Times are tough, so while a gift that costs $100 or more might sound enticing, not everyone has the budget for that. If you’re looking for something more affordable, say in the $50 or less range that will still bring a smile to their face, we have you covered. All these tech gifts are below that threshold, some less than half as much.
Top Picks (sponsored & Editor’s Choice)
Peeps Eyeglass Lens Cleaner
I’m notorious for not cleaning my glasses and sunglasses as often as I should, frequently resting them on the top of my head or taking them off and plopping them everywhere. I bought this lens cleaner a few years ago and love how easy it is to use. You don’t have to worry about cleaning solution and a soft cloth. Clip it over the lens and move in an up/down and circular motion and it gets rid of smudges. It uses carbon microfibre technology, the same used by NASA, and does a darn good job. Plus, it’s super compact. I keep it in the glasses pocket of my backpack for travel. The only issue? I need to buy a second one for my purse so I can use it when I don’t have my backpack with me. And yes, you can use them on the lenses of smart glasses, too, being careful not to rub it against electronic components.
Buy the Peeps Eyeglass Lens Cleaner for $23.99.
Apple AirTag
For forgetful moms, the new second-gen Apple AirTag is an appreciated gift. She can attach one to her keys, put it in her glasses case, wallet, purse, luggage, or any other items she risks leaving behind somewhere or losing. This new generation version boasts longer range and better precision finding for when she can’t find her keys inside the house, too. The speaker is 50% louder in case the tag is nestled somewhere in the laundry hamper or a jacket she already put away for the season. The battery lasts for more than a year and it’s easily replaceable. She can use the Find My app to locate her item if she left it elsewhere and check battery status.
Buy Apple AirTag for $38.99 or get a four-pack for $109.99 to get them for $27.50 each.
Other Gift Ideas
Moft Magsafe Wallet Phone Stand
I have had this stand on the back of my phone for the last year, and I can’t imagine the phone without it. I use it as a grip while I hold my phone, including handheld with one or two hands for easier typing. It’s also a kickstand, which I use when watching videos on a plane, using my phone as a calculator while doing monthly bookkeeping, or as I scroll social media while having breakfast on weekend mornings. The slot inside is tight and will only fit a single card, but it’s good for a driver’s license if I’m headed somewhere without a wallet or a hotel room key. You could even hide a couple $20 bills in there as emergency cash. While it has started to fray about around the edges now, a year into 24/7 wear and travel, I still never take it off my phone.
Buy the Moft Magsafe Wallet Phone Stand for $33.99.
Funny Belly Fanny Pack
Yes, you will have to pay about $30 when all is said and done with import fees if you need to get it to Canada. But that’s still not a bad price for a fanny pack. You should order sooner rather than later if you want to make absolute sure that it arrives in time. If you have seen some of the viral videos with this fanny pack and know a dad who would get a kick out of making his own, go for it. The adjustable fanny pack has the image of a fake belly on the front, complete with oversized belly button and an abundance of hair. It’s a total gag gift and ones that grandpa or your prankster dad will love showing off to his buddies. The conversation starter will instantly lighten the mood at the next family barbecue.
Buy the Funny Bell Fanny Pack for $14.99.
SPRI Exercise Dice
I love the idea of this six-sided dice, perfect when you need inspiration to workout but don’t know what to do. It’s also great for group fitness glasses, maybe while working out with your girlfriends on the beach during vacation. Each side of the first die has the name of a specific exercise, the second die shows number of reps or duration of time. Of course, there’s a wild card option that can be dealer’s choice. (Please, don’t make it burpees!)
Buy the SPRI Exercise Dice for $12.22, down 25% from the regular price of $16.26.
Sandisk Pokémon USB-C Flash Drive
Flash drives always come in handy, a quick and easy way to transfer files or as a temporary back-up. This one is adorned with imagery of the adorable Pokémon Mew. The 128GB capacity is more than enough to hold tons of text-based files, even photos, videos, and other content they want to store for safe-keeping for a short period of time.
Buy the Sandisk Pokémon USB-C Flash Drive for $44.99.
Rocketbook Flex Planner
I’ve been using the Rocketbook Pro for years to take notes and jot down ideas and haven’t touched the pile of lined paper notebooks I have gathering dust in my home office since. The Rocketbook Flex Planner is more affordable and includes reusable pages like that one, but it’s designed to function as a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual planner. It has flexible templates and works alongside the Rocketbook app to write, digitize, organize, and wipe clean to restart once done. Smart Title Bars & Tags provide seamless organization within the Rocketbook app. There are seven Daily Dashboard Pages that include sections for goals, tasks, priorities, events, and notes and two Weekly Planner Templates with a block for each day, plus notes. It has seven Lined Pages and four Dot Grid Pages. Read my review of the Rocketbook Pro.
Buy the Rocketbook Flex Planner for $39.04.
Everlast Workout Fitness Gloves
I don’t ever do strength training without gloves since they provide much better grip strength. These are simple, affordable, and suitable for both women and men. The fingerless gloves have a padded palm and are made from breathable fabric. They are easy to put on and take off. I love the loops to pull them off from the tips: with the ones I have, I end up flipping them inside out to get them off. They’re great for using at ropes courses, too, if you’re going with the kids and want to avoid tearing up your palms.
Buy the Everlast Workout Fitness Gloves for $14.
Venssu Retro Gaming Console Deck Box
For anyone who collects cards, whether it’s Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, or baseball, these retro-styled deck boxes make organizing them neat and tidy. Available in different colours and styles, they resemble classic gaming controllers with a replica screen on the front. The cover has a strong magnet to secure it in place, and the boxes are made of PU leather with two dividers inside. Each can hold 210 sleeveless cards, 120 cards with single sleeves, 100 with double sleeves, or double-sleeved cards and a dice box. Get one every year to add to the collection, and they can display them on shelves while keeping their precious cards protected.
Buy the Venssu Retro Gaming Console Deck Box for $25.99.
iClever BTH18 Kids Wireless Headphones
Kids headphones are not only smaller to fit a child’s head and come in cute kid-friendly colours and designs, the best ones also have volume limiting technology to ensure they listen at safe levels. This wireless pair has LED lights and a mic for calls. They can run for up to 43 hours per charge and offer a wired back-up mode as well. Choose from tons of fun colours and designs to suit your child’s personality or favourite.
Buy the iClever BTH18 Kids Wireless Headphones for $29.99, down from the regular price of $33.99.
BodyHush Mini Portable White Noise Machine
If you know someone who has trouble falling asleep, a white noise machine might help. This one is adorable and small, perfect for the nightstand. It comes loaded with 30 soothing sounds and 32 volume levels. It’s rechargeable, too, so you don’t have to worry about replaceable batteries. It runs for up to 22 hours per charge and you can set it on a 30-, 60-, or 90-minute timer. Plus, it’s small enough to bring with you when you travel if you have a tough time sleeping in hotel rooms.
Buy the BodyHush Mini Portable White Noise Machine for $27.99.
Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush for Kids
The Philips Sonicare for Kids electric toothbrush promotes good dental hygiene among kids and makes brushing fun. It’s Bluetooth enabled and interacts with a fun app to help kids learn proper brushing technique. The app includes animations and rewards that they’ll look forward to as part of their morning and nightly routines. My son used one when he was younger and he loved being able to get “screen time” while brushing, and following the cute, animated character as it coached him on how to get all those nasty sugar bugs. The brush itself has a cute design, too.
Buy the Philips Sonicare for Kids for $46.97, down from its regular price of $49.96.
Kindle Click
For an avid book reader who already has their favourite Kindle, consider this new accessory. It’s a compact Bluetooth remote for page turning. Compatible with any Kindle model from 2024 or later, it sounds like a useless gadget. But if they are lying on their side in bed, immersed in a latest novel, or lying back on the couch with the cup of cocoa in one hand, the eReader propped on a stand, it will come in handy.
Buy the Kindle Click for $47.99.
Windowsill Planter Box
Once the nice weather ends, you’ll have to revert to buying herbs from the store. These self-watering windowsill pots are perfect for growing essentials, like basil, rosemary, and thyme, inside the house. They each measure 10.5 inches and can be used for decorative succulents as well. See the water level from the front window and add as needed. Once summer arrives, move them to the porch or, if for an apartment, on the balcony. I could totally see my mom adding these to her balcony.
Buy a set of three Windowsill Planter Boxes for $32.99.
The Odyssey Colouring Book
Looking for a screen-free activity to de-stress? This colouring book has 45 images of Odysseus and his adventures so you can sit back, relax, and colour with pencil crayon in one hand, a glass of wine in the other. Along with artwork is a caption that tells the story of each image so you can learn about Odysseus’ voyage from Troy to return to his wife Penelope on the island of Ithaca, too.
Buy The Odyssey Colouring Book for $20.55 with coupon.
Brother P-touch PT-N10 Personal Handheld Label Maker
The Brother P-touch PT-N10 Personal Handheld Label Maker is perfect for A-types who love organizing and labeling items at home, as well as work-from-homers with their own businesses. It has a QWERTY keyboard for easily typing out labels like “paprika” and “turmeric” or “2026 financials” and “receipts.” It works with Brother Btag 12mm label tapes, which come in 17 colours for colour coding. It also saves up to 10 labels for recurring ones that require re-printing, like name tags for the kids’ belongings or annual file folders, like banking, phone bills, and client invoices.
Buy the Brother P-touch PT-N10 personal handheld label maker for $21.99.
Anker Zolo Power Bank
Everyone should have a power bank in their bag if they’re going to be away from home for any length of time, and especially while traveling. This one has a built-in USB-C cable, offers 30W power, and the 10,000mAh capacity should provide at least one full charge of a phone, likely more. Plus, it’s not too expensive and it comes from one of the best brands in the business.
Buy the Anker Zolo Power Bank for $45.99.
Tribit FlyBuds C3 Wireless Earbuds
Looking for a cheap pair of back-up wireless earbuds? These are ultra-lightweight, IP55 dust and water resistant, boast hybrid ANC, six-mic AI clear calls, and a 35-hour battery life, 25 hours with ANC on. There are even customizable EQ settings to adjust based on your music preference, whether that’s pop or hip hop, jazz or country, or podcasts. They’re secure enough even to wear while they work out.
Buy the Tribit FlyBuds C3 for $47.99.
Set Sail: The Art and Making of One Piece
If you know someone who loves this manga, this book is a thoughtful gift that will let them dive deeper into the popular Netflix live action series based on it. The deluxe hardcover art book explores the making of the first two seasons, complete with concept art and on-set photography. There are also exclusive interviews and commentary, immersing them in the sets, costumes, prosthetics, hair and make-up, stunts, and more.
Buy Set Sail: The Art and Making of One Piece for $49.37 with coupon.
HP 400 Quiet Wireless Mouse
This compact mouse is the perfect addition to a home office set-up or for a student. It comes in a range of colours, like purple, black, and blue, and is made from soft silicone material. The computer peripheral is ambidextrous so lefties (like me!) can enjoy it comfortably, too. It runs for up to 24 months per charge and, as the name implies, offer quiet clicks. Get vertical and horizontal scrolling, access to the Microsoft Wheel, and settings for shortcuts via the centre button. It connects via Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle.
Buy the HP 400 Quiet wireless mouse on sale for $29.99.
Scosche WatchIt Keychain Charger
What a convenient idea! This accessory is a keychain-sized magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch. It doesn’t require cables at all but rather plugs directly into any USB-C port to recharge your smartwatch on the go. This means you can recharge your Watch from your laptop, iPhone, or even a USB-C port in the car if you forgot the cable. As someone who gets annoyed when I leave the house and notice my Apple Watch is dead, this one will be a hot seller this season. It’s slightly over the price limit, but you might snag it on sale.
Buy the Scosche WatchIt keychain charger for $53.18.
Tribit StormBox Mini Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The tiny Tribit StormBox Mini Plus delivers clear stereo sound in a rugged, travel sized format. It measures just 119 x 91 x 91mm and weighs under 545g, making it easy to pop into a bag or backpack, even a pocket or cupholder. It delivers 360° surround sound, and you can use the Tribit app to access customizable EQ profiles. Built-in multicolour lights pulse and fade in rhythm with the music. It can run for up to 12 hours per charge at 50% volume with the lights off. The rugged and waterproof IPX7 housing can withstand immersion in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes. The tough exterior also resists knocks and drops. Along with music, you can also use it as a wireless speakerphone.
Buy the Tribit StormBox Mini Plus for $35.99.
JLab Pop Party Speaker
The tiny JLab Pop party speaker provides powerful sound and lights and you can take it anywhere thanks to the IPX5 water-resistant rating. It has a two-inch full range driver and two-inch passive radiator with vibrant RGB lighting that syncs with the music, controllable and customizable from the JLab app. It boasts an and flexible mounting options, including a detachable loop handle, and comes in Black, Navy, and Mulberry.
Buy the JLab Pop Party speaker for $39.98.
Beats Cables
You can never have too many cables and they make fantastic stocking stuffers. The Beats woven USB-C-to-USB-C cable is a step-up from cheaper cables that come with devices. The tangle-free woven design offers better durability and prevents fraying. It works with USB-C Apple and Android devices and is built for charging, syncing, audio, CarPlay, and transferring data. It charges USB-C compatible Beats headphones and speakers while listening to audio or streaming lossless audio. When used with compatible hardware, it supports fast charging up to 60 watts and can transfer data at USB 2.0 rates. At a 1.5-metre length, it’s perfect for hotel rooms or wrapping around the back of your night table or office desk.
Buy a Beats USB-C-to-USB Cable for $20.95 with coupon.
Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable
With the Satechi OntheGo USB-C lanyard cable, you can keep your phone nearby for tasks like checking maps, capturing photos, and answering messages. With up to 60W power output and 480Mbps transfer speeds, it functions as both a stylish crossbody lanyard and a high-performance USB-C to USB-C cable. Crafted with a soft braided cable and an adjustable 1.5-metre length, the lanyard is compatible with most closed-bottom phone cases. A durable aluminum cap protects the USB-C plugs when not in use, while the carabiner attachment secures the universal connector, keeping the phone in place. It comes in Black, Sand, and Desert Rose.
Buy the Satechi OntheGo USB-C lanyard cable for $44.99.
Whoosh! Screen Shine Duo Cleaner Kit
A great stocking stuffer for kids, co-workers, or friends, this set includes a 100mL spray bottle and a smaller 8mL one that’s perfect for popping into your carry-on for travel or keeping with your glasses case. I tried out a set to gently wipe everything from my laptop to my phone to remove dirt, debris, fingerprints, and gunk, and it works well. It’s a non-toxic formula that is free from ammonia and alcohol while the included two microfibre clothes are soft and non-abrasive. You can even use it on items like appliances. It’s worth noting that the company is making every bottle recyclable going forward, while wipes will be made biodegradable.
Buy the Whoosh! Screen Shine duo cleaner kit for $19.99.
Lego Durrr Burger
The Lego Durrr Burger is a colourful brick recreation of the iconic restaurant mascot found in Fortnite. This 193-piece set is suitable for builders aged 9+ and includes details like the eyes and tongue, plus the olive on a toothpick. For a kid who loves Fortnite, even an adult, it’s a nice stocking stuffer. My 14-year-old enjoyed putting this one together last year, getting it done in just a few hours.
Buy the Lego Fortnite Durrr Burger for $33.13.
32-bit Handheld Game Console
A great way to compromise on no screen time, hand the kids this low-tech handheld gaming console that lets them game without the same addictive qualities as today’s connected titles. You might like keeping it in your bag, too, for de-stressing on a plane or while waiting at the doctor’s office. It resembles a Game Boy (remember those?) and comes loaded with 139 games, including casual, puzzle, and sports titles. It does not require internet and the graphics are basic on the 3-inch screen. But it will take you back and satiate a child’s desire for gaming during a long road trip without keeping them glued to a tablet or phone.
Buy the 32-bit Handheld Game Console for $45.98, down 6% from its regular price of $48.98.