What a new model costs over the old one
A successor is nearly always dearer, and the gap is rarely the small step the launch price implies. The table below prices every pair we track against each other, live, and a handful of them run the other way.
Updated · BasketPrice editorial
The question is the gap, not the spec sheet
Every review of a new model answers whether it is better. None of them answers the question you are actually holding, which is whether it is better by more than the difference in price — and that difference is not the one printed at launch. The previous generation does not stay at its old price: it falls, because the shop wants the shelf back, and it keeps falling for months after the successor arrives.
So the honest comparison is today’s price against today’s price. That is what the table below does: the cheapest live offer we hold for each side, read within the last few hours, with the difference worked out for you.
Where the rule breaks, and why it matters
A few pairs in the table run backwards — the newer thing costs less than the older one. That is not a bargain appearing out of nowhere. It usually means the older model is out of production and what is left is being sold at a scarcity price by third parties, or that the successor is a cheaper machine wearing a newer name rather than a better one.
Both cases point the same way: when the newer model is the cheaper one, stop treating the older one as the value option and read what actually changed between them. The price has already told you the shop does not think the old one is worth defending.
What to do with the gap
Take the difference in money, not the difference in percent, and ask what else that money buys. On a pair of earbuds a 40% premium is an evening out; on a laptop the same percentage is a second machine. Percentages flatter the expensive end of every shelf.
Then open the older model’s price history before you commit to it. A last-generation price that has been falling for weeks has further to fall; one that has held flat since the successor launched has found its floor and will not reward waiting. Every product page here shows how long the current price has held, which is the part of this decision no spec comparison carries.
Every pair we track, priced against each other today
Of the 80 pairs we can price on both sides right now, 63 have the newer model dearer and 16 run the other way. The median gap is +26%.
| Newer | Price | Measured against | Price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad A16 | $399.99 | Fire HD 10 | $154.99 | +$245.00 (+158%) |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | $899.00 | Sonos Beam Gen 2 | $359.00 | +$540.00 (+150%) |
| Galaxy Watch 8 | $298.00 | Galaxy Watch 7 (renewed) | $125.98 | +$172.02 (+137%) |
| Forerunner 265 | $440.00 | Forerunner 165 | $199.99 | +$240.01 (+120%) |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | $349.99 | Sony WH-1000XM5 (renewed) | $159.99 | +$190.00 (+119%) |
| Galaxy Tab S11 | $1,199.99 | Galaxy Tab S10 FE | $549.99 | +$650.00 (+118%) |
| Echo Show 8 | $199.99 | Echo Show 5 | $99.99 | +$100.00 (+100%) |
| Vortex Plus | $139.99 | Vortex Plus Mini | $69.99 | +$70.00 (+100%) |
| GoPro HERO13 Black | $549.99 | GoPro HERO12 Black | $292.00 | +$257.99 (+88%) |
| Powerbeats Pro 2 | $179.95 | Beats Fit Pro (renewed) | $98.23 | +$81.72 (+83%) |
| Sonos Era 300 | $399.00 | Sonos Era 100 | $219.00 | +$180.00 (+82%) |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1,299.99 | Galaxy S25 Ultra (renewed) | $723.99 | +$576.00 (+80%) |
| Apple Watch Ultra (renewed) | $289.00 | Apple Watch Series 8 (renewed) | $163.99 | +$125.01 (+76%) |
| Kindle Scribe | $499.99 | Kindle Colorsoft | $289.99 | +$210.00 (+72%) |
| Meta Quest 3 | $599.00 | Meta Quest 3S | $349.00 | +$250.00 (+72%) |
| iPad Pro 11" M5 | $1,099.99 | iPad Air 11" M4 | $649.00 | +$450.99 (+69%) |
| iPad Air 11" M4 | $649.00 | iPad A16 | $399.99 | +$249.01 (+62%) |
| Bambino Plus | $399.95 | Bambino | $249.95 | +$150.00 (+60%) |
| Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro | $499.95 | Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | $319.95 | +$180.00 (+56%) |
| iPhone 16 (renewed) | $589.05 | iPhone 16e (renewed) | $388.00 | +$201.05 (+52%) |
| Echo Dot Max | $119.99 | Echo Dot | $79.99 | +$40.00 (+50%) |
| Barista Touch Impress | $1,199.95 | Barista Touch | $799.95 | +$400.00 (+50%) |
| Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro | $749.95 | Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier | $499.99 | +$249.96 (+50%) |
| Dyson V16 Piston Animal | $949.95 | Dyson V15 Detect | $649.99 | +$299.96 (+46%) |
| iPad mini A17 Pro | $574.00 | iPad A16 | $399.99 | +$174.01 (+44%) |
| Roomba Max 775 | $999.79 | Roomba Max 715 | $699.00 | +$300.79 (+43%) |
| Galaxy Buds 4 Pro | $189.99 | Galaxy Buds3 Pro | $133.99 | +$56.00 (+42%) |
| Pixel 10 Pro | $908.99 | Pixel 10 | $649.00 | +$259.99 (+40%) |
| Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 | $139.99 | Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 | $99.99 | +$40.00 (+40%) |
| iPhone 15 (renewed) | $410.00 | iPhone 14 (renewed) | $300.00 | +$110.00 (+37%) |
| Kindle Scribe Colorsoft | $679.99 | Kindle Scribe | $499.99 | +$180.00 (+36%) |
| MacBook Pro M5 Pro | $2,499.00 | MacBook Pro M5 | $1,839.00 | +$660.00 (+36%) |
| Instant Pot Pro Plus | $229.95 | Instant Pot Pro | $169.99 | +$59.96 (+35%) |
| Kindle Paperwhite | $199.99 | Kindle | $149.99 | +$50.00 (+33%) |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 | $258.00 | AirPods Pro 3 | $199.00 | +$59.00 (+30%) |
| Barista Express Impress | $649.95 | Barista Express | $499.95 | +$150.00 (+30%) |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $774.00 | Apple Watch Ultra 3 (renewed) | $599.00 | +$175.00 (+29%) |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $199.00 | AirPods Pro 2 (renewed) | $155.00 | +$44.00 (+28%) |
| iPhone 17 Pro (renewed) | $998.00 | iPhone 17 (renewed) | $784.95 | +$213.05 (+27%) |
| KitchenAid Artisan | $379.95 | KitchenAid Classic | $299.99 | +$79.96 (+27%) |
| Paperwhite Signature | $249.99 | Kindle Paperwhite | $199.99 | +$50.00 (+25%) |
| Forerunner 570 | $549.99 | Forerunner 265 | $440.00 | +$109.99 (+25%) |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Select | $49.99 | Fire TV Stick HD | $39.99 | +$10.00 (+25%) |
| Ring Battery Doorbell 2K | $99.99 | Ring Wired Doorbell 2K | $79.99 | +$20.00 (+25%) |
| Barista Express | $499.95 | Bambino Plus | $399.95 | +$100.00 (+25%) |
| Keurig K-Classic | $125.00 | Keurig K-Elite | $99.99 | +$25.01 (+25%) |
| Pixel 10 | $649.00 | Pixel 10a | $524.00 | +$125.00 (+24%) |
| Pixel 11 | $799.00 | Pixel 10 | $649.00 | +$150.00 (+23%) |
| Forerunner 965 | $539.99 | Forerunner 265 | $440.00 | +$99.99 (+23%) |
| Dyson V10 Origin | $479.99 | Dyson V8 | $389.99 | +$90.00 (+23%) |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 | $399.00 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra | $326.43 | +$72.57 (+22%) |
| Ring Indoor Cam 2K | $59.99 | Ring Indoor Cam | $49.99 | +$10.00 (+20%) |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max (renewed) | $1,199.99 | iPhone 17 Pro (renewed) | $998.00 | +$201.99 (+20%) |
| Roomba 105 Combo | $179.00 | Roomba 105 Vac | $149.00 | +$30.00 (+20%) |
| Fire HD 10 | $154.99 | Fire HD 8 | $129.99 | +$25.00 (+19%) |
| MacBook Air 15" M5 | $1,299.00 | MacBook Air 13" M5 | $1,099.00 | +$200.00 (+18%) |
| Dyson Ball Animal 3 | $389.00 | Dyson Ball Animal Origin | $329.99 | +$59.01 (+18%) |
| Blink Mini 2K+ | $69.99 | Ring Indoor Cam 2K | $59.99 | +$10.00 (+17%) |
| Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2 | $299.00 | Sony WF-1000XM6 | $258.00 | +$41.00 (+16%) |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra (renewed) | $723.99 | Galaxy S24 Ultra (renewed) | $629.99 | +$94.00 (+15%) |
| Dyson V15 Detect | $649.99 | Dyson V11 Origin | $579.95 | +$70.04 (+12%) |
| Dell 27 SE2726H | $108.99 | Dell 24 SE2426H | $99.99 | +$9.00 (+9%) |
| Apple Watch Series 8 (renewed) | $163.99 | Apple Watch Series 7 (renewed) | $159.99 | +$4.00 (+3%) |
| Keurig K-Elite | $99.99 | Keurig K-Supreme | $99.99 | Same price |
| Instax Mini 13 | $79.95 | Instax Mini 12 | $82.99 | −$3.04 (-4%) |
| iPad Pro 13" M5 | $1,399.99 | iPad Pro 13" M4 | $1,499.00 | −$99.01 (-7%) |
| Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | $319.95 | Smart Oven Air Fryer | $349.95 | −$30.00 (-9%) |
| iPad Air 13" M4 | $849.00 | iPad Air 13" M2 | $939.00 | −$90.00 (-10%) |
| Bose SoundLink Flex (renewed) | $79.99 | JBL Flip 5 | $89.95 | −$9.96 (-11%) |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | $349.99 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 | $399.00 | −$49.01 (-12%) |
| iPad Air 11" M4 | $649.00 | iPad Air 11" M2 | $749.00 | −$100.00 (-13%) |
| Fire HD 8 | $129.99 | Kindle | $149.99 | −$20.00 (-13%) |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) (renewed) | $137.85 | Apple Watch Series 8 (renewed) | $163.99 | −$26.14 (-16%) |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Plus | $69.99 | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | $84.99 | −$15.00 (-18%) |
| Ninja CREAMi Deluxe (renewed) | $179.95 | Ninja CREAMi | $219.99 | −$40.04 (-18%) |
| Kindle Paperwhite | $199.99 | Kindle Colorsoft | $289.99 | −$90.00 (-31%) |
| Keurig K-Mini | $75.99 | Keurig K-Slim | $109.99 | −$34.00 (-31%) |
| MacBook Neo 13" | $689.00 | MacBook Air 13" M5 | $1,099.00 | −$410.00 (-37%) |
| Roku Streaming Stick Plus (renewed) | $47.99 | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | $84.99 | −$37.00 (-44%) |
| Roku Streaming Stick HD | $19.00 | Fire TV Stick HD | $39.99 | −$20.99 (-52%) |
Questions people ask
- Is the newest model always more expensive?
- Nearly always, and by more than most people expect — the table on this page counts how many of the pairs we track run each way today, and gives the median gap across all of them. A small number run backwards, usually because the older model is out of production and priced by scarcity.
- How much cheaper is last year’s model?
- It depends on the shelf and on how long ago the successor arrived, which is why the table prices every pair live instead of quoting an average. Read the money column rather than the percentage: the same percentage means very different things on earbuds and on a laptop.
- Should I buy the previous generation?
- Only after checking whether its price is still falling. A previous-generation price that has held flat since the successor launched has found its floor; one that is still drifting down has further to go. The price history on each product page here shows which of the two you are looking at.