The 20 best tech gifts under $25: birthdays, holidays, and more

Image: Tile

It can be hard to give a gift to a friend or loved one on a very small budget. When you want a nice birthday gift but can't afford it, what do you get? Most of the devices we use cost hundreds of dollars, so what do you get when you want a nice birthday gift but can't afford it? It is possible to default to something basic like socks or a scarf, but that is boring quickly.

We put together a bunch of cool tech ideas on a budget of just $25 and they are worth it. There are some tech essentials that can be purchased at a low price, like a dual headphone stand and a qualityusb-c charging cable. When that cable is 10 feet long and has 100 watt of power to charge a full-size MacBook Pro, you can get yourself a helpful gift. From there, you can get a sleek desk mat with a great design, a quality laptop stand, a flexible tripod for your phone, or even some helpful smart home accessories.

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Belkin Magnetic Wireless Charger

It is cheaper and longer than the MagSafe puck.

If someone you know has an Apple device, they can use magnets to charge it with. Apple's MagSafe standard is overpriced if you want a portable battery that can be charged quickly, but other manufacturers have cheaper versions. The MagSafe puck is 3.3 feet long and the Magnetic Wireless Charger is 6.6 feet long. It won't charge as fast since it's limited to 7.5W, but the long cable is more convenient for a bedside charge that gives you enough slack to use your phone while attached It runs in either white or black for $19. It costs a little more if you need a power supply with it, but that is within our budget, and it works with all kinds ofusb-c wall plugs.

The Magnetic Wireless Charger from Belkin isn't true MagSafe, but it has built-in magnets to attach to the iPhone 12 and 13 models and delivers 7.5 watt of power.

• $20 at Amazon
• $20 at Belkin

Uni USB-C to USB-C cable (10 feet)

There is a long braided cable for laptop charging.

It's annoying to have a charging cable that's too short when you work from home Most laptops and other devices come with cables that are short. The longer the cable, the more flexibility it gives for larger laptops. It supports 100 watt, which is enough for a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it only costs $19.99, with frequent discounts and coupons. Your loved one will appreciate the convenience of a cable like this when they use it, even if it isn't an exciting gift.

A full-size laptop like the 16-inch MacBook Pro can be powered by a 100 watt longusb-c cable.

Image: Drop

Drop + MiTo Godspeed Desk Mat

The desk mat has a sleek design.

Fancy keyboards and mice for a cool desk setup can cost a lot and are difficult to gift someone. A budget-friendly desk mat is a great gift. The Drop + MiTo Godspeed mat costs $25 and is available in three different colors. The solar system-inspired design by MiTo has a sharp and elevated aesthetic, using clean lines that won't make things look crowded or busy. If there is a mechanical keyboard lover in your life that doesn't already have a desk mat, you can get them started with something that doesn't cost you a ton or take a long time to buy.

The desk mat is modeled after our solar system. The work space under your keyboard and mouse is covered by this item.

Custom Mechanical Switch Tester

Someone could get into mechanical keyboards.

It can feel like you are encouraging reckless behavior and spending, but you are simply encouraging a fun hobby. A mechanical switch tester is a great way to see what you don't know. You can try out key switches and see how they work on a dummy board. They are perfect for hearing the differences between different types of switches. Thock King's nine-switch tester, a three-by-three board with caps from Thock King, is just under our budget, and the best part is you can pick out the nine switches from a list of 39.

There is a tester for mechanical keyboards. The boards are for testing the feel of different types of switches.

Besign LS10 Aluminum Laptop Stand

Give the gift of good posture.

When a friend or loved one works from home on a laptop, they deserve some relief. It makes you look better on video calls if you elevate your laptop to eye level. The Besign LS10 laptop stand is often discounted by 20 percent on Amazon. It has an easy to fold design so you can put it away when you're not using it. It is strong enough to hold a full-size laptop.

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A stand that raises a laptop to eye level It supports up to 13 lbs. It's available in either black or silver.

ZMI PowerPack 10,000mAh battery

What do you do to make a power bank look nice? In the fabric, deck it out.

There are a lot of power banks out there, but not all of them pack a hefty capacity combined with speedier charging and some sleek looks. You can get the ZMI PowerPack 10,000mAh power bank for just $19. It has a two-wayusb-c port for charging it as well as outputting up to 18 watt with power delivery to quickly juice up your devices. Monocles and sweater vests are not required, but it has a cool fabric pattern that makes it more refined.

The ZMI PowerPack 10K has a 10,000mAh capacity and supports both Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0.

Bluetooth Aux Receiver

Please help someone with an older car.

Cars are becoming tech appliances on wheels. To a lot of people, the power of the car is more important than the performance of the car. For people who still stick to their older cars that don't have modern conveniences, a simple tool like a Bluetooth adapter can make a big difference. It looks like it's basic, but it plugs into a 3.5mm aux jack and can connect to up to two devices. It's a simple, no- frills way to enjoy all your music and podcasts on the road as well as take hands-free phone calls for added safety

You can use the aux receiver to connect to your phone or other device viaBluetooth.

Image: Asicen

Asicen 3-in-1 Retractable Charging Cable

You have never had a cable like this before.

When it comes to gift ideas, this one is off the charts. You can connect to just about any device with the retractable 3-in-1 charging cables. They are perfect for the car if more than one person has to share a single port for both Apple and Android. If you only need to charge a wireless mouse or keyboard occasionally, they can help keep your desk neat. For a pair, you can get all that on Amazon for 13 bucks. The gift idea is a perfect way to unite any household.

Beam Electronics phone car mount

Most car head units are worse than a phone.

The majority of car head units still don't work well. It's helpful to have a phone mounted to the dashboard. The basic car mount by Beam Electronics is easy to set up and operate, and it costs just $1299. If someone has a big phone, they can put it on the cradle and go. It won't slide out of the holder even during spirited driving, but it can be released with a push of a button on the back

The phone cradle is large enough to hold jumbo-size phones, like the iPhone Pro Max models of the world.

KZ ES4 wired earbuds

You can give the gift of luddism.

The age of true wireless earbuds is upon us. Even an ultra-budget pair ofNord Buds are outside of our range. The KZ ES4 is on sale for just $19.99 on Amazon. The 3.5mm wired earbuds have a see-through design that makes them stand out from the crowd. These earbuds are excellent for the money and perfect for anyone who values quality time with their music without the bulk of expensive headphones. They make an appropriate gift for anyone who appreciates something with some quirky vibes, though be sure they have a phone that still has a headphone jack or that they're still an ipod holdout.

Inexpensive but high quality headphones.

Apple AirTags or Tile Mate location trackers

For the people who forget.

A location tracker can be a lifesaver for someone if they misplace their wallet or keys. There are some things to consider for this gift. If they use an apple device, the Apple AirTags are a great option, while the tile mate is a good bet for both phones and tablets. When the AirTags are on sale, they usually go for $29, even though the budget price is $25. If you don't know what phone your gift recipient uses, the tile mate is a good buy.

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You can find your lost items with Apple's Air tags. You will get the best compatibility with an iPad, but Apple recently released an app that will allow you to track AirTag's location.

• $28 at Amazon
• $29 at Best Buy

The tile mate is still the same but it has a softer, more rounded design that makes it more durable.

Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller

The budget controller is usually on sale for $25

The Enhanced wired controller from PowerA is a great value for a gamepad. The only fault is that it uses a dated Microusb connection for its cable. The controller performs better than its asking price. PowerA makes this controller in all kinds of colors and designs, and it is usually sold for around $25, but you can usually find it on sale for less than that. It was chosen as the best budget option in our buying guide, and it's a great gift for a gaming enthusiast in your life.

The PowerA Enhanced wired controller is a budget-minded controller with two buttons on its back. It is available in many colors and designs.

A $25 digital gift card for Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, or Nintendo eShop

Give the gift of a good game.

Digital games or smaller independent titles are not always easy to give a gift for. It is possible to buy a game on Steam as a gift for someone on your friends list, but you don't have that option for consoles. You need to enter the gift card. If you don't know the game someone wants, let them purchase it themselves and remember who helped finance their hundreds of hours of enjoyment.

You can get bonus points if you know what game they want. That is some expert level gift.

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More than 1,000 games can be purchased with a Nintendo eShop gift card. It's possible to buy a card for as little as $5.

• $20 at Amazon
• $20 at Best Buy

A Steam gift card can be used to purchase all sorts of PC titles. They can purchase a steam deck in $5, $10, $25, $50, or $100 installments.

An Xbox gift card can be used to subscribe to Xbox Live or the PC Game Pass. A digital gift card can be used for a wide range of goods and services.

All kinds of titles, add-ons, and DLC can be purchased with a gift card. They are usually sold in denominations of $10 to $100.

Joby GripTight ONE GorillaPod Stand

It's a simple tripod for phones.

If you want to take a group selfies or a quality landscape photo, you should plant your phone somewhere with a tripod. The Joby GripTight ONE comes with an easy to use mount. When taking video, it can be used as a stabilizer. It is a great gift for anyone who is interested in doing more with their phone when it comes to taking pictures or recording TikTok videos.

The JobyTight One Gorilla Pod is a tripod for your phone that can be adjusted to fit bigger models.

Elago Apple Watch stand

There is a mount for your Apple watch.

There are a lot of Apple Watch charging solutions out there, but they are usually expensive and not cute. The Elago stand is adorable, as if you thread your Apple Watch charging puck into it, it will turn into a mini Macintosh, iMac, GameBoy, or iPod Classic. You can find these little stands on Elago's site or on Amazon, and they make a charming novelty of a gift for anyone who likes vintage tech.

Silicone is used to make the Apple Watch stands from Elago. It looks like an old Macintosh computer while you charge your Apple Watch.

Anker 511 Nano USB-C 20W Charger

Someone needs to be saved from their old wall.

Do you know a person who still uses an old 5- watt USB-A charge that is old enough to get a permit? Here is how you can help save them from it. It's easy to make a gift out of these little chargers, which can output up to 20 watt, and they make a great gift. In addition to white and black, they come in green and lavender, as well as some other fun colors, for a total of 18 colors. It's a good idea to make sure that any new chargers get recycled.

It is small enough to fit in a purse and is able to charge phones up to 20 watt.

• $19 at Amazon
• $19 at Anker

TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini (three-pack)

It's the perfect entry point into smart home tech.

If you want to get started with smart home stuff, it is best to give dumb appliances and devices. TP-Link Kasa smart plugs can be used to plug in things like lamps or outdoor lights and can be used to set up scheduled timers and remote controls. You can buy a three-pack of them at B&H Photo for $22. In addition to lights, you can even set one up to do something handy like remotely power-cycle your home routers when it inevitably fails, even without having to get up from the couch. There are so many possibilities that it's hard to decide.

TP-Link's Kasa smart plug is an affordable way to add smarts to any home.

• $22 at Amazon
• $22 at B&H Photo

Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener Remote

It's for anxious people who always fear the garage door is open.

We all know a person who has an anxiety attack when they leave the house for a vacation. The Meross garage door opener remote can be used to maintain peace of mind. It is possible to remotely open or close the garage door opener when you are not at home, thanks to compatibility with Amazon, SmartThings, and the like. At Amazon, the base model is $22. It doesn't work with Apple's HomeKit, but it costs a lot more.

The Meross smart garage door opener remote can be used to open a garage door from anywhere in the world. The base model supports a lot of different things.

Uni USB-C Multiport 7-in-1 Hub

There are all the ports.

A friend is having a hard time in town. The Uniusb-C hub is only $24.99 at Amazon. It's all here, no matter what port or slot they need. You don't lose out on the one you're plugging the hub into if there's aUSB-C port on it. It is a great option for someone that already has a recent M1 Mac laptop, M1 Mac Mini, or even someone intending on getting the upcoming M2 MacBook Air.

Uni has a 7-in-1 hub that supports a variety of devices.

A desktop headphone stand or under-desk headphone mount

What is it about this gift that makes a fan love it?

Even if the headphones are wireless, they take up a lot of space. A headphone stand or mount is a great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time at their desk and wants to keep things neat. When not using their headphones, they can either show them off or keep them hidden. The Neetto dual headphones stand displays two full-size headphones on a desk with a central tray for more organization, and it's only $21.98 at Amazon. If you want to hide away two pairs of headphones, you can use the Anchor Pro hanger on the underside of a desk. Help someone keep their audio gear tidy.

The desk stand is made of aluminum and has a tray for resting a cable.

An under- desk dual headphones hang that uses 3M glue and a strap to hold a cable.

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