3 Apple Accessories That Tech Experts Warn Are Practically Useless (Don’t Buy Them For Gifts!)

Whether you are shopping for yourself and looking to add to your collection of tech goodies, or want to gift the tech lover in your life an accessory that they will flip over, knowing which devices are worth the investment and which fall short will keep you from making the wrong choices. As anyone who has been devoted to their iPhone for years knows well, Apple is associated with high-quality products and there are a plethora from which to choose, which only makes your job as a discerning shopper a lot more challenging. 

Tech Expert Ilam Padmanabhan, who has two decades of experience in the tech/financial services industries, is about to make your shopping trip less stressful. These are the three Apple accessories that Padmanabhan said are practically useless — in other words, don’t buy them for gifts. 

“The Apple Pencil is a stylus that can be used with the iPad and iPhone,” Padmanabhan said. “While it can be used for tasks such as taking notes and drawing, many experts believe that it is not worth the high price tag. Additionally, the Apple Pencil is not compatible with all apps, so it may not be as useful as you think.”

There are far cheaper options on the market that offer similar functionality, Padmanabhan added, so it may be worth considering those before investing in the Apple Pencil.

It’s not that there’s anything inherently negative about the Apple keyboard as far as functionality goes. It’s just that it is not worth the high price tag because there are far cheaper options on the market that offer similar functionality, Padmanabhan said. “Additionally, the Apple keyboard is not compatible with all apps. I personally use a Logitech one, and does the job fine (at less than 30% of Apple’s price)!”

Who wouldn’t want to be gifted a pair of AirPods? Any music and podcast lover, as well as anyone who likes to take their tunes to the gym, will find a pair of headphone or pods a thoughtful and useful gift. But Padmanabhan says AirPods — the super popular wireless headphone option for Apple user — come with a hefty price tag. 

“While they offer convenience and a sleek design, there are less expensive options that offer similar quality and functionality,” Padmanabhan said. “It may be worth considering other options before investing in AirPods. Additionally, AirPods have a reputation for being easily lost or damaged, so they may not be the most practical option.”

There are plenty of tech accessories worth your time and money — and several are made by Apple. But when you’re shopping for the best bang for your buck, avoiding these three products makes for a better investment in the long run.