The Best Tech Gifts from $5-$50 for Holiday 2022

We’re nearing the end of 2021 and it’s time to start thinking about holiday gifts. Crazy, right? Luckily, we’ve got you covered with some pretty awesome (and affordable) tech finds that will cost you anywhere between $5 and $50.

Update, 10/26/22: Checked content for accuracy, product availability, and dead links. Added link for 5th Generation Echo Dot. Replaced Anker’s PowerCore Metro with Anker Portable Charger.

There are some practical options on this list, like a comfy keyboard, a retro-style microphone, or a power bank that’ll keep devices charged for days. But most of this list includes fun items that people may not normally buy themselves, like an instant camera, a digital picture frame, or a smart, reusable notebook.

You know the person you’re shopping for best, so you’ll know whether they enjoy gifts that satisfy more of a need versus those that are just plain cool. But rest assured, there are plenty of gems on this list for you to choose from.

Want to spend a little more? We’ve got fantastic guides for higher price ranges, like between $50-$100 and between $100-$200.

For Comfortable Listening: TUINYO Headphones

For anyone who listens to music for long periods of time, these TUINYO headphones are a comfy over-ear option. TUINYO’s headphones are easily foldable, have cushy memory-protein foam leather earmuffs, and come in nine other fun colors.

They connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or there’s also a wired option to connect. Wirelessly, the headphones will last for about 14 hours on a single charge and take about two and a half hours to recharge. Or, you can use the headphones with a wired connection for as long as you want. If you’d prefer a gaming headset with a built-in microphone, Corsair’s HS60 Pro headset is an excellent alternative.

For More Portable Listening: Skullcandy Dime Earbuds

If you’re constantly out and about, earbuds are a must-have. They’re perfect for use while commuting, workout out, or staying entertained while you work. Skullcandy’s Dime True Wireless buds are a great option, as they fit comfortably in the ear with a noise-isolating fit, boast tons of other features, and come in a variety of colors.

They are IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant, so you can work out in them without worrying about sweat damage. The charging case has a built-in 150mAh battery that can keep your earbuds charged when not in use. You can get about 12 hours of battery life out of the case before you’ll need to charge it.

If your budget has some wiggle room, you could also spring for these Sesh Evo earbuds from Skullcandy. They have a 24-hour battery life; an IP55 sweat-, water-, and dust-resistant rating; and built-in Tile technology to help you keep track of the earbuds.

Eco-Friendly Planning: Rocketbook Fusion Smart Notebook

If you love to plan, make lists, or bullet journal, this reusable Fusion Smart Notebook from Rocketbook will be a welcome addition to your life. Inside, there are a total of 42 pages with seven total page styles throughout. There’s a calendar page, two weekly planning pages, a ton of empty dot-grid paper and lined paper, and more.

Using Pilot Frixion pens, you can write down what you need to and then wipe it clean with a damp cloth when you’re ready to reuse it. It only takes about 15 seconds for ink to dry after you’ve written in the Rocketbook; then, it stays there unless it comes in contact with any liquid (including sweaty fingers, so be mindful while using it).

If you’ve spent way too many dollars on yearly or weekly planners and countless journals, Rocketbook’s Fusion notebook offers a techy reprieve. In addition to being able to reuse Rocketbook pages, you can also scan them using a QR code on each page and keep track of everything in your cloud storage service of choice.

Make Typing More Comfortable: Logitech MK270

If you spend a lot of time on your keyboard for working, gaming, or anything in between, you’ve probably experienced tired hands or arms before. Getting a good keyboard that’s comfortable to use for long periods of time can make a world of difference for all-day computer users.

Logitech’s MK270 keyboard is wireless up to 32.8-inches away from the connected USB receiver. It features nine function keys and multimedia buttons up top, as well as a numeric keypad on the side. Plus, it comes with a computer mouse! Alternatively, if you prefer a mechanical gaming keyboard better, check out Redragon’s K551 keyboard.

Improve Your Gaming Experience: Razer Viper Mini

Anyone who games on a PC needs a computer mouse that responds quickly and accurately. Enter: the Razer Viper Mini. With an 8500 DPI optical sensor, your cursor will move with speed across the screen. Then, there are six programmable buttons that you can assign customized, complex macro functions to.

It also connects with a wire, so you won’t have to worry about keeping it charged. Plus, it’s super light and small and you can customize the underglow color, choosing from 16.8 million color combinations.

Make Your Home Smarter: Amazon Echo Dot (Third Generation)

If you’re looking for a great tech gift, you can’t go wrong with Amazon’s Echo Dot. There are so many ways a smart speaker can be useful, from playing music to answering random questions to helping follow out routines.

This product is the 3rd generation Echo Dot, released in 2018. So, you can pick it up for cheap. If you want the most current generation (5th), you can get it here. But, it costs quite a bit more than the older model.

If you’re looking for choices outside of Amazon’s product ecosystem, there are other options. For Google lovers, the Nest Mini is an inexpensive speaker with all the smart capabilities of the Echo Dot. Or, if you’re not a fan of virtual assistants in general, go for a plain old Bluetooth speaker, like this awesome choice from Anker.

For Mobile or Switch Gamers: 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Controller

Mobile games are easy to love, but their controls can often be clunky. If you’ve had that thought while gaming on your smartphone, consider getting an 8Bitdo Bluetooth controller. It works with smartphones running Android OS or iOS, as well as with the Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Raspberry Pi.

It has rumble vibration, motion controls, and is extremely customizable. You can modify joystick sensitivity, vibration levels, and the hair-trigger buttons. There’s also button-mapping if you want to customize your experience even further.

For Amateur Photographers: Kodak Printomatic

Modern Polaroid cameras have been all the rage in recent years, and for good reason. There’s just something nostalgic and fun about taking a photo and being able to see it printed immediately. The Kodak Printomatic is a modern instant camera that produces out some pretty dang good pictures.

It has a 5MP camera sensor with a wide-angle f/2 aperture lens that’s able to capture quite a bit of light and produce vibrant pictures you can display on your wall or in a picture frame. Also, this instant camera uses only Kodak Zink Photo Paper to print pictures on, so you won’t need any ink cartridges, toners, or film—just the paper!

For That Discord or Zoom Life: Blue Snowball iCE

If you’re constantly required to be on video calls for work or love to chat with your friends while you game, a good microphone is a necessity. Although not as powerful as Blue Microphone’s Yeti mic, the Snowball iCE mic is half the price and still sounds awesome with a custom condenser capsule inside.

It has a retro-style design that looks great and fits with almost any desk aesthetic. And once it arrives, it’s ready to go as soon as it’s plugged into a computer or laptop. The mic is also adjustable, so it can be moved up or down to match someone’s height and capture the best sound.

Reminisce Every Day: Aluratek Digital Photo Frame

Everyone loves to go down memory lane, from time to time, and this digital picture frame is the perfect way to do that every day. The frame is easy to use, too, so even if you aren’t a technology wizard, you’ll still be able to easily update photos whenever you want.

You can connect a USB flash drive or an SD/SDHC card (up to 32GB) to the frame and it will cycle through all of the available photos. Inside a wooden frame, the 8-inch LCD screen displays photos at 800 x 600 resolution.

For the Selfie Lover: Xenvo Shutterbug

The Xenvo Shutterbug is perfect for anyone who loves documenting their existence via selfies, videos, and other miscellaneous photoshoots. With a massive 30-foot range and the ability to remotely capture both photos and videos, the possibilities are endless!

The remote control is compatible with all iOS and Android smartphones and tablets; it can also pair with your device just as quickly via Bluetooth. There’s even a blue indicator light on the Shutterbug that lets you know when it’s paired and ready to capture a picture.

Exercise On the Go with Your Phone: TRIBE Armband

Is running your main source of exercise? This TRIBE armband makes it a little easier by holding your phone, allowing you to focus on your workout. It fits pretty much any phone, including the latest from Apple, Samsung, and Google.

This armband does so much more than just secure a phone while you run, too. There’s a little pocket for a house key, an anti-tangle headphone cord organizer, and a reflective strip that’ll help you stay safe if you’re out in low-light conditions. The screen cover is also water-resistant, which is great for people who love to work out no matter the weather (or, yeah, who sweat a lot).

Make Any Room Modern: Govee LED Strip Lights

While Govee’s LED Strip Lights may seem like a simple item to include here, but it’s one that can potentially get a lot of use. These bold and colorful strip lights can go in any room in your house or on any piece of furniture and give it a fun and modern look.

The lights can be controlled via Bluetooth over the Govee Home app (Android/iOS). You can turn the lights on and off, change the color, or adjust brightness as long as you’re within 10 feet of them. There’s also a built-in mic that lets you sync the lights to your music so they dance to the beat. It’s a unique choice for living rooms, offices, and home theaters.

Stop Losing Stuff: Tile Mate

We all have that one friend (or maybe you’re the friend) who’s always misplacing their keys or their phone. Attaching a Tile Mate to a key ring ensures that it’ll never be lost again. Once the Tile Mate is on a key ring and activated, that set of keys can easily be found via the Tile app (Android/iOS).

As long as an item has a Tile Mate attached and it’s within 200 feet, you can use the app or ask your smart assistant (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Xfinity) to ring it for you and help you locate it. You’ll never lose your keys or wallet again.

Low Battery No More: Anker Portable Charger

Anker Portable Charger is hardly the most exciting item, but believe us—you’ll be stoked to have it when you’re away from home with just 15% battery left on your smartphone (or any other gadget). This 20,000mAh power bank provides several dozen hours of power and can easily fit in a pocket or a bag without taking up much space.

Four devices can charge simultaneously via the two USB-A and two USB-C ports. Plus, with Anker’s PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology, the Anker Portable Charger will deliver the fastest charge possible for all of your connected devices.