15 Useful Tech Gadgets You Can Buy for Under $50
Technology is often expensive, and the ongoing memory crisis only makes matters worse. If you’re considering a new device or gadget, you’re probably bracing yourself for how it will impact your wallet. But the good news is that while many of the most hyped products are pricey, there are plenty of high-quality options available at very reasonable prices.
There are some things you simply won’t find in decent quality at super-low prices—laptops, tablets, game consoles. They might not cost as much as some companies want you to think, but you’ll need to spend a little more than $50 if you want something that will last. However, plenty of other affordable tech products are worth the price, and then some. Here are my picks for the best tech devices under $50.
The JBL Go 4 is a powerful portable speaker.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a quality portable speaker. The JBL Go 4 packs plenty of power for its compact size, providing up to seven hours of playback on a single charge. This speaker also boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making it ideal for travel to locations that would otherwise be hazardous to audio equipment.
While this JBL speaker is great for solo use, my favorite feature isn’t exclusive to this model. JBL makes pairing its speakers easy with a single button on each device. If your friends also have their own JBL speakers—among the many different JBL models—you can connect them to quickly create a multi-channel system. (Note that the Go 5 can sometimes be found on sale for under $50, so keep an eye out for deals if you prefer the newer model.)
The Anker Soundcore 2 headphones provide excellent sound quality for the price.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the JBL, the Anker Soundcore 2 might be a great choice. Anker is known for making high-quality “budget” speakers, and while the Soundcore 2 is cheaper than, say, the Soundcore Boom 2, it still offers excellent sound quality for the price. It has a much longer battery life than the JBL Go 4 (24 hours versus seven), and while it’s just as waterproof as the JBL, it’s not as well protected from dust and debris, so while it should be fine near a pool, be careful when using it near sand. If a friend has another Soundcore 2, you can also pair them.
Apple AirTags are both inexpensive and useful devices.
If you’re an Apple user and need a device tracker, AirTag is arguably the best option. Apple’s tracker communicates with other devices that support Find My, such as your iPhone, to update its location on a map. If you lose your AirTag or the device it’s attached to, you can view its last known location through Find My.
Depending on your iPhone or Apple Watch, you may even be directed directly to your AirTag using Apple’s “Exact Find” feature, which provides step-by-step instructions on how to locate your AirTag. AirTags have a one-year battery life, so you only need to replace them once a year. These trackers retail for $30 each, which is significantly less than $50, and are often discounted—and if you buy a pack of four on sale, you can pay just $20 each.
The Life360 Tile tracker is a good alternative to non-Apple devices.
If you’re not an active user of the Apple ecosystem, AirTags might not be the best choice. Consider Tile trackers instead. These trackers work similarly to AirTags, but don’t integrate with Find My Phone. Therefore, they’re better suited for users not tied to Apple. Several versions are available, both with and without a paid subscription. There’s the standard Tile tracker , the Tile Pro with advanced features, and the Tile Slim , which fits in a wallet, all priced under $50.
The Anker Soundcore P31i headphones are a great choice among budget headphones.
Wireless headphones can be expensive, but Anker makes a quality model that often sells for well under $50. The Soundcore P31i headphones feature active noise cancellation, high-quality sound, and up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge. (Anker claims up to 50 hours of playback with the charging case.) A 10-minute charge increases playback time to 3.5 hours.
Anker also claims to support real-time translation in up to 100 languages. While other headphones also offer this feature, they tend to be significantly more expensive. Furthermore, these headphones have an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they’re not waterproof , but should be suitable for workouts and use in the rain.
Beats Flex Wireless headphones are now cheaper than ever.
If you’re an Apple user, you might want to consider the Beats Flex over Anker headphones. That’s because Apple uses its W1 chip in these headphones, which offers some of the same benefits as other Beats models and AirPods, such as easy switching between devices. These headphones also feature up to 12 hours of battery life, automatic play and pause when you remove an earbud, and the ability to share audio files with other Beats models or AirPods.
These headphones wouldn’t normally make this list, given their retail price of $65.95. But according to Keepa, the Beats Flex have been selling for $49 or less for the past three months. Unless that changes, I think these headphones are worth less than $50.
The Sennheiser CX 80U USB-C headphones are a good buy if you don’t want to go wireless.
Wireless headphones have taken over the world, but wired ones still have their place. Take Sennheiser headphones, for example, renowned for their audio products: they never run out of power (because there’s no battery), and since they’re directly connected, there’s no audio compression. If you have access to lossless music, you might be able to hear more detail in these headphones than with Bluetooth counterparts.
These headphones are available with both USB-C and 3.5mm audio jacks. Most people will prefer USB-C to avoid having to buy an adapter for smartphones (and possibly tablets) that don’t have a headphone jack. However, if you’re primarily buying these for use with a device that does have a headphone jack, the 3.5mm jack may be a good option.
Step back in time with classic Apple EarPods from the 2000s.
If you don’t like the in-ear design of the CX 80U, you might prefer the original Apple EarPods . While these earbuds are no longer included with every iPhone, they’re still quite reasonably priced at $19. You can even find them for less with the 3.5mm jack option. Apple hasn’t changed these earbuds much over the years, other than the USB-C connection, but that’s no bad thing: they offer decent sound quality, include a microphone, and, since they’re wired, don’t require charging.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is a great budget option for streaming.
To improve your smart TV viewing experience, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a streaming device. While there are plenty of options under $50, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is one of the best. It supports 4K streaming and multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It also supports picture-in-picture, Alexa Home Theater, Wi-Fi 6, Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, and NVIDIA Geforce NOW.
You can save money by choosing one of Amazon’s other Fire Stick models, such as the Fire Stick HD or Fire Stick 4K, but the Plus model offers more features at a reasonable price. By comparison, Roku’s 4K models typically cost over $50, though you can find them for less during sales.
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2C controller can enhance your gaming experience without breaking the bank.
Game controllers like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller are known for their high price, but third-party alternatives aren’t always a reliable replacement. However, 8BitDo is known for its range of controllers and accessories. While the company produces a wide selection of controllers suitable for many different consoles and playstyles, the Ultimate 2C is an excellent choice for both Switch and Switch 2 players. This controller mimics the configuration of the Nintendo Pro Controller, with an additional set of trigger buttons should you need them. It works with both consoles via Bluetooth and USB.
This Iniu 10,000mAh portable charger is an affordable backup power option.
There are many portable chargers on the market, but your basic requirements should be pretty simple: it should be portable, meaning small and lightweight, and have a relatively large capacity to charge your devices for a long time without having to recharge the device itself.
The Iniu 10,000mAh Portable Charger ticks all those boxes . It’s small, lightweight, and offers ample capacity. It also supports 45W charging, so you can quickly charge compatible smartphones like the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra. It comes with a detachable braided USB-C cable, so if something happens to it, you can replace it. (Compare this to chargers that come with pre-attached cables, which are useless once they break.)
Charge your devices wirelessly for less with this Anker 622 Magnetic Charging Pad.
If you want to charge your iPhone on the go but plan to stay in one place for a while, the Anker Magnetic Power Bank Stand may be the perfect solution. This portable 5000mAh charger allows you to prop your iPhone upright while using it. It’s MagSafe-compatible, so your MagSafe-compatible iPhone will connect and stay in place—as long as you don’t accidentally drop it from the stand. Note: This product is not compatible with Android phones.
Speed up your charging process with the Anker 65W Max Charger with 3 USB-C Ports.
If you have access to a power outlet, this Anker power bank will help you quickly charge your devices. It supports 65W charging when connected to a single device via USB-C, but it also charges up to three devices simultaneously. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, making it ideal for charging multiple devices. Personally, it’s perfect for charging my iPhone (USB-C), MacBook (USB-C), and AirPods Max (Lightning – USB-A).
WiZ smart light bulbs will help you automate your home without a large investment.
Smart lights don’t have to be prohibitively expensive. WiZ offers excellent smart lights at a reasonable price. Individual bulbs can be purchased for around $10, but the price is reduced in packs of several. I recommend either a four-pack ($37.99) or two three-packs ($24.99), which gives you six bulbs for $50.
This Daant TV antenna is much cheaper than cable TV.
Did you know you can watch TV for free , completely legally? At least, free if you buy an antenna. Even as early as 2026, free over-the-air channels will be available, accessible from your TV via an antenna like this one from Daant . Results may vary depending on your location and the antenna placement, but you’ll be able to receive a wide variety of channels. This includes networks you’ve probably heard of (NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.), as well as many you might not know about. It’s not a complete replacement for cable, but if you’re tired of paying for TV, it could partially offset the cost of ditching cable.