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Sing Your Heart Out
Bonaok Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Mic
Easy Peasy
TP-Link Kasa Mini Smart Plug EP10
A Sleek Sleeve
Puffin Beverage Koozie
For the Outdoorsy
Kinco Axeman gloves
Saving cash is never a bad thing. When words and phrases like “inflation” and “cost-of-living crisis” are all over the news, finding value for money has become even more important. WIRED’s Gear team has tested a broad range of products across many categories—many of which, handily, cost under $30. This guide brings together those top value-for-money picks into one list.
The choices here are useful for any time of year, but if you’re looking to spend thriftily this holiday, check out our 25 Amazing Gifts Under $25 for ideas. And dive into our other buying guides for more recommendations.
Updated December 2023: We’ve refreshed this guide with our current favorite budget finds.
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Photograph: Amazon
Sing Your Heart Out
Bonaok Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Mic
In our list of Gifts for Music Lovers, editor Parker Hall said this delightful Bluetooth-enabled microphone has brought a lot of joy to his home. The mic pairs with your phone and has built-in reverb and delay so you’ll sound like the pop star you always knew you could be.
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Photograph: TP-Link
Easy Peasy
TP-Link Kasa Mini Smart Plug EP10
Some smart-home gadgets can feel like more trouble than they’re worth, but smart plugs like this one are handy to have around. For example, you can use them to turn off your box fan after your alarm goes off in the morning so you don’t fall back asleep. Some of the mothers on our team like to use smart plugs for managing their Christmas lights. The possibilities aren’t endless, but there are a lot.
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Photograph: Puffin
A Sleek Sleeve
Puffin Beverage Koozie
This beverage koozie is featured in several of our gift guides, including the Best Analog Gifts. Insulated sleeves are pretty easy to understand: They keep your drink cold and your hand not-too-cold. Puffin’s koozies stand out because they’re available in so many styles, from outdoor vests to military fatigues to neon windbreakers.
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Outdoorsy
Kinco Axeman gloves
Tech category director Martin Cizmar has used these leather mittens for two seasons in a row, both on the slopes and in the yard. They’re durable, warm, and water resistant, and they’ll be even better if you hit ’em with a bake-in leather treatment. These gloves and over a dozen other items are featured in our roundup of Gifts for Dads.
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Photograph: Amazon
A Necessary Sidekick
Lodge 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet
No kitchen is complete without a good cast-iron skillet. This option from Lodge is tried-and-true, and affordable to boot. It comes pre-seasoned, which will help with the cast-iron learning curve. Read more about it and get additional recommendations in our guide to the Best Gifts for Home Chefs.
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Photograph: Darn Tough
For Toasty Toes
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion
The WIRED Gear team recommends basically every pair of Darn Tough socks we’ve tried, but this pick comes from our list of Gifts for the Perpetually Cold. Darn Tough socks are warm, comfortable, durable, and backed by a lifetime warranty. This pair is perfect for hikes in subzero temperatures, but also really comfortable if you’re just trekking from the couch to the fridge.
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Photograph: Samantha Cooper
An Optimistic Tote
WIRED Have A Nice Future Tote
Not to toot our own horns, but we think this tote bag from the WIRED merch store is pretty slick. It’s made sustainably from six plastic water bottles and can collapse down into a small pouch once you’re done using it.
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Photograph: Dash
Bitty Breakfast
Dash Mini Waffle Maker
Featured in our guide to the Best Viral TikTok Gadgets, this tiny waffle maker won’t take up too much space on your counter—it only measures four inches across. It’s available in a wide range of fun colors and comes with a recipe guide. Aside from waffles and waffle-adjacent food, this mini maker can crank out hash browns, crispy eggs, quesadillas, and more.
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Photograph: Slice
Easy Access
Slice Auto-Retractable Box Cutter
These box cutters make excellent gifts for shopaholics (or product reviewers). The durable finger-safe ceramic blades won’t cut you, and they’re cheap to replace when they eventually break down. This box cutter has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to condense boxes and open packages. Reviewer Louryn Strampe is also a fan of the Slice Utility Knife, though it’s a bit more expensive.
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Photograph: JLab
Low-Cost Buds
JLab Audio Go Air Pop
The Go Air Pop are a great pair of cheap earbuds that fit well, come in cool colors, and have an AirPod-beating eight hours of battery life. They don’t sound quite as good as Apple’s finest, but they perform more than well enough for listening to music and podcasts, especially as a pair you don’t have to worry too much about. The included charging case has a built-in USB cable, which means you’ll never hunt through a drawer for one.
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Photograph: Amazon
Portable Sound Machine
Dreamegg D11
The Dreamegg D11 is our favorite sound machine for portability. While it’s aimed at the parents of babies, there’s nothing stopping adults in need of some soothing sounds from using this. Its small size makes it easy to take with you on the go, and there are 11 sounds for you to try, from a fan to lullaby music and more.
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Photograph: Sony
Top-Up Dock
Sony DualSense Charging Station
This PS5 accessory is an absolute must-have. Using the included cable is such a hassle, especially if you have more than one controller. With the dock, I simply pick my controller up to use it and place back down after every gaming session. Simple. There’s really not much else to it. It’s an essential gadget for those who like the easy life.
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Photograph: Amazon
Iced Tea Tool
Hario Cold Brew Tea Pot
Of course, tea isn’t just for warming up the cold among us. There’s iced tea too. This tea pot from Hario is our cold-brew choice in our best tea accessories guide. Get your loose leaf in there, whack in some water, then pop in the fridge the day before you need it. In the morning you’ll have your cherished iced-tea fix.
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Photograph: Amazon
For Loose-Leaf Lovers
Oxo Brew Twisting Tea Ball Infuser
This clever gizmo from Oxo is a swift way to deliver your loose-leaf tea fix. You simply open the infuser basket by twisting the handle, scoop up your leaves, close again, and proceed to dunk in your cup of choice. The closed basket makes it easy to transport and ditch the leaves once you’re done.
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Photograph: Logitech
Portable Keyboard
Logitech K380
Apple and Logitech sell more elaborate keyboard cases that are composed of, well, a case and a keyboard. But you you might not want to have your case always bound to a keyboard 24/7. This portable keyboard from Logitech is one of our top iPad accessories. The K380 is a compact and quiet, yet tactile, keyboard that’s easy to sling in a bag or stow away at a desk. There are a few colorful shade options too.
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Photograph: Harbor Freight
Tough Tool Transport
Harbor Freight Hercules Tool Tote
This small tool bag is a great option for the home, to whip out when a household DIY situation hits. It may just be fabric but it’s built to resist bumps and the like. There are 22 pockets to accommodate all the home tools you need, with pockets on both the inside and out for easy access. Check out our guide to the Best Home Tools for more.
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Photograph: Belkin
Upgrade Your Webcam
Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe for MacBooks
If it’s possible to solve a problem in both an elegant and inelegant way, then this is it. The idea of attaching a phone to your laptop as a way to improve your webcam experience feels like overkill, but Apple has softened the blow as best it can. The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for MacBooks (the name is also inelegant) is one of our favorite MagSafe accessories and achieves what it says on the tin. The mount will let your iPhone be used as a webcam using Apple’s Continuity Camera feature, improving picture quality to no end.
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Photograph: Anker
Powerful Plug
Anker Nano Pro
This Anker charger is one of the best iPad accessories, but it’s great for phones and Android tablets alike too. It can achieve up to 20-watt output, meaning it’s able to fast-charge an iPad Pro. The big benefits here are its diminutive size and value-for-money proposition—coming in slightly cheaper than Apple’s plugs. There’s no cable included, but that’s another thing Anker can help you out with.
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Photograph: Amazon
An Outdoor Dog Bed
Coolaroo The Original Cooling Elevated Pet Bed
A cheap and cheerful place for your dog to just chill out, Coolaroo has it covered. The Original Cooling Elevated Pet Bed is one of our recommendations for a top dog bed. The bed’s raised form factor allows air to circulate around your doggo while they sit comfortably. There’s plenty of choice here, with a bunch of sizes and colors available.
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Photograph: Cat Person
Feline Fun
Cat Person Toys
WIRED’s feline fanatic Medea Giordano included Cat Person’s line of toys in our guide to the Best Cat Furniture. Giordano was a big fan of Georgia the Chicken (pictured). Cat Person offers a variety of cat-friendly products, but these particular toys come attached to a string and are stuffed full of catnip.
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Photograph: Roku
A Simple Streaming Stick
Roku Express HD
We think the Streaming Stick 4K Plus is the best Roku for most people, but if you want to spend the least amount of money and still enjoy Roku’s simple interface, get the Express HD. It’s for those with a standard HDTV. Roku works with all the major streaming services, and even the least techy among us can figure it out. But at this price, the remote can’t control your TV’s volume or power. —Medea Giordano
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Photograph: B&H
A Camera Strap
Hex Ranger Camera Wrist Strap
The strap of choice for WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu, this camera accessory from Hex offers a neat trick. Once attached to your wrist correctly, if you drop the camera, the strap will tighten, then loosen again once you grab a hold of it for your next snap. No need for extra fastenings to mess around with. It’s comfortable and doesn’t feel too restrictive.
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Photograph: Lamicall
Adaptable Arm Mount
Lamicall Gooseneck iPad Holder
Ever been lying in bed, back flat to the mattress, looking up at your phone and had it smash you right in the face? Now imagine it’s an iPad. Ouch. This bendable arm is one of our favorite iPad accessories and is here to avoid unnecessary bumps and bruises as well as save the odd sore neck. It can attach to a desk or nightstand and lets you position it perfectly for reading, watching, game-playing, and more. As a budget pick, the arm isn’t the most stable we’ve tested, so it’s best for passive viewing rather than tapping the screen regularly, but the Lamicall is extremely useful nonetheless.
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Photograph: PopSockets
Getting a Grip
PopSockets PopGrip for MagSafe
One for PopSocket fans, and another one of our top picks for MagSafe accessories to consider, this PopGrip uses Apple’s magnetic tech to snap to the back of your iPhone. Admittedly, solely leaving the fate of your phone grip down to MagSafe is slightly less reassuring than an embedded case or accessory that uses an adhesive, but this is a convenient option nonetheless. If you get bored of this look, you can even switch out the top portion for something else.
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Photograph: Amazon
A Cheap Knife
Kiwi Stainless Steel 8-inch Chef’s Knife
A good knife shouldn’t cost a fortune. These Kiwis are our top cheap pick among the best knives around. The steel isn’t the best, but if sharpened regularly they’ll keep an edge just as well as a $100 knife. Take some of the money you save on these and invest in a good sharpening system. We like this Gatco rod-guided sharpening system, which eliminates much of the guesswork of sharpening.
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Photograph: Logitech
Cheap Gaming Mouse
Logitech G203
This affordable gaming mouse is our favorite pick under $50. The Logitech G203 offers decent sensitivity at 8,000 dots per inch, along with six customizable buttons and RGB lighting. Sure, you’ll find better mice at higher price points, but this is a top value pick.
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Photograph: Chronicle Books
A Colorful Read
The Brilliant Deep
This book from Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe is an entertaining and informative look at environmental preservation and the work of scientist Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. The Brilliant Deep delves into coral reefs and scuba diving alongside tales of Nedimyer’s life.
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Photograph: Anker
A Wireless Charger
Anker PowerWave Pad and Stand
Wireless charging has become standard in smartphones over the past few years, and it’s lovely not having to fumble with cables. Anker’s reliable and affordable chargers come in various shapes and sizes, but we think the PowerWave Stand makes a great gift for your loved one’s desk or bedside table. With your phone propped up and charging, it’s easy to see incoming notifications and tap that touchscreen when you need to.
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Photograph: Philips
No-Fuss Cleaning
Philips One by Sonicare
The cheap Philips One electric toothbrush is for the in-betweeners. You don’t want the most powerful vibrations or app support while you brush your teeth, but you want a little more help than a manual toothbrush. It vibrates enough to aide in your cleaning, though you still have to do most of the work. This version takes one AAA battery, and there’s also a rechargeable version. This was one of our alternative picks in our guide to the Best Electric Toothbrushes.
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Photograph: Prostorm
Budget ’Brella
ProStorm Vented Travel Umbrella
Keeping out of the rain shouldn’t cost the earth, and Prostorm has us covered, literally. This is our budget pick in our guide to the Best Umbrellas. This vented travel umbrella has a fiberglass and steel frame for batting back wind and rain. It offers plenty of space for one person, though, annoyingly, the handle itself is a tad on the small side.
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Photograph: Nimble
A Cable for the Eco-Conscious
Nimble PowerKnit USB-C to USB-C
Want a cable that’s eco-friendly but doesn’t compromise on quality? This one from Nimble has been the go-to for WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu for several years now with nary an issue, and it sits pride of place in our best USB-C cables guide. This cable dodges feeling cheap and plasticky, with its mix of certified recycled plastic and aluminum feeling nice and textured. There are three lengths to choose from, plus there’s a two-year warranty for your peace of mind.
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Photograph: Verbatim
In a Flash
Verbatim Pinstripe (256 GB)
It may not be the most glamorous gift, but this USB flash drive is a virtual filing cabinet for your pocket. Whether your recipient wants to take their saved games with them, backup and transfer photos, or share the first draft of their novel, this practical thumb drive will come in handy. It slides shut, so there’s no cap to lose, and there is a handy loop for sliding onto a keychain. You can never have too many thumb drives.
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Photograph: Sandisk
Need Some Space
SanDisk 128 GB High-Speed MicroSD Card
The best thing you can do with a Nintendo Switch (besides play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) is beef up the storage. This 128-GB microSD card lets you go all-digital and ditch the requirement to lug around cartridges. It’s also pretty cheap. That’s why it’s in our best Switch accessories roundup.
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Photograph: Monoprice
360 Extender
Monoprice 8 Outlet Rotating Surge Strip
Ever thought of using a surge stripe with rotating outlets? You may never go back. Sitting in our Work From Home guide, this Monoprice extender more easily accommodates your different-sized plugs by allowing you to rotate the sockets to your needs. Who would’ve thunk.
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Photograph: JBL
Wired for Sound
JBL Tune 205
The JBL Tune 205 are a solid pair of wired earbuds with ergonomic tips and an included mic for calls. They come in a nondescript black and with a convenient carrying pouch, so they won’t tangle up around all your other belongings in your bag or pockets.
