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10 Tech Enthusiast Guilty Pleasures: (A.K.A. Expensive Gear We Need)
We've all thought about it: What would we buy if money were no object? Most people have mental lists of extravagant, unnecessary-but-awesome tech they'd snatch up if they ever hit the jackpot. But for those who don't, here are some ideas – plus a few more realistic (but still pricey) alternatives. And remember: if it brings you joy, it can't be a bad thing… usually. From TVs to GPUs, these are ten guilty pleasures for tech enthusiasts – a.k.a. the expensive gear we need. Big TV Samsung's The Wall We're often told that bigger doesn't always mean better, but in the world of televisions, it often does. And it doesn't get much bigger than Samsung's aptly named The Wall. First unveiled in 2018, The Wall combines monstrous sizes with MicroLED display tech. Like OLED, MicroLED displays use millions of tiny LEDs that produce their own light and color without requiring a backlight or color filter. However, MicroLED has several advantages over OLED: brighter colors, improved power efficiency, faster response times, and significantly higher brightness. Some models reach up to 2,000 nits across the entire screen. Perhaps most importantly, MicroLED uses an inorganic LED structure, which offers a longer lifespan and eliminates the risk of burn-in. In addition to its advanced display tech, The Wall features a modular, bezel-less design that can be configured in different sizes and resolutions. If you have the money – and the space – you can opt for the jaw-dropping 292-inch 8K setup. Samsung isn't too forthcoming about the price of this model as it has to be custom ordered, but it's believed to be somewhere between $572,000 and $800,000. If that's a bit too steep, there's also a 146-inch 4K version available for $219,999. Yes, that's a lot of dough for a TV – but these sets are larger than many people's living rooms. On top of the size, you also get 20-bit processing for precise color mapping, a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, and a host of high-end features. A Less Expensive Alternative LG G5 Evo 97-inch If you're after something a little more attainable, check out LG's latest offering in its premium G-series of OLED TVs: the G5 Evo. Not only is this model three times brighter than the already very bright G4 (1,650 nits peak on a 10% window), but it's absurdly thin and has a new anti-reflective coating. The LG G5 is a solid choice for living room PC gaming, boasting a 165Hz refresh rate, G-Sync, FreeSync, VRR support, and a dedicated gaming portal that includes the Xbox app for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The 83-inch version goes for $6,499 – but why stop there when the 97-inch model is available for $24,999? A Powerful Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Nvidia's RTX 5090 is the most powerful consumer graphics card on the market today. And while Nvidia has been stingy with VRAM across much of the Blackwell lineup, the flagship model bucks the trend with 32GB of GDDR7 memory. It also features 28Gbps memory speed and a 512-bit bus, delivering a staggering 1,792 GB/s of bandwidth. For gaming, nothing outperforms the RTX 5090. And as with most new GPUs, its performance is expected to improve over time with driver updates. There's no denying that the Nvidia RTX 5000 series has been underwhelming in delivering only modest generational improvements at steep prices. The RTX 5090 fits right into that pattern. At the time of our review in January, the flagship showed a 27% average performance gain over the RTX 4090 – along with a 25% price hike. And that was at the now-mythical MSRP of $1,999. Add to that the occasional melting connector and early instability issues – though the latter seems to have been resolved. For something truly extravagant and unnecessarily powerful, choose a high-end third-party card, like the MSI RTX 5090 Suprim or the $3,500+ Asus ROG Astral LC RTX 5090, if you can even find one. A Less Expensive Alternative Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 While it's also tough to find in stock, the RTX 4090 remains a phenomenal GPU at a significantly lower price than the 5090 – there's a reason we gave it a score of 90. Packing 24GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 384-bit bus for 1,008 GB/s of bandwidth, the Ada Lovelace flagship remains the second-best consumer GPU around in terms of raw power and performance. With an average of 100 FPS natively in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K, only the RTX 5090 can best it. Most prices are way above the $1,599 MSRP right now, of course. Of course, to truly get the most out of these cards, you'll need a beast of a monitor – which brings us to... Top of the Line Gaming Monitor Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57-inch At 57 inches, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 isn't that far from 5 feet in width. It also weighs a comical 41.8 pounds. The 7,680 x 2,160 (32:9) resolution makes it comparable to using two 32-inch 4K displays side by side. It also features a steep 1,000R curve that wraps around your field of vision. While it's not OLED, the Neo G9 still impresses with a 1,000-nit VA panel, 2,392 dimming zones, and a Quantum Dot layer that delivers 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. You also get a 1ms GTG response time and a 240Hz refresh rate. Pair it with the aforementioned RTX 5090 – thanks to its DisplayPort 2.1 support – and you'll enjoy maximum resolution and refresh rate performance. Of course, all that tech comes at a cost. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is one of the most expensive gaming monitors around, with a price tag of $2,299. A Less Expensive Alternative Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM If you're looking for something more affordable, less massive, and sporting a gorgeous OLED panel, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM is one of our favorite releases this year (check out our full review). This 32-inch monitor features a 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and 1,000 nits of peak brightness – matching the Neo G9 in those key specs. It also boasts lightning-fast 0.03ms response times, 99% DCI-P3 coverage, and DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. It looks stunning, performs exceptionally well, and best of all, it's priced at $1,300 – $1,000 less than Samsung's behemoth. A Top Computer Desk Lian Li DK-07X Dual Chamber Tempered Glass Desk Case If you want your PC setup to scream luxury, a desk case is the ultimate flex – making it clear to guests that you love your expensive tech. The Lian Li DK-07X desk case is essentially a fusion of a motorized sit-stand desk and a high-end dual-chamber E-ATX PC case. Supporting two E-ATX motherboards and dual ATX power supplies, this setup is definitely overkill for most people – but this list isn't about practicality. It also accommodates up to 17 fans or multiple radiators, along with up to 14 storage drives. You also get smooth motorized height adjustment for sitting or standing, and there's no denying that a fully specced-out system looks incredible beneath that sleek tempered glass. The cost for all of this? Around $1,399. A Less Expensive Alternative Secret Lab Magnus Pro XL For a somewhat more traditional desk, there's the Secret Lab Magnus Pro XL. The maker of the some of the best gaming chairs is equally adept at building desks, as this beauty illustrates. This larger version of the Magnus is an imposing 70-inches wide, and comes with the best cable management system you're likely to ever see in a a piece of furniture. The build quality is exceptional all around, especially if you opt for extras like the desk mat, monitor arms, and PC mount. There's also the fact that, like the Lian Li, it can mechanically rise and lower to turn a regular desk into a standing one. With all the accessories, expect to pay just over $1,300. A Luxury Chair Herman Miller Embody If you want a gaming chair that practically screams, "I have too much money," look no further than the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody. At around $2,000, its price is right up there with the MSRP of an RTX 5090. Herman Miller is essentially the Armani of office furniture, known for sleek, stylish, and extremely premium seating. Logitech's 2020 partnership with Herman Miller led to the gaming version of the design company's Embody chair. It's said to be one of the most comfortable chairs you'll ever sit on, as you'd expect at that price. You may also opt for the non-gaming version and pick from different eye-catching colors that highlight the chair's design and the most premium of materials, including copper-fused cooling foam. And unlike similar products, it comes pre-assembled, which will be welcome news for anyone who's put a gaming chair together. A Less Expensive Alternative Secret Lab Titan Evo For a more affordable – though still premium – option, the Secretlab Titan Evo is arguably the best chair in the high-end category. The Titan Evo is on offer for a comparatively reasonable $549, though it can be pushed higher by opting for the real leather options and fancier armrests. The Titan Evo is supremely comfortable – even after 12+ hours of sitting, you won't walk away with a sore back (or anything else). It's also highly customizable, durable, and available in 78 different variants – all of which look fantastic. There's a reason this chair is a favorite among gamers. The Best Speaker Setup Bowers & Wilkins 606 & 607 S3 Speaker setups offer a high level of customization, allowing audiophiles to mix and match speakers and subwoofers to suit their preferences. According to What Hi-Fi, one of the best combinations money can buy right now consists of the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 ($1100) speakers and 607 S3 ($900) speakers for the surround, the HTM6 S3 centre channel speaker ($900), and the ASW610 subwoofer ($899). Altogether, that's $3,799, and it doesn't include the price of speaker stands, which you'll also want. The HTM6 S3 is in the middle This system delivers an exceptional home cinema experience in a relatively compact package. With detailed, insightful sound and excellent warmth – especially in vocals – it offers a dynamic, energetic performance that audiophiles and casual listeners alike will appreciate. A Less Expensive Alternative Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar Prefer something more traditional that doesn't require piecing together multiple components? The Samsung HW-Q990D 11.1.4-channel soundbar system includes a main soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers – totaling 22 drivers that create a full 3D soundscape. And it's available for around $1,500. The HW-Q990D also features two HDMI 2.1 inputs, supporting 4K HDR pass-through at up to 120Hz. On top of that, it offers a range of useful features and produces powerful, immersive, room-filling sound that easily rivals more complex setups. A Monster Laptop Razer Blade 18 If you're a gamer on the move who wants a laptop that can match – or even outperform – your home setup, the Razer Blade 18 with the RTX 5090 GPU is an ideal choice – if you can afford it. Not only does the Blade come equipped with Nvidia's Blackwell flagship mobile GPU and a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, but it also features a dual-mode display that can switch between 3840 x 2400 at 240Hz and 1920 x 1200 at a blistering 440Hz. It also includes plenty of other high-end specs: a 3ms response time, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, new scissor switches with 1.5mm key travel, and Razer's largest vapor chamber to date. Connectivity is equally impressive, with two Thunderbolt ports (including one Thunderbolt 5), Wi-Fi 7, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.4, Gigabit LAN, a 5MP camera with a privacy shutter, and a six-speaker system with THX Spatial Audio. The downside? The Blade 18 starts at $4,500 – and buying one in the US right now is nearly impossible. A Monster Laptop for Productivity and Creation MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max Not a gamer, but still want a luxury laptop in this kind of price bracket? Creators and professionals will find a powerhouse in the MacBook Pro 16 with the M4 Max chip. With a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 48GB of unified memory, the M4 Max can handle nearly anything – from 8K video editing to intensive 3D rendering. The MacBook Pro's display delivers with its 1,600-nit peak brightness and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio on a stunning Liquid Retina 120Hz display. It includes three Thunderbolt 5 ports, three studio-quality microphones, and a six-speaker audio system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support. All that hardware is packed inside a stunning and sleek chassis featuring one of the best keyboards and trackpads for productivity. Starting at $4,000, the fully loaded model with 128GB of unified memory, 8TB of storage, and the nanotexture display can push the total over $7,300. A Great Camera Leica M11 Don't just reach for your phone when capturing something special. Serious photographers often turn to a camera like the Leica M11 – priced at a very premium $8,995. This high-end digital rangefinder comes with a 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, delivering outstanding detail and dynamic range. The M11's Triple Resolution Technology allows users to shoot at 60MP, 36MP, or 18MP – offering flexibility in image quality and file size without cropping. It supports a wide ISO range from 64 to 50,000, making it capable in various lighting conditions. There's also 64GB of internal storage, a durable yet lightweight body, superb build quality, and intuitive manual controls. A Less Expensive Alternative Sony a7 IV At about a third of the Leica's price, the Sony a7 IV (~$2,000 body-only) is a fantastic full-frame mirrorless camera for both photography and video work. The Sony's 33MP sensor delivers excellent detail and dynamic range. It features a fast 759-point autofocus with Real-Time Eye AF, and 4K video recording up to 60fps in 10-bit 4:2:2. Built-in 5-axis stabilization ensures steady shots, while a vari-angle touchscreen and dual card slots are welcome additions. With strong performance in both photo and video, it's a top pick for creators in both media. Headphones for Musical Bliss Focal Utopia Headphones can reach stupidly absurd prices – case in point: the $5,000 Focal Utopia. These ultra-high-end headphones feature 40mm pure Beryllium "M-shaped" dome drivers, delivering rich, smooth, and impactful sound with a touch of warmth and striking dynamic contrast. The result is a deeply immersive listening experience. They offer a frequency response from 5Hz to 50kHz, ensuring both deep bass and extended treble reproduction. An updated voice coil made from a copper and aluminum alloy enhances neutrality, offering powerful bass with smoother treble. Luxury materials complete the package: perforated lambskin and memory foam ear pads, a genuine leather headband, and forged carbon fiber yokes for strength without added weight. Together, these elements contribute to a natural, fluid, and cohesive sound profile. A Less Expensive Alternative Sennheiser HD 800 S While the Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones are far more affordable the Utopias, they still cost a whopping $1,799. But they do feature a 56mm ring-radiator transducer and deliver natural sound reproduction – it's been described as breathtakingly detailed, spacious, and natural. They also include Sennheiser's unique absorber technology, which smooths out treble peaks without sacrificing resolution – resulting in a listening experience that's as refined as it is revealing. Don't Drop these Gaming Headsets Audeze LCD-GX Open-Back Gaming Headset Gaming headsets can get expensive these days, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one pricier than the $900 Audeze LCD-GX open back set. If you need to justify dropping nearly a grand on a pair of gaming cans, just point to the 106mm planar magnetic drivers, which deliver accurate, detailed sound with minimal distortion. The open-back design is great for immersive gaming – though not ideal if you share your space. The sound quality is so exceptional, you might forget it's a gaming headset at all; it's just as suited for listening to music. Thanks to the large, plush memory foam earcups and a suspension-style headband, you can wear this headset for hours without discomfort. Its low impedance (20Ω) and high sensitivity (100dB/1mW) also mean you can use it directly with most gaming devices – no external amplifier needed. All in all, it's the perfect headset for gamers and audiophiles, but if it's too (understandably) expensive for gamers, check this out instead... Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset Not a fan of wires? Check out the Audeze Maxwell Wireless gaming headset. It features 90mm planar magnetic drivers that deliver exceptional audio with precise bass, clear mids, and well-controlled treble. At $290, it's still in the premium range, but far more accessible. There have been concerns over its long-term durability, though. Bonus Entry: A Full Racing Sim Setup Ultimate Racing Sim Rig feat. DOF Reality Pro P6 Image courtesy of jgiuliano1 Is there anything more opulent, extravagant, unnecessary – but incredibly cool – than your own racing sim setup? For hardcore racing fans (and flight sim enthusiasts), the DOF Reality Pro P6 delivers hyper-realistic motion feedback across six axes – heave, roll, pitch, surge, sway, and yaw – creating a fully immersive simulation experience. Image courtesy of jgiuliano1 The Pro P6 itself starts at $9,400, but to build a rig truly worth bragging about, you'll need more than just the motion platform. A high-end racing wheel and pedal set, a dedicated sim cockpit, multiple gaming monitors, and a powerhouse PC are all essential – bringing the total cost to anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000+.
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