How to Buy Smartphones, TVs and Tablets for Less

It's no secret that electronics such as televisions, tablets and smartphones are big business. However, upgrading to the newest, shiniest gadgets can take a hefty toll on your budget. Read on for strategies that can help you save money in this product category.

1. Sell your old device. Before upgrading to a new smartphone, laptop or tablet, consider selling or trading in your old device. Many retailers and wireless carriers offer trade-in programs. "The more current the phone or gadget, the more credit you can expect to receive," consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch says.

While retailers typically offer a gift card toward future purchases, trade-in websites including Gazelle, BuyMyTronics and Glyde offer cash. "Some sites will buy it from you even if it's broke, though naturally you'll get a lower buyback," says DealNews.com spokesman Mark LoCastro. "That's money that you can in turn use for your new gadget purchase." You may get more money reselling the device yourself through eBay (EBAY) or Craigslist, but that option also requires more legwork to complete the transaction and more potential for the buyer to flake out or defraud you.

2. Know your needs. According to Stephanie Humphrey, weekly tech columnist for Ebony.com and founder of the blog A Matter of Life and Tech, it's a good idea to determine how much storage space and what features you need before a shopping excursion. That way a slick salesperson won't upsell you to a model that has extra bells and whistles you won't use. Customers sometimes "go in and say, 'Gimme that one,' and it's more expensive than what [they] need," she says.

With most non-Apple products, you can usually add more disk space later if needed, although it's often cheaper to buy the right amount from the start. If you must upgrade your disk space later on, Humphrey says you can save money if you buy the component pieces online and install them yourself.

3. Consider buying the previous generation. iPhone 5s may be popular among the tech cognoscenti, but if you're price-conscious, consider an iPhone 4 or 5 (not 5s). "Electronics have one of the fastest depreciation values on any consumer good as manufacturers and brands release new updates and models on popular gadgets every few months," Woroch says. "What's hot today may be old news in a few months, so it's not worth paying a premium just to get the latest bells and whistles."

LoCastro adds that a previous generation device is often still capable of running the latest apps and software. "You might just sacrifice a faster processor or thinner design," he says.

Timing your purchase to the release of a new model can also save you money. "The best time to buy a current-generation iPad is toward the end of its life cycle," LoCastro says. "So the minute you hear rumors that a new iPad is in the works, chances are retailers will discount the current iPad. That rule generally applies to all types of gadgets, from smartphones to tablets."

4. Look for open-box deals or refurbished devices. Many retailers sell open-box items at a steep discount. "Open box may just mean it was the display model, or [an employee] may have opened it to show someone and that person decided not to purchase that item," Humphrey says.

Refurbished devices have typically been used and returned to the manufacturer, which usually restores it to factory settings and tests it for defects. Humphrey says it's a good idea to buy refurbished products from a reputable source, and make sure it's factory certified.

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