuts. It includes TMR joysticks, Hall-effect triggers, a low-latency 2.4 GHz connection, extra programmable buttons, and its own wireless charging dock.

8BitDo is not the only brand worth watching. GameSir also makes well-regarded, affordable controllers with premium features. The GameSir Cyclone 2, for example, sells for $55.99 but is frequently discounted to $44.79. These controllers already offer strong value on paper, but even so, waiting for a sale is still the best move.