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If “budget-friendly” and “high-quality” sound like oxymorons to you, you’re in for a surprise. As it turns out, you can buy a number of great gifts without completely draining your savings account, which makes it easy to pick up a present for your anniversary, a birthday party, or one of the many other gift-giving occasions strewn throughout the year.
Finding the right gift can still be tough, however, even when there is a sea of budget-friendly items for under $50 to choose from. That’s why we’ve put together a selection of techy gift ideas, all of which we’ve personally tested or have received as gifts ourselves. These range from entertaining picks like disposable cameras and wireless earbuds to more practical gifts like video doorbells and smart garage door openers. We’ve also highlighted an assortment of last-minute gifts that are more unique than your run-of-the-mill gift card — including game passes and audiobook subscriptions.
Take a look, and see how many fun gifts you can buy for very little.
Echo Dot (fifth-gen)
An all-in-one smart speaker and virtual assistant
In a way, gifting Amazon’s fifth-gen Echo Dot is like gifting multiple items at once. The spherical device makes for a great-sounding speaker, one that can fill a room surprisingly well despite its small footprint. At the same time, the latest model doubles as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender and a virtual assistant your loved ones can use to set alarms, check the weather, and control other smart home devices. Right now, you can buy the fifth-gen smart speaker for $49.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Amazon Echo Dot (fifth-gen)
$50
The fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system.
Skullcandy Jib True 2
A pair of wireless earbuds that integrate with Tile
A great pair of wireless earbuds are the perfect gift for music lovers, and Skullcandy’s new Jib True 2 boast a nice combination of features for the price. Both earbuds work independently and feature a surprising amount of passive noise cancellation along with an IPX4 water resistance rating that helps ensure they can withstand a jaunt at the gym or the occasional downpour. Each earbud also features integrated Tile tracking, which allows you to locate the earbuds via the Tile app on your phone if you happen to misplace them. Right now, you can buy the Jib True 2 in a variety of fun colors at Amazon, Skullcandy, and Macy’s for around $28 ($10 off).
Skullcandy Jib True 2
The Jib True 2 offer solid performance for the price. In addition to standard features like IPX4 dust and water resistance, each earbud also sports integrated Tile tracking and the ability to function independently.
Blink Video Doorbell
A video doorbell that provides extra peace of mind while away
A Blink Video Doorbell can help keep your loved ones safe and provide them with some extra peace of mind, regardless of whether they’re home or vacationing elsewhere. The 1080p camera easily pairs with smartphones, so they can keep track of who’s knocking on their door via an app, and it offers all the basics they’ll need to feel safe, including night vision, motion-activated recording, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. So long as they’re okay going without smart alerts and some of the bells and whistles found on more expensive video doorbells, the Blink Video Doorbell is a good camera that’ll get the job done. Regularly $49.99, you can buy it for $39.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Blink Video Doorbell
The Blink Video Doorbell is a single 1080p camera that pairs with your phone, allowing you to see who is at your door, regardless of where you are.
Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
A streaming device that’s loaded with Rotten Tomatoes ratings
A streaming device like Google’s excellent Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is a welcome present, no matter the occasion. That’s because it grants your giftee access to every major streaming service while offering support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and a wide array of apps. Unlike its rivals, however, the gadget also curates recommendations from a variety of streaming services and provides Rotten Tomatoes scores, helping your loved one quickly find something worthwhile to binge-watch.
Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
$50
The Chromecast with Google TV introduces a dedicated remote and new software. It brings together recommendations from all of your streaming services and supports 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10 Plus.
Kodak M35 35mm film camera
A “disposable” camera that’s reusable
There’s something charming about old-school low-tech gadgets like disposable cameras. Kodak’s pocket-size M35 offers all of the charms single-use cameras do except for one thing: it can be reused again and again with 35mm rolls of film. The M35 serves as a nice introduction to analog photography and is a creative present your giftee will love, especially if they’re the nostalgic, sentimental sort. It typically retails for around $28, but you can currently buy it at B&H Photo for as low as $17.99.
Source: TheVerge
