Best Tech Gifts Under $50
You don't need to drop serious cash to give someone a tech gift they'll actually use. Under $50 is the sweet spot — it's enough to get something genuinely good, but not so much that you're agonizing over the purchase. We've rounded up the tech gadgets that punch above their weight. The Anker 735 Charger is the gift nobody thinks to buy themselves but everyone loves. It's a tiny 65W USB-C charger that can power a laptop — stick it in a stocking and watch someone's face light up. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is another crowd-pleaser if they don't already have one. And the JBL Go 3 is this little waterproof Bluetooth speaker that sounds way better than it has any right to at $30. Look, the secret to good tech gifts is buying stuff that's useful but feels like a splurge. Nobody's going to buy themselves a $50 pair of wireless earbuds, but they'll love getting them. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are absurd for the price — ANC, 50-hour battery with the case, and they sound good. For $18, the Echo Pop is basically a stocking stuffer that turns any room into a smart room.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Key Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W) | Charger | Compact and portable | Buy on Amazon |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | Streaming | 4K Dolby Vision streaming | Buy on Amazon |
| Anker Nano Power Bank 10000mAh | Power-Bank | Built-in USB-C connector | Buy on Amazon |
| JBL Go 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker | Speaker | Ultra-portable palm-sized design | Buy on Amazon |
| Anker Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds | Audio | 50-hour total battery life | Buy on Amazon |
| Amazon Echo Pop Smart Speaker | Smart-Speaker | Extremely affordable | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Look at Each Product
Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W)
65W compact USB-C charger with GaN technology. Three ports (2 USB-C, 1 USB-A) for charging multiple devices simultaneously. Compact foldable plug design for portability. Intelligent power distribution with PowerIQ 4.0.
- Compact and portable
- 65W output charges laptops
- Three ports
- Foldable plug
- Gets warm under full load
- Power shared across ports when multi-charging
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Stream in 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Wi-Fi 6E support for smoother streaming. Ambient Experience turns TV into smart display. Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced with backlit buttons. 16GB storage with faster app loading.
- 4K Dolby Vision streaming
- Wi-Fi 6E support
- Alexa voice control
- Very affordable
- Amazon ecosystem heavily promoted
- Ads on home screen
Anker Nano Power Bank 10000mAh
Compact 10000mAh portable charger with built-in USB-C connector. 30W max output charges phones quickly. Foldable connector design. LED display shows remaining battery percentage. Charges iPhone to 50% in about 30 minutes.
- Built-in USB-C connector
- Compact pocket-friendly size
- 30W fast charging
- LED battery indicator
- Only one built-in connector type
- Can only charge one device at a time
JBL Go 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker small enough to clip onto a backpack strap. Surprisingly punchy JBL Pro Sound from a palm-sized design with IP67 waterproof and dustproof protection. Five hours of playtime per charge.
- Ultra-portable palm-sized design
- IP67 fully waterproof
- Punchy sound for its size
- Fun color options
- 5-hour battery is short
- No speakerphone function
Anker Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds
Compact noise-cancelling earbuds with adaptive ANC and 50 hours of total battery life at an entry-level price. LDAC Hi-Res audio codec support and a six-microphone array deliver clear calls and detailed music.
- 50-hour total battery life
- Adaptive ANC at budget price
- LDAC Hi-Res support
- Ultra-compact case
- ANC weaker than premium brands
- No wireless charging on base model
Amazon Echo Pop Smart Speaker
Ultra-affordable compact smart speaker with Alexa voice control and surprisingly full sound for its half-sphere design. Perfect as a bedside alarm clock, kitchen timer, or entry point into the Alexa ecosystem.
- Extremely affordable
- Decent sound for the size
- Full Alexa capabilities
- Compact design fits anywhere
- Bass is limited
- No temperature sensor like Echo Dot
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best tech gift under $50 for someone who has everything?
The Anker 735 Charger. Everyone needs a good charger and almost nobody has a great one. It's small, it's powerful, it charges three devices at once. It's the kind of thing that replaces the janky cable they've been using for years. Trust us on this one.
Are cheap wireless earbuds any good?
The good ones are, yeah. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 at $50 has active noise cancellation and sounds better than earbuds that cost twice as much. You're obviously not getting AirPods Pro quality, but for casual listening, commuting, and calls, they're more than enough.
Is the Fire TV Stick worth it if they already have a smart TV?
Usually yes. Most smart TV interfaces are slow and clunky compared to the Fire TV Stick. It's faster, has more apps, and gets updates longer. Plus Alexa voice search actually works well. It's a $40 upgrade that makes a $500 TV feel better.
What's a good tech gift for older parents or grandparents?
The Echo Pop or Echo Dot. Set it up for them before you give it, connect it to their Wi-Fi and music account. They can ask for weather, set timers, play music, and make calls without touching a screen. It's the tech gift that actually gets used instead of collecting dust.