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20 Cheap Tech Gifts That Are Guaranteed to Make a Lasting Impression

These prove that a good gift can be affordable and awesome.

jbl headphones next to gaming controller on couch
JBL

You no longer have to break the bank to treat someone you care about to a great tech upgrade on a tight budget. There really are countless high-quality yet cheap tech gifts that cost $50 or less.

We spent weeks meticulously researching solid, affordable, and gift-worthy tech products for this guide. Our picks range from awesome wireless earbuds and noise-canceling cans to a gaming headset from a legendary audio brand and a phone case that’s kind to the oceans to a timelessly cool digital watch.

Check out these 20 cheap tech gifts at impulse-buy price points — they are sure to impress any gearhead in your life.

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iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit
iFixit amazon.com
$24.99

Gadget tinkerers will instantly fall for this essential electronics toolkit by iFixit. Designed by industry experts with many years of experience in tearing down and fixing tech products, this kit includes a multitude of precision screwdrivers and tweezers, as well as an opening tool, among many other bits.

All tools are neatly organized in a carrying case with a magnetic lid. The toolkit is backed by a lifetime warranty from iFixit.

More: Headphones and Earbuds for Work We Like

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Dango S1 Stealth Wallet
Dango Products dangoproducts.com
$35.00

The S1 Stealth wallet by Dango Products is an impressive gift option with a minimalist design and excellent ergonomics. The slim and durable accessory has enough space for up to six cards and some cash. It also features a tiny and incredibly convenient pocket for a key or a memory card.

Thanks to its RFID-blocking tech, the wallet will also protect users from credit card and identity theft. The S1 Stealth is made from a non-leather, water-resistant DTEX material with a textured finish.

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Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Pad
Belkin amazon.com
$29.99
$17.99 (40% off)

Belkin's latest wireless charger is a nice cheap tech gift for any smartphone user. With a maximum power output of 10 watts, the impressively compact accessory can rapidly charge an iPhone and compatible Android smartphones. 

Available in black or white, the gadget has a cool design and a sweet 2-year warranty. It comes bundled with an AC adapter and a USB cable. 

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Victrola Vintage Portable Suitcase Record Player
Victrola amazon.com
$44.99

This record player by Victrola is an exciting gift for beginner vinyl collectors, as well as for seasoned aficionados with a vast music library. The surprisingly affordable device has a cool retro design (it's a small suitcase when closed) and Bluetooth connectivity. The latter will allow users to enjoy their records wirelessly with headphones or speakers.

Victrola's turntable has built-in stereo speakers as well. A trio of playback speeds and intuitive controls round up the product's noteworthy highlights. There are countless color options to pick from.

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Apple AirTag
Apple walmart.com
$29.00

The all-new Apple AirTag tracker is a useful cheap tech gift that the recipient will instantly fall for. The nifty gadget makes the process of finding keys, bags, or any item that it’s attached to a lot less stressful. To help locate a lost item when out of Bluetooth range, it utilizes a gigantic Find My network of almost a billion devices.

The AirTag, just like Apple’s AirPods headphones and earphones, is insanely easy to set up. The product has a water-resistant design and a replaceable battery, which can last over a year. You can accessorize it, too.

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Soundcore Life A1 True Wireless Earbuds by Anker
Soundcore amazon.com
$49.99

Anker's truly wireless Soundcore Life A1 earbuds belie their low price tag, making for an excellent cheap tech gift for any occasion. They have a premium design, impressive and easily customizable sound quality, and a comfy fit with intuitive controls. The IPX7 waterproof buds are great for exercising, too. 

The Life A1 earbuds provide up to an excellent 9 hours of battery life between charges. Their USB-C charging case holds a few additional full charges. The accessory is also compatible with wireless chargers. 

More: True Wireless Earbuds Under $100 Worth Buying

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Monocarbon Apple Watch Case (44-millimeter)
MONOCARBON amazon.com
$46.99

This protective case by Monocarbon is a great gift for Apple Watch users. Made from genuine carbon fiber, the accessory is insanely thin and lightweight, yet impressively tough. It is designed to fit the smartwatch without obstructing access to its screen and buttons.

The case is easy to install — all you need to do is snap it onto the Apple Watch. Monocarbon offers the product with a glossy or a matte finish for Apple Watch Series 4 and up. You can order it for models with a 40-millimeter case as well. 

More: Why the Apple Watch Series 6 Is the Best Yet

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Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)
Amazon amazon.com
$49.99

The tiny Amazon Echo Dot is an awesome smart speaker that's a great cheap tech gift for just about anyone. It has a beautiful design and crisp sound that's a lot more powerful than its compact footprint suggests. Powered by the tech giant's mighty Alexa virtual assistant, the Echo Dot can answer questions and control connected home products, among countless other bits.

We like that the Echo Dot is made from recycled aluminum, fabric, and plastic. You can order the speaker in a trio of finishes — charcoal, blue, and white.

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Chromecast with Google TV Streaming Player
Google bestbuy.com
$49.99

The Chromecast with Google TV is a cheap tech gift that's guaranteed to up the recipient's home entertainment game. Designed to stay out of sight, the tiny gadget can deliver 4K video from all major streaming services. It's compatible with HDR-enhanced content as well. 

The Google Assistant-powered media player has an intuitive remote with a cool design and compatibility with voice commands. You can use the remote to scroll through your shows or simply ask the Google Assistant to start playing something for you.

More: The Best Streaming Devices Worth Your Attention

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Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Battery Pack
Anker amazon.com
$29.99

The compact and elegant Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD battery pack is gift-worthy because it can fully charge most smartphones twice and still have power to spare. The accessory has a full USB port and a USB-C connector with fast-charging capabilities.

I like the textured finish of the battery pack, and it comes in five different colors: black, gray, blue, green, and rose. Every PowerCore Slim 10000 PD also comes bundled with a handy USB-C-to-USB-C cable. 

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ZenPod Case for Apple AirPods With a Fidget Spinner
Air Vinyl Design amazon.com
$19.99

This protective AirPods case not only looks great, but its built-in spinner makes it especially fun to use. The nifty accessory is crafted from high-quality genuine leather, and its spinner is made using anodized aluminum with a brushed finish. 

The case is available in black with a silver or black spinner or brown with a silver spinner. A variant for the AirPods Pro is also available.

More: Cool Accessories for Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro

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Casio G-Shock DW5600E Digital Watch
Casio amazon.com
$69.95
$51.99 (26% off)

The Casio G-Shock DW5600 digital watch is one of the coolest cheap tech gifts for an avid gearhead. The lightweight and rugged timepiece is a remake of Casio’s iconic, first-ever G-Shock that debuted almost four decades ago. It’s as timeless as it gets.

Of course, the G-Shock DW5600 is waterproof up to 200 meters and equipped with excellent backlighting. Its digital movement is packed with timekeeping features, including an alarm, a countdown timer, and a stopwatch.

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JBL Quantum 100 Gaming Headphones
JBL amazon.com
$39.95

JBL's Quantum 100 headphones are an excellent gift for both gamers and the work-from-home crowd. Available in black, white, and blue, the wired over-ear cans have a nicely understated design, a remarkably lightweight and comfy fit, and a detachable microphone that's great for in-game trash talk, as well as for making calls.

Powered by 40-millimeter audio drivers, the Quantum 100 headphones deliver signature JBL sound that's guaranteed to appeal to just about everyone. The cans are an excellent option — not just for gaming and making calls but also for rocking out. 

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Grovemade Maple Succulent Planter (Tall Size)
Grovemade grovemade.com
$40.00

This beautiful succulent planter by Grovemade — a Portland, Oregon-based maker of awesome tech, desk, and home accessories — is a memorable gift that deserves a spot on anyone’s desk. It will allow the recipient to take a break from all screens and marvel at nature’s beauty.

Every planter is handcrafted using Eastern maple wood, aluminum, and natural cork. There are two sizes to pick from, and both cost below $50. Grovemade also offers a walnut planter. Just note that the plant is not included. 

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TaoTronics TT-BH085 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
TaoTronics amazon.com

The TaoTronics TT-BH085 wireless noise-canceling headphones are an excellent cheap tech gift option. The cans' design and sound are much better than what you’d expect from a product in this price point.

With up to 40 hours of wireless playback between charges, these headphones last longer than many of their pricier rivals. Their futureproof USB-C port will get users 2 hours' worth of tunes after just 5 minutes of charging.

More: The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2020

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TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
Kasa Smart amazon.com
$29.99
$22.79 (24% off)

The Wi-Fi-equipped TP-Link Kasa Smart power strip is a great affordable tech gift — it will ensure that recipients never have to worry about leaving an appliance on. It has three individually controlled power outlets, two full USB ports for charging gadgets, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands.

The nifty device will allow users to control connected products and keep tabs on their energy consumption via a mobile app. Of course, it also has built-in surge protection.

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Tribit StormBox Micro Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Tribit amazon.com
$49.99

The compact Tribit StormBox Micro Bluetooth Speaker is a wonderful, yet cheap tech gift for anyone who likes to enjoy tunes on the go. Despite its tiny size, the waterproof gadget is capable of delivering sound with surprisingly powerful and entertaining bass. We like that it has a sturdy silicone strap for attachment to a bag or bike, among other things. 

Users can expect up to 8 hours of wireless playback from the StormBox Micro. The product has a futureproof USB-C charging connector. The stylish fabric cover of the speaker is also available with an eye-catching orange finish.

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LifeProof WĀke Smartphone Case for iPhone 12 & iPhone 12 Pro
LifeProof amazon.com
$35.75

The LifeProof WĀke protective case is a thoughtful cheap tech gift for eco-conscious smartphone users. The cool-looking accessory made from 85% recycled, ocean-based plastic. I like that it has a cool wave pattern to remind users of where it came from.

As expected from a LifeProof case, the WĀke also offers excellent protection against scratches and drops. You can order the case for iPhone and iPad, as well as Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. There are several colors to pick from: black, blue, green, and purple. The last three options are inspired by the color of the sea.

More: Other Eco-Friendly Phone Cases We Like

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1MORE Stylish Dual-Dynamic Wired Earbuds
1MORE amazon.com
$52.10

The 1MORE Stylish Dual-Dynamic wired earbuds make for an amazing gift. They have a luxe design and a price-defying audio performance. Each bud has a machined metal housing that’s available in black, silver, green, and pink.

The earbuds are compatible with devices that have a standard audio jack. They have a three-button remote control and a built-in microphone for making calls.

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Nomad Kevlar Universal USB Cable
Nomad nomadgoods.com
$39.95

This universal charging cable by Nomad is a cheap tech gift that allows recipients to charge all of their gadgets seamlessly. Made from stylish and durable Kevlar fibers, the accessory has built-in Apple Lightning and USB-C adapters, as well as a micro-USB connector.

The cable measures 5 feet in length, though you can also order a desktop-friendly 1-foot variant as well. Overall, Nomad's creation is as durable as a charging cable can be. 

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