NYTimes explains the true lifetime cost of phones and computers

In short: More people are looking past the sticker price of gadgets and adding up the full lifetime cost of owning them.

What's going on

Prices for phones and computers have climbed, and the NYTimes highlights a simple idea, the real cost is what you pay over the whole time you own a device, not just what you pay on day one.

That lifetime cost often includes repairs, accessories, subscriptions, energy use, and maintenance. It also includes what you get back when you sell the device, or what you lose as it drops in value over time. You can think of it like buying a car, the payment is only the start, and fuel, insurance, and repairs can add up.

Some estimates show how big the gap can be. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency material cited in the coverage says a $1,300 desktop computer can end up costing about $5,400 in total when you include things like support and ongoing costs. It also says a $1,500 laptop can range from about $5,000 to nearly $10,000 when you add hardware and software, support, recurring costs, and administration.

Surveys also suggest phones can quietly cost more each year than laptops, largely because people replace phones more often. PCMag reports respondents spend about $228 per year on phones on average, compared with about $190 per year for laptops.

What to watch

The article points to a few practical ways to lower the total. Keep devices longer, pick durable models and protect them, and cut recurring charges like backup plans, insurance, and subscription services. When comparing devices, it also helps to subtract expected resale value, using a simple formula: purchase price plus recurring costs plus maintenance and repairs plus energy costs, minus resale value.

Source: NYTimes