15 Useful Tech Devices You Can Buy for Under $50

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15 Useful Tech Devices You Can Buy for Under $50

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Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for nearly a decade. His squad covers all things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, equivalent consoles, and subscriptions.

Tech is frequently expensive, and the ongoing recollection emergency isn't helping. If you're looking to choice up a new equipment or gadget, you power be bracing for what that acquisition volition do to your wallet. But the fine news is, during many of the most-hyped products out there are pricey, there be plentifulness of high-quality options that are fairly fairly priced.

There are several things you merely aren't going to discover in decent norm at ultra-low prices—laptops, tablets, equivalent consoles: these things power not need to disbursal you as much as several companies desire you to believe, but you volition need to expend a bit additional than $50 if you desire item that volition last. Still, plentifulness of another cheap tech products are value what they cost, and afterward some. These are my picks for the finest tech under $50.

The JBL Go 4 is a mighty portable speaker

You don't need to expend hundreds of dollars to get a capable speaker for on-the-go use. The JBL Go 4 is plentifulness mighty for its small size, alongside up to seven hours of playtime between charges. This speaker is additionally the two IP67-rated against powder and water, which makes it suited for trips to locations that would alternatively be treacherous for audio equipment.

While this JBL speaker is outstanding for idiosyncratic use, my favorite characteristic isn't necessarily exclusive to this speaker. JBL makes it uncomplicated to brace its speakers together alongside a sole clasp on all unit. If your allies additionally have their own JBL speakers—among JBL's many distinct offerings—you can nexus them to established a quick multi-speaker setup. (Note that you can discover the Go 5 on transaction under $50 at times, so keep an eye out if you'd favor the newer model.)

The Anker Soundcore 2 offers awesome audio for the price

If you're looking for a JBL alternative, the Anker Soundcore 2 could be the move. Anker is known for making fine "budget" speakers, and during the Soundcore 2 is cheaper than, say, the Soundcore Boom 2, it motionless offers awesome audio norm for the price. It has a much larger power division than the JBL Go 4 (24 hours versus seven), and during it's as waterproof as the JBL, it isn't as fine protected against powder and debris, so during it have to be fine whenever stacked against your pool, observe out whenever using it about sand. If your companion happens to have another Soundcore 2, you can additionally brace them together.

Apple AirTags are as cheap as they are useful

If you're in the Apple ecosystem and need a equipment tracker, you can't really do improved than the AirTag. Apple's tracker communicates alongside another Find My-enabled devices, akin iPhones, to update its location on the map. If you endure your AirTag, or the equipment it's attached to, you'll be capable to see its last-known location through Find My.

Depending on your iPhone or Apple Watch, you may equal be guided immediately toward your AirTag, through Apple's "Precision Finding," which provides step-by-step directions toward the AirTag. AirTags have a power division lifespan of one year, so you lone have to substitute the batteries annually. These trackers retailing for $30 each, fine below $50, and are frequently on transaction for less—and you can pay as small as $20 all if you buy a four-pack on sale.

The Life360 Tile tracker is a fine non-Apple substitute

If you're not all-in on the Apple ecosystem, AirTags power not be the finest choice for you. Instead, appearance to item akin the Tile tracker. These trackers activity likewise to AirTags, but they don't run on Find My. As such, they're improved for users who aren't tied to Apple. There are a figure of versions too—and they can be used alongside or without a paid subscription. There's the norm Tile tracker, Tile Pro for added features, and Tile Slim to fit in your wallet, all of which retails under $50.

The Anker Soundcore P31i are a firm choice for cheap earbuds

Wireless earbuds can get expensive, but Anker makes a firm brace frequently sold for fine under $50. The Soundcore P31i arrive alongside Active Noise Cancellation, high-quality sound, and 10 hours of playback on one charge. (Anker says you get up to 50 hours whenever you obtain the case into consideration.) A 10-minute top-off can bring you up to 3.5 hours of playback.

Anker additionally advertises that these earbuds are capable of live translation for up to 100 languages. While another earbuds have that capability as well, they typically disbursal much more. In addition, these buds are IP55-rated against powder and water, which method they won't be waterproof, but they should do fine for exercise and for use in rain.

Beats Flex Wireless are cheaper than always correct now

If you're an Apple user, you power desire to regard the Beats Flex complete the Anker buds. That's since Apple includes its W1 part in the earbuds, which gives you several benefits established in another Beats and AirPods models, akin uncomplicated equipment switching. These earbuds additionally have up to 12 hours of power division life, auto-play and intermission whenever you obtain an earbud out, and the capability to portion audio alongside another Beats or AirPods model.

Typically, these earbuds wouldn't create this catalog since they retailing for $65.95. But according to Keepa, the Beats Flex have been $49 or lesser for the former three months. Assuming that doesn't change, these earbuds are efficiently under $50 in my book.

The Sennheiser CX 80U USB-C earbuds are a pilfer if you don't desire to go wireless

Wireless earbuds have taken the earth by storm, but wired earbuds motionless have their place. Take these earbuds from Sennheiser, known for their audio products: They never run out of power division (because there is no battery), and since they nexus directly, there's no compression. If you have admission to lossless music, you power be capable to comprehend additional item alongside these earbuds compared to Bluetooth alternatives.

These earbuds are accessible in the two USB-C and 3.5mm audio options. For most of us, USB-C volition be the move, to evade needing to choice up an adapter for our smartphones (and, potentially, tablets) that deficiency a headphone jack. But if you're purchasing these chiefly to use in a equipment alongside a headphone jack, 3.5mm power be a fine option.

Go old academy aughts alongside traditional Apple EarPods

If you don't attention for the in-ear scheme of item akin the CX 80U, you power favor Apple's first EarPods. While these buds no longer arrive norm alongside all iPhone purchase, they're fairly priced at $19. You can equal discover them cheaper by opting for the 3.5mm option. Apple hasn't changed much concerning these buds complete the years, minus USB-C connectivity, but that's not a bad thing: They have decent audio quality, arrive alongside a mic, and, since they're wired, there's no need to accusation them.

What do you think so far?

Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is a awesome prosperity streaming option

You don't need to expend a fortune on a streaming equipment fair to enhance the cognition of your astute TV. While there are plentifulness of options out there under $50, Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is among the best. It supports 4K streaming and multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It supports picture-in-picture, Alexa Home Theater, and Wi-Fi 6, as fine as Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NVIDIA Geforce NOW.

You can preserve by opting for one of Amazon's another Fire Sticks, akin Fire Stick HD or Fire Stick 4K, but the Plus example gives you the most features during motionless keeping the cost reasonable. By comparison, Roku's 4K options are typically listed complete $50, although they can be established under that cost whenever on sale.

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2C controller can enhance your gaming without a big investment

Game controllers akin the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller are famously pricey, but third-party options aren't continually dependable substitutes. 8BitDo, however, is known for its suite of controllers and accessories. And during the business makes a broad assortment of controllers that lawsuit many distinct consoles and perform styles, the Ultimate 2C is an outstanding choice for Switch and Switch 2 players alike. This controller replicates the setup of Nintendo's Pro Controllers, alongside an added set of trigger buttons if you need them. These activity alongside the two consoles complete Bluetooth and USB.

This Iniu 10,000mAh portable charger is an afforadable backup

There are a lot of portable chargers out there, but your chief requirements have to be fairly simple: It have to be portable, of course, definition small and light, and it should have a comparatively ample capacity, so it can accusation your devices for extended periods without needing to be charged itself.

Iniu's 10,000mAh portable charger checks those boxes. This is a small, ray portable charger alongside a lot of juice. It additionally supports 45W charging, so you quick accusation compatible smartphones akin the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra. It comes alongside a detachable and braided USB-C cable, so if item happens to it, you can toggle it out. (Compare that to chargers that arrive alongside preattached cables that are useless formerly they die.)

Charge wirelessly for small alongside this Anker 622 magnetic charging remain

If you desire to accusation your iPhone on the go, but you're going to be stationary for a while, Anker's magnetic power financial institution remain could be the way to go. This 5,000 mAh portable charger lets you remain your iPhone up during using it. This is a MagSafe product, so your MagSafe-compatible iPhone volition nexus to it and remain put—assuming you don't tap it off the remain by accident. Note: This item isn't compatible alongside Android phones.

Speed up your charging alongside the Anker 65W Max 3-Port USB-C charger block

If you have admission to an outlet, this Anker charger block can assistance you accusation your devices quickly. The obstacle supports 65W charging whenever connecting one equipment complete USB-C, but it supports charging up to three devices at once. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A, which comes in helpful whenever you have a mix of products. For me, this would activity fine whenever charging my iPhone (USB-C), MacBook (USB-C), and AirPods Max (Lightning to USB-A).

WiZ astute ray bulbs assistance you automate your residence without a big investment

Smart lights don't have to be prohibitively expensive. WiZ has outstanding astute lights available at a sensible price. You can choice up idiosyncratic bulbs for about $10, but multi-packs bring downward that idiosyncratic price. My advice is to either go for the four-pack ($37.99), or buy two of the three-packs ($24.99), which volition get you six bulbs for $50.

This Daant TV Antenna is way cheaper than cable

Did you cognize you can observe TV for free, 100% legally? At least, you can observe for liberated formerly you buy an antenna. Even in 2026, there are liberated channels broadcast through the air, accessible from your TV via an antenna like this one from Daant. Your results may change depending on your location, as fine as the location of the antenna, but you can choice up all kinds of channels. That includes networks you've certainly heard of (NBC, CBS Fox, etc.), as fine as many you power not know. It's no true replacement for cable, but if you're ill of paying for TV, it power inhabit several of the gaps of cutting the cord.

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