Good tech is usually accompanied by a hefty price tag. The price can make buying a gift for someone difficult and expensive. Fortunately there are some exceptions to the rule. There are some great tech options available that come in under $50. With choices for LED lights, lamps, gaming peripherals and other cool gadgets and accessories.
Glorious Model O and Model O-
The Glorious Model O is a lightweight gaming mouse that also comes with RGB lighting. The device is available with four different finishes; matte black, matte white, glossy black and glossy white. The Model O looks great with its honeycomb design and is a great addition to any setup. To make this mouse even more of a delight it comes with G-Skates and a lightweight cord for smooth movements. The Model O- is a slightly smaller form mouse that is even lighter than the original.
You can pair the Model O with the supported free software to customise the mouse. Inside the software you can change the RGB lighting, button binds, DPI, scroll speeds and much more. Giving you complete control over how the device will operate and make the user experience even better.
Eterbiz LED Flame Effect Table Lamp
If you’re looking to add some style to your room you might want to pick up the Eterbiz Flame Table Lamp. The lamp is designed with a simplistic minimalist look and adds a flame like glow around it. The Eterbix lamp can add a great atmosphere to any location and transform a setup by giving it character.
Anker Soundcore Spirit X 2019
A great affordable option for bluetooth workout earphones are the Anker Soundcore Spirit X. With up to 18 hours of play time the headphones can last all day. They are great on the go as they allow for 3 hours of play on just 10 minutes of charging. The earphones also feature ip68-rated dust and waterproof protection, making them ideal for intense workouts.
TaoTronics Computer Speaker Sound Bar
Monitors aren’t known for having the loudest or best quality speakers. To make up for this you can use a speaker as a replacement. The issue with traditional speakers is that they can take up a lot of desk room and be limiting. A great way to negate these downsides is with a sound bar. Sound Bars can sit directly under the monitor and make use of that space that may otherwise be empty. The TaoTronics Sound Bar sounds and looks great for its price point. It is accented by a light that circles the volume control.
Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker
Bluetooth speakers are extremely versatile and can help keep the music going when outdoors. Whether you are camping, playing sports or traveling you can make use of a Bluetooth device. The Tribit XSound Go is a great option, due to its affordability and quality. What makes the Tribit even better is the sleek design, IPX7 Waterproof and up to 24 hour play time.
JBL Go 2 Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Go 2 improves on the original with better sound, build quality and aesthetics. The small compact size of the JBL Go 2 makes it great for traveling and super portable. There are different color options that you can choose from and it allows for 5 hours of play time. The device also serves well by the pool or on the beach due to the IPX7 waterproof design.
Amazon Echo Dot
The smart home lifestyle can be tempting, and the Amazon Echo Dot is the perfect device for taking that first step. The Echo comes ready packed with different features, all available via voice command. You can also expand the device’s ability with Alexa skills and by pairing the Echo with other smart home devices. If paired with the right smart tech you can control robot vacuums, lights and even thermostats.
The Amazon Echo is voice activated making it a powerful hands free assistant. Use the device to play your favorite songs, get help with cooking, order food, get the weather updates and so much more.
Anker Wireless PowerWave Charger Stand
For an aesthetically pleasing wireless charger that doesn’t break the bank, the Anker Wireless Powerwave takes rank. The device is capable of Samsung fast charge as well as standard wireless charging devices like iPhones. The simplistic stand design makes it a great addition to any desk or side table.
Blue Yeti Snowball Ice
Over time the Blue Yeti Snowball Ice microphone has made a name for itself amongst YouTubers. Being that it is super reliable, affordable and incredibly useful. The Snowball is a plug and play microphone making the setup that much easier. It also uses a cardioid polar pattern to help remove background noise and keep the focus on audio directly in front of the device.
Nomad Apple Watch Stand
Although this isn’t tech itself its a neat stand that anyone with an apple watch can appreciate. The Nomad Apple Watch Stand is one solid piece with a minimalist bent premium design. The build quality is durable and has weight behind it making it a solid addition to a bedside table or office. A great addition to this is the inbuilt cable slot that allows you to thread the cord along the back of the stand. This keeps it from view and helps maintain that simplistic look.
Divoom AuraBox
The Divoom AuraBox is a unique piece that functions as a LED speaker packed full with smart functionality. The AuraBox works as a lamp, bluetooth speaker, thermometer and alarm.The front of the AuraBox is fitted with an LED board that gives it a retro pixel look and feel. With the use of the app you can take full advantage of the LED front, and create your own pixel art or animation. You can also set up notifications to appear when an event occurs on social media sites.
LifeSmart LED Smart Light Panels
You can connect the LifeSmart LED Light Panels together and create unique designs. Using the app or back of the device you can control the lights effect and color. The app also makes creating cool color designs and effects easy. Due to the lightweight of the panels you can use a double sided adhesive to mount them on your wall. This looks great behind a gaming setup and is an affordable alternative to nanoleafs. The panels are a great addition to a smart home ecosystem as they can be used with both the Amazon Echo and Google Home Assistant.
Wowstick 1F + Pro
The Wowstick 1F is an electronic screwdriver done right. It comes with different screwdriver heads to choose from. The heads are stored neatly in a tube and are easy to switch between. Along with the screwdriver you also get a magnetic screw pad which can prevent you from misplacing screws. The Wowstick 1F is a great choice when working with electronics or on computer builds.
Yeelight Smart RGB LED Lights
Premium smart lights and bulbs can be fairly expensive, fortunately Yeelight is an affordable alternative. The Yeelight Smart Bulbs connect via WiFi, meaning there is no need for a hub. Being RGB lights you can select the exact color and hue that you want for each light. You can also control your Yeelights through app, Google home assistant and even Alexa.
TP- Link Smart Light Bulb
TP-Link also offers a great alternative for smart lighting. With RGB lights you can adjust the color to set the mood or add color to the room. Just like the Yeelight there is no hub required and you control them directly through the WiFi. The TP-Link Kasa light bulb works with Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa. Pairing smart lights with a smart home ecosystem can change everything and give you that futuristic control over your home.
Wyze Security Camera
The Wyze Security Camera is a cheap 1080p wireless device that you can view on your mobile from anywhere using the app. It also allows for 2 way audio so you can communicate with someone on the other side of the camera or app. The camera is also capable of night vision and being controlled via Google Assistant and Alexa.
The inbuilt stand allows for you to add additional height to the camera easily, or rotate to get the best angle and view. The stand is also magnetic so you have even more places to sit it. Pairing the camera with its motion notification and capture support is great. If the camera picks up motion you can have it send a notification to your phone and record a 12 second clip, keeping you in the know.
Wireless Nintendo Switch Controllers
The default Nintendo Switch controllers don’t give the typical console gaming experience. You can however use other controllers in place of the originals. There are two great wireless variations by PowerA that are both under $50. There is the GameCube style and an Enhance version that closely resembles an xbox controller.
Zowie Camade
Mouse bungees help free up movement with a mouse by preventing the cord from snagging on anything. They work by clipping your mouse cord at a certain point, usually elevated, so the cord doesn’t interfere with gameplay. The Zowie Camade works the same, and has an adjustable height so you can personalise the positioning to suit your needs.
Brightech Circle LED Lamp
For a modern nightstand lamp the Brightech Circle is a great solution. It provides adequate lighting and has three brightness settings. The touch switch allows you to cycle through the brightness options, 100%, 50% and 30%. The modern look suits any desk or table and comes in white, silver and black. Because the Brightech uses LEDs it is a great energy saver and won’t heat up like traditional lamps.
Lexip Ceramic Feet
Replacing or adding new mouse feet to your device can make it move smoother and help with flick shot accuracy. The Lexip Ceramic Feet aren’t stylised to fit any specific mouse but you can use them with any. When adding them to your device you will want to make sure you can recalibrate the lift off distance to suit. This recalibration is usually done within the supported software. Another good tip is to evenly place the feet so that the weight distribution is even.
