Technology has come a long way over the past decade, and today, there are a wide range of affordable gadgets to help make your life easier. Whether you’re looking for a pair of wireless Bluetooth speakers for a party or a light bulb that automatically turns on when you enter the house, there are a seemingly endless number of electronics and other devices at your disposal — and many of them are more affordable than you might think.
Amazon has become a hub for all types of gadgets across every shopping category, and some of the best-selling items are available for less than $50. To help you find the best products for your needs, we sorted through hundreds of the website’s most popular items to find the most useful (and affordable) electronics for your home.
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Best tech gadgets under $50 on Amazon
We rounded up some of the best-selling and affordable options, spanning various categories, including audio and TV devices, smart home technology, wellness products and more. They are all highly rated by thousands of Amazon reviewers.
Best Apple accessory:
4.6-star average rating from over 5,031 reviews
If you frequently misplace your keys or wallet, an Apple AirTag can save you a lot of hassle. This editor's favorite was also an NBC Select travel awards winner. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and using the Find My app on your iPhone, you’ll be able to quickly locate the tag (and whatever it’s attached to). If the AirTag is ever out of range of your phone — for instance, if you left your wallet behind at the supermarket — it will anonymously collect location data from other iPhones in the area, helping you track down your belongings.
Best speaker:
4.6-star average rating from over 122,000 reviews
One of our favorite bluetooth speakers, the Anker Soundcore 2 is water resistant and can play up to 25 hours on one charge, according to the brand. It has physical buttons along the top that allow you to play and pause, raise the volume or connect to other Bluetooth devices, all without your phone. And its compact and portable design allows you to take it anywhere with you.
Best earbuds for commuting:
4.3-star average rating from over 368,900 reviews
These wireless earbuds can be used when you’re working, commuting or hitting the gym. They automatically pair with your phone when you take them out of the case, and you can listen for up to 10 hours per charge, according to the brand. The brand also says that the case holds an additional 35 hours of charge time. The earbuds are waterproof and have touch controls on the exterior, and they come with six pairs of tips that you can swap out to find a comfortable fit.
Best budget home security camera:
4.4-star average rating from over 289,100 reviews
You can keep an eye on your home with this affordable Blink Mini smart security camera. It’s designed for indoor use only and streams 1080p high-definition video footage to your smartphone. The camera offers motion detection alerts and two-way audio, and it’s able to capture video both during the day and at night. You can watch real-time video footage for free, and if you want to save clips to view later, Blink offers a cloud subscription that costs $100 a year.
Best smart gadget:
4.7-star average rating from over 562,900 reviews
The Amazon Smart Plug will turn any electronic device into a smart gadget. These easy-to-use plugs allow you to remotely turn electronics on and off from your phone, and you can also create preset schedules. For instance, many people use smart plugs to control lamps — through the app, you can schedule a light to turn on a few minutes before you get home at night and shut off before bed. This plug also offers an “Away Lighting” feature, which automatically turns connected lights on and off to make it look like someone is home when you’re not there.
Best all-in-one scale:
4.7-star average rating from over 344,000 reviews
This popular smart scale connects to your smartphone, saving data every time you step on it. In addition to body weight, it’s designed to measure several other metrics, such as body fat percentage and muscle mass, and all this information is automatically transferred to the Renpho app. The scale has a maximum capacity of 400 pounds, and it automatically recognizes different users.
Best phone accessory:
4.5-star average rating from over 116,700 reviews
You don’t have to plug your phone in on this wireless charging stand — simply put your smartphone onto the stand and the battery will begin charging. It’s compatible with any Qi-enabled phone, including most iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel smartphones, and you can rest your phone on it in either portrait or landscape orientation. The charger works through phone cases that are up to 5 millimeters in thickness, but magnetic or metal attachments or cases may prevent proper charging.
Best home accessory:
4.3-star average rating from over 53,900 reviews
If you often forget to close the garage door when you leave the house, this smart gadget is designed to give you remote control over it. The device is compatible with all major brands of garage door openers manufactured after 1993 that have standard safety sensors. It allows you to open or close the door from your smartphone, even when you’re not home. You can also set the door to automatically open or close at a certain time each day.
Best pet camera:
4.4-star average rating from over 76,700 reviews
The Wyze Cam v3's weather-resistant design allows it to be used indoors or outdoors. This small camera captures video in 1080p high definition and has a slot for installing a microSD card for 24/7 continuous recording. The app will send you motion detection alerts if desired, and it can also capture color video at night. If you want to save video clips in the cloud, Wyze offers its Cam Plus subscription for $20 per year.
Best streaming remote:
4.7-star average rating from over 78,800 reviews
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K plugs into your existing television and allows you to stream content from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video and Max. The streaming device supports 4K content, and comes with its own remote that can power your TV on and off, adjust the volume and voice search. Your purchase also gives you access to 275 free live TV channels through The Roku Channel so you never run out of shows to watch.
Best smart speaker:
4.6-star average rating from over 116,400 reviews
Amazon Alexa is one of the most popular digital assistants available today, and you can use her at home with the help of an Echo Dot. This smart hub offers a wide range of functionality, allowing you to play music or podcasts, set an alarm, control other smart home devices and more. The 5th generation Echo Dot also has an improved speaker system compared to previous versions for clearer vocals and deeper bass notes, according to the brand.
Best Bluetooth accessory:
4.4-star average rating from over 14,800 reviews
The Twelve South AirFly SE is a useful accessory for frequent travelers, which is why it’s one of our 2024 Travel Awards winners. This wireless audio transmitter can be plugged into in-flight entertainment systems, as well as gym equipment or gaming devices, and it will transmit the audio to your wireless headphones, saving you from having to work around a cord. This version of the AirFly has a battery life of up to 20 hours and a range of up to 33 feet, according to the brand.
Best smart lightbulbs:
4.5-star average rating from over 18,600 reviews
You can adjust the lighting in your home with Kasa Smart Light Bulbs. Through the Kasa app, these LED bulbs can be set to numerous colors, as well as shades of white, and you can control them right from your phone, turning the lights on and off or putting them on an automatic schedule. The bulbs are dimmable, and they also monitor real-time energy usage to show you how much electricity is being consumed.
Best home decoration:
4.5-star average rating from over 61,100 reviews
LED strip lights, such as this 16-foot strand from Govee, can add a colorful accent to your home. Many people use them to illuminate under cabinets, behind televisions or around the edges of a room, and this strip can be set to any color. It also comes with 64 preset “lighting scenes” with color-changing patterns, and it can sync up to music, flashing along to the beat.
Best travel accessory:
4.5-star average rating from over 22,300 reviews
Tile Mate trackers work similarly to AirTags, but they’re compatible with both Apple and Android phones. The square tags have a hole in one corner, making it easy to attach them to a keychain, and you can use your phone to locate the tracker, even when it’s out of Bluetooth range. The battery in each tracker is designed to last for up to three years, but the one downside is that it can’t be replaced once it runs out of battery power — you will have to replace the whole Tile.
Best car accessory:
4.5-star average rating from over 43,500 reviews
This Bluetooth receiver is designed to be used in your car, allowing you to stream music or take phone calls over the radio while keeping your phone free of cords. It plugs directly into a 3.5mm AUX adapter, and after you set it up, it will automatically pair with your phone over Bluetooth. The receiver has a built-in microphone for taking phone calls, and it lasts for up to 16 hours per charge, according to the brand.
Best home improvement tool:
4.6-star average rating from over 40,000 reviews
A smart light switch, such as this top-rated model, gives you many of the same benefits as a smart light bulb, but it’s often a better choice for permanent fixtures where the bulb isn’t easily changed. Once the switch is wired into your home, you’ll be able to monitor the status of your light and turn it on/off through the Kasa app. It can be used to create an automatic schedule for the light and can be controlled through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, as well.
Best portable charger:
4.3-star average rating from over 5,500 reviews
Anker makes some of our favorite charging devices and this power bank lightning alternative was also featured as an NBC Select Giftable Tech Awards winner. The Anker iPhone 15 Nano Power Bank is made specifically for phones with USB-C ports and allows you to travel easily without worrying about your phone battery. It has a sleek compact design that plugs directly into your phone so you don’t have to worry about wires or a bulky charger case. The USB-C port is also foldable to prevent it from breaking when you’re not using it.
Best wireless headphones:
4.3-star average rating from over 4,800 reviews
These in-earbuds are a great budget option for someone who still wants good audio quality at a low price. The Jib True 2 are sweat and water resistant, according to the brand, so you can wear them while you workout, in the rain or on a particularly hot day. They have 33 hours of battery life, nine hours in buds and 24 hours in the case. If you ever lose one you can use the Tile app to find them by ringing them, according to the brand.
Best Bluetooth keyboard:
4.6-star average rating from over 23,400 reviews
Logitech is one of our favorite keyboard brands. This Logitech Pebble Multi-Device keyboard can connect to various Apple, Windows and Android devices and up to three devices simultaneously. It has rounded keys that match your fingertips for fluid motion, recognizes your device to map keys, and allows you to use familiar keyboard shortcuts. According to the brand, it also has a two-year battery life and a one-year limited hardware warranty.
Best portable speaker:
4.8-star average rating from over 30,300 reviews
This JBL Bluetooth speaker comes in a variety of color combinations and easily clips onto your belt, bike handlebars, book bags or totes for travel. Plus, the speaker is water and dust resistant. The battery lasts for up to 10 hours of play on a single charge and takes only three hours to fully charge, according to the brand. Its retail price is $65 but you can frequently find it on sale at a much lower price point.
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Why trust NBC Select?
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and editor who has previously covered travel lifestyle stories, along with reviewing tech gadgets like the Apple AirTags.
Jeffrey Kelly is a digital intern for NBC Select who has covered deals and sales for Amazon, Walmart and Target.
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