Written by Wyatt Gilliland
Eyeopener is not paid for or affiliated with any brands or products featured in this article.
From the hot Stanley tumbler to Apple's new Vision Pro goggles, trending gadgets are everywhere. And just like its popularity, its price can also skyrocket.
this is eyeis a guide to cheaper alternatives to the internet's most popular products that don't compromise on quality and are more affordable for students.
Each item is lower priced but of comparable quality.
simple modern tumbler
The Stanley Cup (no, not that cup) is all the rage in drinkware society, with an increase in #WaterTok posts on TikTok and even a Saturday Night Live skit with Dakota Johnson lampooning the size and hype of the cup. It was caused.
Prices for the 40-ounce tumbler and collector's style start at $59 and are sold out on the company's website, making the cup considerably more expensive than the $16 Nalgene bottles that were popular earlier in the decade.
A cost-friendly alternative is the Simple Modern 40-ounce tumbler ($40). Available in a variety of colors and patterns, this tumbler has many of the core features found in its trendy competitors, including 24-hour cold retention and a cupholder-friendly base. Similarly, Simple Modern claims that their product is leak-proof.
This product currently has 1,000 purchases on Amazon in the last month and a 4.8-star rating out of 28,800 reviews.
Uniqlo seamless down puffer jacket
Vancouver has gifted the world with some amazing inventions, including Lululemon leggings, the iconic Herschel backpack, and most recently, the Aritzia Super Puff jacket.
Unfortunately, this popular brand's coat comes with a $250 price tag, making it a big investment for students.
But you don't have to empty your bank account to show off your iconic style on the streets. A similar style Uniqlo down her puffer jacket was found for her $129.90.
Boasting a nearly identical look and multiple color options, this alternative features a waterproof and windproof exterior and a down-filled interior to keep you warm on cold days.
This product has 101 reviews on Uniqlo's website, with an average rating of 4.5 stars.
ray ban meta smart glasses or metaquest pro
Last June, Apple announced its latest innovation, the Apple Vision Pro, and left the world drooling.
It launched in select markets on February 2nd at a hefty price of $3,499 USD (approximately $4,716 CAD), debuting as one of Silicon Valley's most expensive mass consumer headsets, according to BNN Bloomberg Did.
This product is not yet available in Canada, but there are already several more affordable alternatives from well-known brands.
If virtual reality capabilities in glasses aren't a must-have, the $409 RayBan Meta smart glasses may satisfy your desire for advanced virtual assistant features.
Available in two trims and several colors, the glasses are equipped with an ultra-wide-angle 12-megapixel micro camera and recessed speakers for superior audio.
It also includes hidden touch and voice controls, allowing you to take photos, listen to music, make calls, and live stream to Instagram and Facebook, all from the glasses.
If virtual reality capabilities are an issue for you, consider the Meta Quest Pro goggles.
This headset starts at $1,399.99 and comes fully equipped to provide a premium mixed reality experience.
The device has several built-in sensors that provide an accurate view of your surroundings with minimal distortion. Onboard color graphs seamlessly render virtual elements into the real world through your goggles, allowing you to stay present while interacting with online elements.
Users will experience five infrared eye sensors and a facial movement sensor. Operating with a 120-degree field of view, these sensors can track your expressions and facial movements with incredible accuracy.
Other flagship features include haptic feedback touch controls, three separate cameras, a quantum dot integrated lens, and 256GB of onboard storage to create a fully contained and immersive experience.
Monos Travel Luggage Collection
Rimowa suitcases are a stylish travel accessory often seen on social media, but with prices in the low $1,000s, they're out of reach for most students.
However, you don't have to liquidate your assets to get the same sleek looking suitcase.
Mono's carry-on bag lineup allows consumers to choose from eight classic colors in eligible sizes for many major airlines.
The $285 Monos suitcase features a water-resistant polycarbonate exterior and 360-degree rotating wheels. Additionally, each purchase includes an antimicrobial silver ion coated laundry bag, two shoe bags, and a vegan leather luggage tag.
This travel article received 4.9-star reviews out of 2,200 posts on the Monos website.
Shark FlexStyle Hair Styler
Hairstyling enthusiasts have thrown themselves into Dyson's $799 Airwrap Hair Salon with tsunami-level intensity. The famous brand known for its innovative vacuum cleaners shocked the internet when it launched this hair styling device in the summer of 2022.
Shark came to the boxing ring to knock out Airwrap with the 2022 FlexStyle hair styler.
The device starts at $299 and offers customers eight different packages that offer customizable experiences ranging from Malibu Pink to Lilac Frost.
Shark's device includes a 1.25-inch auto-wrap curler, multi-styling tools, and a built-in brush.
Several different attachments give consumers a wide range of styling options for their hair, from curling, volumizing, smoothing to drying.
FlexStyle also has the ability to protect users from heat-induced hair damage.
While the significant price difference definitely makes up for some differences in quality and design, there are some complaints worth noting.
In a review, online brand critic Molly Campsey said that with the Flex style, if you want to change the direction of airflow, you have to manually change the main barrel part, but with the Dyson, you just turn a knob on the top of the barrel. He said that it would be enough.
Each version of the Shark device receives an average of 4.4 stars out of 1,100 reviews.
TikTok can make a lot of people feel like they have to give up next month's rent to buy the latest trending item, but there's almost always something just as good for half the price. One simple search can save him hundreds of dollars.
