At the time of purchase there is not much the consumer can know about how long devices will last. The 50% more expensive option may last 50% longer, twice as long or half as long as the cheaper model. Manufacturers might signal a bit with extended warranties, but there is no need to be a correlation to longevity. They might just decide to take the occasional hit and write it off on their margins. It can often be a hassle to make use of a warranty, and when they are manufacturer specific it can be hard to get help from consumers protection agencies also.