Some of the most useful tech you’ll ever own costs less than a dinner out. The trick is knowing which cheap gadgets are genuinely helpful and which are landfill in waiting, the kind of thing that arrives in a very large box and a very small amount of joy.
These ten categories are worth buying on a budget, and each entry notes what to look for. Prices vary and change quickly, so use this as a guide to what to shop for rather than a promise of a number. Think of it as a field guide to not wasting money.
A portable power bank
A dead phone at the wrong moment is a small catastrophe, and a power bank is the fix. A decent one holds enough charge to refill your phone a couple of times, which is roughly the number of times you’ll need it before a long day makes a liar of your battery percentage.
Look for a reputable brand, a capacity around 10,000 mAh for a good balance of size and power, and a USB-C port. Avoid unbranded ones with wildly inflated capacity claims. If a power bank claims a number that sounds like a lottery jackpot, it’s lying.
A smart plug
This is your gateway to a smart home that doesn’t require rewiring, a budget or a weekend. Plug a lamp or a fan into it, and you can control it with an app or your voice, which makes you feel a little like a wizard who is also tired.
Schedules are the best feature: lights that turn on at dusk, a coffee maker that starts before you wake up, a space heater that goes off when you forget it. Choose one that supports your preferred voice assistant, and enjoy telling your lamp what to do.
A wireless charging pad
Setting your phone down to charge instead of wrestling with a cable sounds trivial, and it turns out to be a daily pleasure. It also saves wear on your charging port, which is where phones go to die after a thousand awkward angles.
Check that it supports your phone’s standard and charging speed. A pad beside your bed or on your desk is the kind of small upgrade you’ll notice every single day, and then wonder how you lived with fumbling in the dark like a medieval peasant.
A Bluetooth tracker
These tiny tags attach to keys, wallets or luggage, and help you find them with your phone. Some even let you make the tag ring, which is the perfect way to discover that your keys have been in your hand the whole time.
Pick one that works with your phone’s ecosystem: Apple’s and Google’s trackers rely on their networks. They’re inexpensive insurance against a very annoying problem, and a great gift for the person in your life who can’t find anything.
A streaming stick
Turn almost any TV into a smart one with a small device that plugs into an HDMI port. It brings in Netflix, YouTube and most other apps, which is a good thing if you’ve been watching TV through a laptop balanced on a pizza box.
It’s a cheap way to refresh an old television, or to add a second TV in a bedroom. Look for one that supports your screen’s resolution, and keep your expectations for the remote’s lifespan low.
A webcam
Laptop cameras are often mediocre, and they make everyone look like they’re calling from a witness protection program. A separate webcam, even an inexpensive one, can make video calls look noticeably sharper and better lit.
Look for 1080p resolution and a decent microphone. If you work from home, you’ll appreciate the improvement, and so will everyone who has been squinting at you since 2020.
A USB-C hub
Modern laptops have shockingly few ports, so a hub gives you HDMI, USB-A and often an SD card reader from a single port. It’s a very small device with a very large role: it’s the translator between your elegant, minimalist laptop and the rest of the world.
It solves the “I need to plug in a thing” problem. Make sure the hub supports the video output you need and has pass-through charging, or you’ll spend a day learning about power delivery that you did not want to learn.
A Bluetooth speaker
A small waterproof speaker is a great companion for the kitchen, the shower, the beach or the backyard. Sound has improved dramatically at low prices, which is great news for anyone who has ever heard a laptop speaker try to play bass.
Look for good battery life and a water-resistance rating if you plan to use it outdoors. It’s one of the easiest ways to upgrade your mood, and your neighbors will hear about it.
LED strip lights
Add color and atmosphere to a desk, a TV or a bedroom with a few meters of adhesive LED strip. Many are controlled by an app and can sync to music, which is either a delightful upgrade or the beginning of a dangerous hobby.
It’s a cheap way to make a space feel customized. Choose a reputable brand, test before sticking it down, and be aware that your room will now look like a nightclub designed by someone who really likes teal.
An ergonomic mouse
If you spend hours at a computer, a mouse that fits your hand can ease wrist and forearm strain. Vertical designs keep your hand in a more natural handshake position, which is great, because your wrist has been through enough.
The adjustment period takes a few days, during which you’ll feel like you’re operating a joystick. It’s an inexpensive way to be kinder to your body, and your future self will quietly thank you.