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Looking back over the past decade, you’d be forgiven for thinking everything has rocketed in price due to the rampant inflation that kicked in post-COVID. But here’s the twist: in real terms, plenty of products have actually become far more affordable and prices for an array of items have tumbled, driven by technological advances, economies of scale, and tougher competition.
Defying the trend of rising costs, read on to discover 18 things that were way more expensive in 2015. All prices are in US dollars but reflect similar trends in currencies around the world.
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In the space of a decade, solar panels have become the cheapest source of electricity in history, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Innovation leaps, massively expanding production and take-up, as well as favourable government policies, have helped pull down prices by a jaw-dropping 90% since 2015. And as the green revolution gathers momentum, costs are set to fall even further, from around $0.20 per watt now to a minuscule $0.097 per watt by 2030.
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The post-pandemic travel boom turbocharged tourism and this, combined with the increased cost of fuel and other aviation essentials, has pushed up the cost of flying in the past few years. But according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airfares are actually down 40% in real terms compared to 2015.
Believe it or not, June this year was the second-cheapest month ever for inflation-adjusted airfares.
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Air fryers mushroomed in popularity during the pandemic and have since become a staple in many kitchens. First introduced by Philips in 2010, the low-fat cooking innovation was still relatively new in 2015 and remained unfamiliar to many. That year, prices for the Philips range, which had few competitors, started at $250.
Now, the cheapest Philips model retails for just $99.99, which is 60% cheaper from a nominal point of view and over 70% more affordable in real terms. Plus, the newer models are more advanced and efficient, with larger capacities.
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Hobbyist drones were beginning to take off in 2015 as technology improved. Soon after, aviation authorities opened up the skies and prices started to fall. Today, they’re virtually everywhere and cost dramatically less.
To give you an idea of just how far prices have come down, a DJI Phantom 3 Standard retailed for $799 in 2015. Now, a far more advanced DJI Mini 3, with superior camera quality, longer flight time, and greater range, sells for just $419.
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Back in 2015, lab-grown diamonds barely registered on the radar. They accounted for just 1% of the global diamond market, took weeks to produce, and were only 10% cheaper than their natural counterparts.
Fast-forward to 2025, and lab-grown diamonds are mainstream, making up a fifth of the market and featuring in over 50% of engagement rings. Thanks to technological breakthroughs, streamlined mass production, and fierce competition, they can be rustled up in mere hours and now cost a staggering 90% less than mined diamonds. And with supply currently outstripping demand, prices are expected to go even lower in the future.
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The unstoppable rise of budget lab-grown gems has dragged down prices for natural diamonds too. From 2015 to 2020, prices held steady. Then came a pandemic dip, followed by a sharp post-lockdown surge as pent-up ‘revenge spending’ and a wave of weddings drove demand. But the shine has since worn off as artificial stones, which are more ethical and significantly cheaper, steal their sparkle.
Since peaking in 2022, mined diamond prices have dropped by more than a quarter, with further downward pressures expected. In fact, only the rarer, higher-carat natural stones may end up keeping or increasing their value in the future.
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4K TVs were beginning to garner mainstream appeal in 2015 but prices were still out of the range of many shoppers’ budgets. For instance, the 55-inch Samsung UE55JU6400 was hailed as “Ultra HD on a budget”, yet it retailed for a steep $1,300 in the US.
Nowadays, a comparable Samsung model, the 55-inch UN55U7900F, can be snapped up for as little as $280 in the United States, representing a whopping 78.5% decrease from 2015, or 84% when inflation is factored in.
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The MacBook Air, which Apple dubs “the world’s most popular laptop”, has come down in price in real terms since 2015.
In 2015, the 13-inch model with 128GB storage retailed for $999. Since then, the price for the basic model has remained unchanged, representing a 27% drop when inflation is factored in. Best of all, the latest version offers a far superior spec, including a much better screen, considerably more powerful M4 10-core processor, longer battery life, 256GB storage, and Apple Intelligence.
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The first Apple Watch went on sale in 2015, priced at $349, placing itself firmly in the premium category. Now, the considerably more advanced Apple Watch SE starts from $249. That’s 29% more affordable in nominal terms and 51% cheaper when adjusted for inflation.
Even more impressively, you can actually pick up a smartwatch with a better spec than the original Apple Watch for under $20 now. Priced at just $19.98, the iTech Active 3 tracks a wider range of health metrics, has better battery life, and is more water-resistant.
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Boosting your desktop computer’s physical memory is a lot cheaper now compared to 2015. Back then, a 32GB DDR4 memory kit from Corsair cost $399.99, a hefty $12.50 per gigabyte. It was a serious outlay, mostly for enthusiasts and professionals.
In 2025, the exact same Vengeance LPX kit, which is no longer cutting-edge, sells for $147.99. It’s now 63% cheaper in nominal terms and 73% more affordable in real terms.
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Solid-state drives have nosedived in price over the decades. Amazingly, 1TB of storage would have cost the equivalent of $158 billion in 1977. By 2015, it was possible to pick up a 1TB SSD, the Crucial BX100 1TB, for $374.99 on Amazon. This was pretty much the most budget-friendly option at the time.
Now, the online retailer is selling a 1TB SSD, the Ediloca ES106, for just $47.99, which is 87% cheaper on paper and 91% less expensive when inflation is factored in.
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Cloud storage has also become significantly cheaper over the past decade. In September 2015, Apple, Dropbox, and Google were charging $9.99 for 1TB.
Apple and Google now offer 2TB for $9.99, which is 50% cheaper on paper and 63% more affordable once inflation is factored in. Dropbox’s pay monthly deal is now $11.99 for 2TB. This equates to a 40% price drop in nominal terms and 56% in real terms.
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Tapping into DNA to map out a family tree was still quite a novelty in 2015. Though the three major firms offering the service – AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and 23andMe – were growing rapidly, the cost remained a barrier for many potential customers.
Nowadays, DNA testing is the go-to for anyone interested in tracing their roots. This uptake in users, coupled with improvements in technology, has slashed kit prices, further enhancing their appeal. AncestryDNA and FamilyTreeDNA testing kits now cost as little as $39, down from $99 in 2015, while the price of 23andMe’s combined ancestry and health package is currently $159, compared to $199 a decade ago.
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Genetic sequencing technology has come on in leaps and bounds over the past decade, with the cost of mapping out a human genome now astonishingly affordable.
In mid-2015, the process came in at $4,000 typically. It had dropped to $1,500 by late 2015 and has continued to fall precipitously. Now, Ultima Genomics has delivered what has been described as the holy grail of biotech: the $100 human genome. And prices are poised to fall even further in the coming years.
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Not so long ago, ditching incandescent and halogen lightbulbs for greener, safer, and longer-lasting LEDs was a costly process. In 2010, the average LED bulb cost a substantial $40. By 2015, the typical price for a 60-watt equivalent had dropped to $14.50. It now stands at around $5, but you can pick one up these days for around $1.
Once again, we have factors such as advances in manufacturing processes and economies of scale driven by widespread adoption to thank.
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GoPro didn’t just pioneer the action camera; it made it a cultural icon. The American company went public in 2014 with a $3 billion valuation and hit peak sales in 2015, when its cameras ruled extreme sports and travel vlogs. But the party didn’t last long: rivals wanting a piece of the action burst onto the scene in the late 2010s with their own versions, putting downward pressure on prices for GoPro’s wares.
In 2015, the flagship Hero4 Black cost nearly $500. Now, the top-end Hero13 Black is not only cheaper at $429, it shoots in dazzling 5K, offers rock-steady stabilisation and boasts features that make the older model seem laughably obsolete.
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Amazon launched the Echo in 2014 as a Prime-member exclusive, introducing the world to Alexa’s then-unfamiliar voice. A year later, the gizmo went on general sale for $179.99, setting the stage for the smart speaker market. Through the late 2010s, Google and Apple piled in, competition intensified, and prices began to slide.
Today, the far more advanced Echo Dot can be picked up for just $31.99 on Prime Day. That’s 82% cheaper than the 2015 Echo in nominal terms, and 87% more affordable once inflation is factored in.
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Back in 2015, consumer-level 3D printers were still niche and priced as a high-end investment. Exceedingly basic entry-level models like the XYZprinting da Vinci Junior could be bought for a not overly expensive $350 or so, but the half-decent machines cost well over $1,000.
Nowadays, you can snag a far more advanced and versatile model like the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE for just $199. And for those on very tight budgets, super-basic 3D printers are available for under $50.
Now discover 20 things that have soared in price in the past decade