The Buying Game

The Buying Game (Issue 10)

This week's products include a waterproof drone, screen-free video camera, and more.

Tyler H

Tyler H

— 5 min read
The Buying Game (Issue 10)

TL;DR: The Buying Game consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used throughout.

How I’d spend $500: Fluance RT81+

Listening to vinyl in 2025 is about the complete experience, from choosing an album on the shelf to listening to each song in order. There are a lot of turntable options, but I like the Fluance RT81+ for both beginners and enthusiasts. Its solid weight, sturdy feet, quality tonearm and cartridge, and stunning design all make it a winner. While it's not automatic, it does have an auto-stop feature when the record finishes.

Price: $299 (link)
Value Score: Fair

This isn't the record player I'd recommend to people unsure about the prospect of buying records and listening to music this way. But it is built to last, if you do have a collection of vinyl you want to spin. I've tested a bunch of other options too.

How I’d spend $150: Camp Snap CS-8

A digital video camera without a playback screen and a way to view what you've captured is 100% gimmicky. But it's also surprisingly useful in the right situations. For some people, it will create a sense of nostalgia. There are grainy filters and bygone aspect ratios that can be used. For other people, it might be a solution to their screen-free vacations that still allows memories to be captured. To get the video off of the CS-8, you can connect it to a computer or USB-C-enabled phone.

Price: $149 (pre-order price) (link)
Value Score: Poor

This is a niche product aimed at creatives and enthusiasts. The video quality looks fine, though it won't be as good as a new iPhone. The CS-8's $150 pre-order price is easier to stomach than its full $200 retail price, so buying sooner is probably better. Thankfully, there is a 4GB SD card included. Poor value or not, this is a cool compliment to Camp Snap's regular screenless camera.

How I’d spend $50: James Brand Palmer

Even if you're not constantly opening boxes and packages like I am, a good utility knife is great to have. I bought the Palmer a few years ago when it first debuted, and it still gets used almost daily. It's a perfect size for holding and storing, plus, there's nothing to disassemble when a new razor blade is needed.

Price: $39+ (link)
Value Score: Fair

The $39 version is made from polyoxymethylene, and the $59 version is made from aluminum. If you don't like the neon green, there's also black.

The winning pick: Camp Snap CS-8

Camp Snap's CS-8 didn't have to go so hard with its design, but that's one reason I love it. How do you tell how full the storage is? Or what percentage the battery is at? Those are both displayed as analog meters on the side of the unit. The value won't be great for most people, but in the right circumstances, it will be indispensable.

Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.

An expensive pick: Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone

There's still time to cook outside before summer comes to a close. The $799.99 Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone is a smaller version of the company's first (3 Zone) griddle and a perfect complement to a wood pellet smoker. It's not as cheap as some, or most, Blackstone griddles, but it does produce a strong, even heat, and is built to last.

Media pick: Rental Family

Who doesn't like Brenden Fraser? In Rental Family, he's an out-of-work actor who takes a job playing different roles in real people's lives. The movie could be cheesy, but if everything lands, it could also pull on the heartstrings. The movie hits theaters in November.

Media pick 2: The Paper

The Paper is a spinoff show from the creators of The Office. The trailer makes the show look funny enough, but there's also something about this formula that feels off in 2025. What do you think? Is this another hit? The show debuts on September 4th.

Don't buy this: Find My Skechers

Find My Skechers is a new line of kids' shoes aimed at tracking with a dedicated spot for an Apple AirTag in the insole. If you really want to track your kids, smartwatches are much better at this than an AirTag is. An AirTag only works when other Apple devices are nearby. For those who don't know, iPhones anonymously relay AirTag data to the owner when they pass by it. This isn't a bad way to track shoes throughout the house, but you probably don't want to pick a pair of $50+ shoes because they have a circle cut-out under the insole.

This week's other interesting deals and product news

  • HoverAir is teasing its new Aqua waterproof selfie drone. More info on this coming soon.
  • TP-Link has a new Wi-Fi 7 travel router.
  • Roku is launching a new (ad-free) streaming service called Howdy. It starts at $2.99 per month.
  • Fox One is a new streaming service from the company with sports, news, and entertainment. It launches August 21 and will start at $19.99 per month. Maybe this would be more attractive if it excluded its news offering.
  • ESPN is launching its flagship streaming service on August 21 (Yes, the same day) and will include all the same content from its cable channel for $29.99 per month.
  • There's a program to turn old Lego bricks into a gift certificate for a new set. Shipping is free, and you'll get $4 for each pound of bricks, up to 25 pounds. It's not a great value to trade in complete sets, but if you have a bunch of random bricks you want to get rid of, then it may be attractive.
  • Fujifilm is increasing prices on several of its cameras because of tariffs.
  • It seems like Sonos' voice assistant will soon be able to control Hue lights and devices. Right now, it only handles music and audio commands.
  • Sonos is also going to be raising prices soon because of tariffs.

This week's published articles

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