Prices Dropping For HDTVs, Wii, iPhone, Kindle & More

BOSTON (CBS) - Have you been thinking about a new smartphone, or maybe an updated digital camera?

When you're the first to buy a gadget, a so called "Early Adopter," you tend to pay a premium.

Now, many of the electronic gadgets you have coveted will be coming down in price this year as they mature.

WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports.

That's good news for Americans who spend, on average, about $800 a year on consumer electronics.

The Amazon Kindle is one of those products that is becoming more affordable. Two years ago, it was retailing for $259. In 2011, it is expected to plunge to $99.

It's a similar situation with big screen HDTVs. 55-inch models were going, on average, for $1,115 two years ago. This year the expected price is about half, or $599.

Molly Wood of cnet.com says typically, high tech bundles are not a bargain. But this year, Wii bundles are an exception. In 2009, they fetched about $170. Now, they can be priced as low as $99.

"The Wii components separately really cost a lot: the steering wheel, the extra controllers, and sometimes the games. I would say if you can get a lot of those actual Wii accessories bundled in, then it's probably a deal worth springing for," Wood said.

Expect digital SLR cameras to drop under $300. Contrast that to a price of $346 in 2009. It might make sense now to seriously consider an SLR with its higher image quality over a so-called "Point and Shoot" camera.

A real steal these days is the iPhone 3GS, with the price having fallen from $199 two years ago to $49 today.

"It's been competing with Android phones like you would not believe because any kind of iPhone for 50 bucks, you just can't resist," said Wood.

All that's left is to find is a teenager to help you figure these gadgets out when you get them home.