Before buying that fancy device, watch an unboxing video

Whether you are tech savvy or not, the challenge of keeping up with technology is the same. Every month, new devices are hitting the stores and that serves as a challenge for the consumer to know what to opt for next and even what to expect beyond the purchase.

Unboxing, for most of those outside the geek world, is a foreign concept, yet this can be a game changer when it comes to making a decision about new gadgets, toys or anything that comes in a box.

The concept of unboxing has been popularised by individuals who record videos of themselves unpacking high-tech consumer goods and uploading onto the Internet.

Unboxing is not just for helping you make the decision but is also a great navigation tool for a first time user.

User reviews

When faced with the decision of choosing between two phones, you can get user reviews, or you could just watch an unboxing video that will help you understand what the first impression of the device will be and whether or not the features will suit your needs.

The concept is also being adopted by toy companies. The latest line of Star Wars toys was unveiled in a global unboxing in Time Square, New York last week. This was the first live toy unboxing event done by Walt Disney which began in Australia.

According to Reuters, the Disney event, to be live-streamed online, is the most high-profile embrace to date of unboxing, where people film themselves opening and trying out new toys and gadgets.

Unboxing goes beyond just technology and toys, fashion and beauty products also have their space in the videos.

On YouTube, there are channels dedicated to the unboxing of certain products from different corners of the world. This comes in handy when you are eager to know what to expect from your new product.

In Kenya, where counterfeits thrive, there is a need to tell apart the genuine from the fake. Unboxing videos are one way of doing this, where most videos will give you an overview of what the packaging should look as well as the authentication markers from holograms, texture and even the colour of the box.

It will then show you the product and how it should look, though this at times differs from market to market.

Features and uses

Once unpacked, the next step is usually the features and uses of the device be it a toy, lipstick or whatever product it is you are looking at.

This will reveal what features to expect and how to work with them. As a camera enthusiast, still at an amateur stage, it can help you slowly go pro by learning how to use a new button or any other feature that may come with the camera.

During the period between the announcements of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and the point it would be available for sale, the device maker made a video to show users what to expect prior to its market release.

The video dubbed the “official inboxing and unboxing of the Galaxy S6 Edge+”, showed the unpacking of the phone including what was in the box.

The next part showcased the switching on and navigation of the device features. The inboxing half of the video showcased the components of an unfinished phone and how it is put together.

Share experiences

Most unboxing videos are not sponsored by companies, they are made by consumers who want to share their experiences with fellow consumers who have similar needs.

This means that the bias is usually on how good the user finds it and feels about the product than advertising, as is done by any company pushing sales for a product.

“Eighteen of the top 100 YouTube channels are devoted to toys and toy unboxing and accounted for 8.1 billion views from January through March this year, according to Tubefilter figures provided by Disney,” said Reuters, an indicator of how big the business is.

Next time you buy an item whose features and use you are not familiar with, just go to YouTube and learn all you need to know about it in the comfort of your home.