Even if you are just a casual online shopper, you have likely placed many orders on Amazon. If you are truly obsessed with e-commerce, you are probably familiar with Temu, a digital marketplace known for its low-priced goods.
If you have been paying close attention, you may have noticed that some products on Amazon are also available on Temu. If you are a savvy shopper preparing to buy holiday gifts, you might be wondering which online marketplace is the best choice.
Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether to purchase an item from Amazon or Temu.
You should buy from Temu if…
1. You’re looking for tech accessories
Many people use smartphones, headphones, laptops, and smartwatches daily. This same group also enjoys personalizing their devices with cases, stickers, wristlets, phone stands, and other accessories.
If you enjoy frequently changing your phone case or smartwatch band, buying multiple Otterbox cases or Apple-branded watch bands can become a pricey luxury. Investing in at least one sturdy case helps extend the life of your device. Additionally, experimenting with colorful accessories is a fun way to express your personal style.
Most people visit Amazon to find a wider variety of accessories than they would see in the tech departments of big-box stores like Walmart. However, Temu offers an even broader assortment of tech accessories than Amazon.
You can find all kinds of gadgets on Temu, and sometimes you will see the same accessories advertised on Amazon. The upside is that they are much cheaper on Temu. There are even bonuses available; purchase at least $20 worth of items—which is about four iPhone cases based on Temu pricing—and you are guaranteed free shipping.
I bought cases for my iPhone 14, MacBook Air, and AirPods Pro on Temu and have only been unhappy with two of the nine iPhone cases I purchased. Temu carries more cases that protect the bezels around the iPhone camera, an area that often goes unprotected in most Amazon iPhone cases.
On Temu, you can choose from thousands of AirPods Pro cases, ranging from clear designs with cute characters to cases that look like miniature Vaseline containers.
My colleague, David Gewirtz, bought a few non-tech products from Temu and was pleasantly surprised with what he received. David offers some buying tips as well, so be sure to check out his article.
I would not recommend any charging stations or cords from Temu for Apple devices. I prefer sticking to accessories that do not charge or interfere with my phone or AirPods’ batteries because I do not want to risk damaging them with faulty hardware. There may be third-party chargers on Temu that will not damage your device’s battery, but I do not like to take that risk.
If you purchase third-party Lightning, USB-C charging cables, or MagSafe 3-in-1 charging stations, make sure they have a “Made for Apple” label.
That label means the manufacturer went the extra mile to ensure their third-party charging accessories are certified by Apple and safe for your devices. You can search Apple’s database for which brands manufacture accessories that received a “Made for Apple” label. You can also peruse ZDNET’s best USB-C chargers list, which includes products certified by Apple.
If you have an Android phone, you should check your phone’s charging standards, which you can find online on a smartphone manufacturer’s official device spec sheet. Most Android phones use the USB-PD charging standard, so most third-party chargers should work fine as long as their wattage is compatible with your smartphone.
2. You can wait a few weeks for your items
Many of the items on Temu originate from China, meaning that US shoppers will typically wait about 10 days from the time of purchase to receive their packages.
Sometimes, the items arrive sooner; other times, they appear on your doorstep at the last minute. Therefore, if you are pressed for time, I would not recommend buying from Temu.
I will give you a scenario. A few months ago, someone stole my iPhone 11. Unsurprisingly, I went to the Apple store to buy a replacement. I was desperate for a case for my new phone, but I could not wait 10 days for the phone cases I bought from Temu later that day.
So, I rush-shipped a case from Amazon to have some protection on my phone until my cases from Temu arrived. I received my Otterbox from Amazon in two days, but I do not plan on buying any more cases from anywhere other than Temu.
3. You want to experiment with “dupes”
Temu features many lookalike products, or “dupes,” on its platform. However, if you see people online reviewing “AirPods Max from Temu,” they may look like AirPods Max, but the seller cannot advertise them as real AirPods Max.
Most of the products you see on Temu that resemble authentic, name-brand tech products are not legitimate. When I reviewed some HP and Lenovo products from Temu in June, an HP representative told me the company could not verify whether the HP products on Temu were “from an authorized reseller or are authentic HP devices.”
Since then, all the devices Temu advertised as HP products are no longer available on the site. Some tech products on Temu will work with your devices. The “AirPods Max” you see on Temu may connect to your devices and sound decent, but you will miss out on many of the features real ones deliver, and they may not offer you much longevity.
So, if you are okay with trying your luck on Temu dupes and want a pair of “AirPods Max” for only $14, Temu is your place.
Temu is an online megastore offering items ranging from car accessories to small kitchen appliances and everything in between.
You should buy from Amazon if…
1. You’re a last-minute gift-giver
If you have an Amazon Prime account, your items are eligible for same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping. If you are buying a last-minute gift for a friend’s birthday or anniversary, your best bet—aside from visiting a physical store—is ordering from Amazon with Prime shipping.
Still, even without a Prime membership, Amazon boasts faster shipping times. All Amazon customers can expect most items to arrive in four to five business days. So, even if you are a week away from needing your gift, you will get it faster from Amazon than from Temu.
However, if you are not a Prime member, you will have to purchase at least $35 worth of products to qualify for Amazon’s free shipping.
2. You’re looking for reliable tech
If you want to buy a reputable piece of tech, choose Amazon. Amazon is a reliable seller whether you are buying refurbished or brand-new tech.
Amazon has a comprehensive open-box policy, and Amazon Renewed products are tested, inspected, and given a rating and price based on their condition. For example, a 2022 13-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip, 8-core GPU, and 256GB SSD costs $899 at Apple.
The same laptop from Amazon Renewed is $745 and in excellent condition, meaning the screen has no scratches and the body has no signs of significant cosmetic damage. The refurbished MacBook Air also includes the same accessories as a brand-new model.
Brand-new tech often goes on sale at Amazon, and refurbished tech can be returned and refunded within 90 days of purchase.
Most items on Amazon can be returned within 30 days of receipt. Although Temu has a forgiving 90-day return policy, returning items to Amazon is much more convenient.
You can return items purchased from Amazon at an Amazon Hub locker in your area or drop them off at your nearest UPS Store, Kohl’s, Whole Foods, Staples, or Amazon Store. You do not have to worry about printing labels or finding shipping boxes, as Amazon will provide you with a QR code to present to the attendant at the return location.
After you scan the code, you give your items to the attendant, and you should receive a refund shortly thereafter.
Amazon is an online marketplace that offers fast shipping and low prices to subscribers.
The bottom line: if you are looking for legitimate, name-brand products, consult Amazon. In the tech accessories department, Temu holds the crown. However, the platform may lose its throne.
Amazon has recently launched a new service called Amazon Haul, which operates similarly to Temu. Everything there is sold for less than $20. You can find electronics, beauty products, clothing, and more. Shipping is $4 for orders under $25, but once you go over $25, shipping becomes free. Because the website is so new, we do not know if it will usurp Temu as the premier place to buy low-cost products. Only time will tell.
Recently, people took to TikTok to accuse Temu of stealing their payment information after finding their bank accounts drained of funds. Amazon, meanwhile, has had its fair share of payment scams. I have never encountered these issues, probably because I have never supplied any online retailer with my debit card information.
I recommend never using your debit card when completing transactions online. Instead, you can buy a Visa or Amazon gift card, load money onto it, and use that. You can also use Apple Pay or PayPal on Temu, which are less likely to be hacked. You can also opt to use your credit card, as credit card companies usually offer more fraud protection for unauthorized purchases.
Apple Pay does not store your card information on Apple’s servers, and PayPal offers $0 liability for items charged to your bank account that you did not purchase. It is complicated for bad actors to hack a gift card, and should they succeed, they cannot access the funds in your bank accounts.
Happy shopping!
