Shopping for your friends and family is hard enough on its own, but shopping for gadget heads? Not only is it tough to parse through the options, but tech gifts are usually on the expensive side.
But if you think a bit below the PS5 or MacBook spending level, there are plenty of great tech gifts out there that will look great under the tree and not break Santa’s bank account in the process. Whether you’re shopping for streaming junkies, world travelers, gamers, aspiring photographers or just general fans of gadgets, we’ve taken a deep dive to break down some perfect picks this holiday season.
Here’s to loading up on some tech finds that won’t break the bank.
For someone getting into vinyl: Udreamer Vinyl Record Player Wireless Turntable ($49.99 from Amazon)
To be clear, a decent turntable costs a couple hundred dollars (House of Marley’s Stir It Up turntable is a great option under $200), but if you’re on a tight budget you can still get a turntable for under $50. Crosley and Victrola pretty much own the entry-level market, and their players do work, but the components are very cheap and don’t work well. If you want something that might hold up a bit better, the Udreamer Vinyl Record Player Wireless Turntable has built-in speakers, belt-driven design and an understated, retro wood-style aesthetic. It also has RCA output for external speakers if you want a bit more oomph. For someone just getting into vinyl, it’s a great option before dropping the cash on a quality set-up.
For the retro gamer: PowKiddy v90 ($39.99 from PowKiddy)
Retro gaming handhelds are all the rage these days, though the high-end ones can get well into the hundreds of dollars. But if you want to test the market with something that doesn’t sacrifice quality for affordability, the PowKiddy is the way to go. It’s basically a clamshell GameBoy emulator that can play GameBoy Advance, GameBoy Color, GameBoy and 8 or 16-bit games from that era. You obviously won’t be emulating Dreamcast or PS2 games here, you can still gift the glory days of Mario and Pokémon — and isn’t that enough?
For the battery burner: Anker 525 Power Bank – PowerCore 20K ($41.99 from Anker)
You can never have too many power banks. Ever. Anker makes some of the best ones, and the PowerCore 20K is an excellent mid-tier option that’s small, portable and still packs a powerful charging punch. The bank’s 20,000mAh cell capacity essentially allows you to recharge a new iPhone or Android phone 4-5 times, which is more than enough to keep you going through a long weekend.
For the smart home aficionado: Amazon Smart Plug ($24.99 from Amazon)
Smart plugs are a basic technology that makes any device smart, and now Amazon is making its own line of basic smart home tech. The smart plug basically does what it says on the box: it’s a plug that you can control via wi-fi to turn another device on or off. It’s programmable with the Alexa smart home platform, and can be used to control devices like fans, lamps or dehumidifiers to set them on timers or activate via voice/app command. Another great use around the holidays? Hook up the Christmas tree lights to the smart plug for an easy way to make the tree cycle on and off on a schedule.
For the aspiring photographer: Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 7 ($49.99 from WalMart)
Instant cameras have been around for decades, but the analog gadgets are making a comeback as we look for more tangible ways to remember moments outside of the cloud or photo roll. No, they’re not the greatest cameras, but they’re a kitschy good time. The Fujifilm INSTAX is an excellent instant camera under the $50 price mark, and if you catch the right bundle, it even comes with a roll of instant film to get you started.
For the streaming junkie: Roku Streaming Stick 4K ($49 from Roku)
Is it basic? Sure. But there’s a reason Roku is one of the leading brands when it comes to streaming platforms. It’s simple, fast and works with pretty much everything. Roku’s mid-tier Streaming Stick 4K comes with a voice-command remote and allows for 4K streaming, perfect for folks looking to upgrade their streaming experience, replace an old Roku (or Fire TV, etc. streaming device) or adding some streaming options to an extra room or kids’ playroom.
For the traveler: Apple Airtag ($29 from Apple)
Bluetooth trackers aren’t exactly a new technology, but Apple’s spin on the concept is arguably the best and most versatile — especially for anyone already in the Apple ecosystem. You can get one for under $30 and they’re small enough to serve pretty much any purpose you’d like. Common uses for the Bluetooth trackers, which can ping pretty much wherever Apple devices are nearby (which is essentially everywhere on the planet), are as keychains or strapped on backpacks. But one relatively new use that’s proving incredibly handy? Tossing an AirTag on your checked bag while traveling, which makes it nearly impossible to lose your bag (even if the airport actually does lose your bag along the way).
For the audiophile: Life Q10 Headphones ($49.99 from Soundcore)
Anker’s headphone brand Soundcore has quietly been building a surprisingly solid budget headphones line that can compete with the more expensive brands in quality and features for a whole lot cheaper than what you’ll pay for a pair of Beats or top of the line Sony headphones. The Life Q10 is essentially the budget intro pair from Soundcore, but it’s still a sturdy and fully featured set of headphones for just $49.99. They sound great and don’t feel cheap, which is pretty much all you can ask for from a pair of Bluetooth headphones at this price.
For the fitness junkie: AmazFit Band 7 ($49.99 from Amazon)
A standard Apple Watch runs a couple hundred dollars, but you can still get a great entry-level fitness tracker for under $50. One of the best options at the price point is the AmazFit Band 7, with heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, built-in Alexa support and water resistance. The battery also lasts around 18 days. If you know the person you’re buying for doesn’t already have a fitness tracker, this is a great option to let them try out the tech with a low buy-in price.
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock ($49.99 from Amazon)
Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant is in pretty much every house at this point, but Amazon makes sure to keep rolling out new versions every year, so it’s never a bad time to upgrade. The fifth-generation version of the Echo Dot with Clock is the latest little nightstand version of the all-knowing Alexa assistant. It’s cute, handy and the clock makes the device useful even when it’s not fulfilling queries.