Smartphones and tablets are expensive pieces of technology. It's an inescapable truth that we've been faced with for a lot of years now, and one that's not going to change anytime soon. It's why plans like T-Mobile's JUMP! plan makes sense for some consumers, maybe even a lot of consumers. Paying as little as possible up front, but still being able to go home with that phone you really want is an awesome feeling.

Especially when you only pay maybe $100, compared to the possible $600 or more you'd have to pay if you bought it outright.

Usually, the longer a device is available, the lower the price will eventually fall. In some cases. The price drop can be hurried by newer devices, perhaps by the same manufacturer, being launched as well. Carriers and manufacturers can offer sales, too.

But sometimes devices are just too expensive, whether they're on contract or not. A couple of years ago, I asked all of you if paying upwards of $300 for a DROID-branded device was too much, especially considering the price tag seemed to be reflecting the brand name more than anything else. Since then, though, the prices on Verizon's network have stabled, and finding a $299 smartphone on contract became the rarity instead of the norm.

AT&T started pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 1020 recently (of which they've already "sold out" online). The Lumia 1020 features 2GB of RAM and a 41-megapixel camera on the back. Ignoring a couple of other minor alterations, the 1020 is exactly like the Lumia 920. And yet, it costs $100 more on contract, and $200 more without the two-year commitment.

Some may consider that to be too expensive, and others will justify the cost, and maybe even say it makes sense, because of the features the Lumia 1020 offers. At the moment, I'm caught somewhere in the middle, but leaning more towards the "it makes sense" camp.

But, not everything is expensive. In fact, some devices catch the attention of the consumer because of that fact, especially at launch. Last year we saw the launch of the Google Nexus 7 and the Google Nexus 4, both devices that offered plenty of specifications worthy enough for a second glance, all for a price tag that didn't threaten to break the bank right out of the gate.

In fact, the price tag for both of those devices, and the fact that there were no contracts involved (for the devices sold through the Google Play Store directly), was half the story in most situations. And for good reason. Google, ASUS, and LG all showed us that we can get awesome devices without having to spend a lot of money to do so.

And now that we're on the cusp of the Nexus 7's successor launching, leaks and rumors are starting to surface. Most recently, we saw the Nexus 7 Two on video and in new photos. In the same day, a leak of a retailer's pricing for the Nexus 7 successor broke cover, and suggested that the new tablet will cost $229 for the 16GB version, and $269 for the 32GB variation.

While it's still not as expensive as other Android-powered tablets out there, it's more expensive than what the current Nexus 7 costs, and therefore it could very well be right out of the reach of potential customers. Especially those who were hoping the tablet would launch for the same price as the current model.

This is where the specifications come into play, though. Rumors suggest that the new Nexus 7 tablet will feature a quad-core processor under the hood, an updated display, and a 5MP camera on the back. Plus, whatever the tablet is made out of will probably also come into play, too.

So, here's my question to you: Are you considering buying the Nexus 7 successor this year, even if these prices do turn out to be true? Or were you expecting to pay less? Do you believe the rumored specs will justify the raised price? Let me know!