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The holiday season is ahead of us, and many of you will be looking for gifts for your loved ones. As we do every year, we’re here to help. We’re publishing a range of articles with gift suggestions in various categories. In this particular article, you’ll find some of the best gifts under $50, which is the lowest price point we’re assembling. A gift doesn’t have to cost a lot in order to be great, of course, which is why we did our best to pull out some interesting ones for you here. We’ll focus on 5 products below, but you’ll also spot some honorable mentions towards the end of the article. All of the products listed here are available on Amazon, by the way.
Best budget keyboard: Logitech K380
Classy typing on a budget
Pretty much everyone needs a good keyboard, and such a product does not need to cost a lot. The Logitech K380 is a very good example of a good keyboard that won’t break the bank. It has been on the market for quite some time, and it has great reviews for a good reason. It doesn’t cost a ton of money, and yet it offers good build quality, and features that will be enough for most people.
First and foremost, this is a Bluetooth keyboard. It does not come with a Wi-Fi dongle some of Logitech’s more expensive offerings include. Bluetooth 3.0 is included, which is not the latest offering, not at all, but it’s more than enough here. The main attraction of this keyboard, for many people, will be its easy-switch option. The Logitech K380 can be paired with three devices at the same time, basically. You can easily switch between them via the easy-switch buttons on the keyboard (top-left corner). That way you can use it with your computer, smartphone, and tablet at the same time, or whichever other devices you wish.
This keyboard is also rather compact. It does not have a numpad on the right side. Many people these days prefer smaller keyboards, as you can place them in your backpack without a problem, and carry them around with you. This is a great example of such a product. The back side of the keyboard is also raised for a more comfortable typing position. You’ll also notice that the Logitech K380 features round buttons, which is kind of unusual. It’s easy to get used to, however, and the keys seem to have a decent amount of travel. This is not a mechanical keyboard, though, so keep that in mind.
It is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Android, iPhone, Apple TV… and various other gadgets. It is made out of plastic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it helps it remain rather light. You’ll also get great battery life here, up to 2 years of battery life with two AAA batteries. This keyboard costs $22.99, on Amazon.
Best magnetic cables: VOLTA 2.0 USB Charging Cable
Skip the step of plugging in your devices, use magnets instead
Cables that come included with the vast majority of smartphones are rather bad. Companies tend to use cheap plastic to make them, and for many people that ends up being a problem down the road. That’s why I always recommend braided cable to people. Well, the product we’ll now talk about includes a braided cable, but that’s only a part of the picture. The product in question is called ‘VOLTA 2.0’, and it’s the second edition of the company’s ‘VOLTA’ cables.
This particular cable is 6.4ft (195cm) long, though there’s also a version that is 3.2ft (98cm) long. Is it just your regular braided cable? No, not at all. The VOLTA 2.0 cable comes with a magnetic tip. That may sound confusing to some of you, so let me explain. It basically consists out of two parts. The tip is separated from the cable head, and is meant to be plugged into one device at all times. You plug it in, and forget it’s there. Then whenever you need to charge your device, the cable head magnetizes to that tip, which is already in your phone. Therefore you basically get magnetic charging, close to what you’d get with MagSafe, but usually faster.
Speaking of speed, this cable supports fast charging. It supports a Quick Charge 3.0 standard, and USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. In other words, it can transfer data at 480 megabits per second. In this pack, you do get one cable, but you do get three different tips. USB Type-C, micro USB, and a Lightning adapter are included. So, you can technically plug them into three different devices, if you have them lying around the house. The VOLTA 2.0 cable comes in a black color only. This pack will set you back $20.95, should you choose to buy it.
VOLTA 2.0 charging cable (Amazon)
Best magnetic cable management: Anker Cable Management
Magnets can bring order to messy cables
If you’re anything like me, messy workspace really annoys you. Cables are usually a rather major part of the problem, as we have plenty of devices to keep charged and powered up nowadays. There are, of course, ways we can minimize the problem. When it comes to cables, specifically, cable ties are a piece of the puzzle. That’s just one example. You can also invest in a cable management system, such as the one Anker offers. That’s what we’ll talk about here, Anker’s magnetic cable management system.
Magnets have managed to become quite popular in the tech community over the years. They are useful for a number of things, and keeping cable in their place is one of them. Anker’s cable management system consists of a magnetic cable holder, and 5 cord keepers, in which you place your cables. The cable holder itself can stick to basically any table, regardless of whether it’s made out of wood, marble, metal, or glass. Once you need a cable, you simply grab it from the cable holder, and when you’re done, it magnetizes back to its spot.
That way you not only have all your cables in one place, but it’s always in the same spot. You can simply point the cord towards the end of your desk or something, and that’s it. Just leave enough leeway to be able to pull it when you need it. This is great for charging smartphones, keyboards, mice, and various other accessories at your work desk. If that’s not your thing, this can also be mounted on nightstands, or wherever else you want, basically. What we’ve linked below is a two-pack of the Anker Cable Management system. You’ll get two of these cable holders with 5 clips included in each of them, so you have space for 10 cables in total. All that will $19.99. Needless to say, this can be a great gift for someone who has trouble with cable management.
Anker Cable Management (Amazon)
Best techie accessory pack: KableCARD
This tiny accessory is a great gift for any techie
KableCARD is an accessory I personally own, and it’s one of my favorite accessories. Why? Well, it’s very minimal and compact, and offers a lot of utility despite that. If I can get a great product in a small package, I’m all for it. This accessory is great for everyone who keeps losing their SIM cards, SIM ejector tools, and even cables and dongles. Why? Well, because it keeps all that in one place, basically… and all that in a card-shaped box that is immensely thin, and can fit in any pocket.
KableCARD is a case made out of plastic, that is as thick as a couple of credit cards put together. It has a clasp on one end, and when you open it, you’ll notice a bunch of accessories inside. You’ll find a Type-C to Type-C cable on the inside. That cable goes around the case, and it’s not particularly long, but it’ll do the trick in a pinch. There are also two additional connectors included here, which transform a Type-C plug into a micro USB one, and a Lightning port too. On top of that, a SIM ejector tool is included, as is a dongle with a male USB-A port, into which you can plug in that Type-C cable.
That is not all, though. You will notice two slots for nano SIM cards here, and on the side, there’s also a slot for a microSD card. Is that all? Nope. There is also an LED light included in the middle of the case. As if all that wasn’t enough, you can also use this case as a stand. On the outside of the case, there’s a small lip that you can pry open, and place the stand on the table, to turn it into a smartphone stand. As you can see, such a small accessory offers a ton of usability. This entire package costs $36, and can be a great gift for someone.
Best wallet-stand hybrid: MOFT MagSafe Wallet Stand
MOFT’s wallet stand is a stand, a wallet & a grip factor
Apple’s MagSafe tech has managed to appeal to a lot of people over the years. It’s a really neat way of adding accessories to the back of the phone, or automatically aligning it with a wireless charging pad or something of the sort. The Qi2 charging tech will basically bring the same thing to Android devices soon, and you can even find some Android cases that enable MagSafe already. If not, Spigen’s magnetic ring can be added to basically any device to enable MagSafe. Do note that the device needs to support wireless charging in order for wireless charging to work. If you’re looking to add it just to magnetize wallets or something else on your phone, wireless charging is not a requirement, of course.
All that being said, we’re here to talk about a wallet of sorts, well, a wallet and stand all in one. The product in question is called the MOFT MagSafe Wallet Stand, and it requires MagSafe magnets in order to be useful. This case magnetizes to the back of the device, and has some storage built in. This case can hold three cards in it, or you can use it to store cash or something else really thin. That’s not all, though, as the case opens up to create a kickstand of sorts. That kickstand can also be used as a hand grip of sorts. If you Once it’s opened, even if it slides out of your hand, chances are it’ll remain hanging on your fingers, and thus you won’t drop the phone.
The built-in kickstand can prop up the phone in both portrait and landscape mode, whichever you need. The MOFT MagSafe Wallet Stand is made out of vegan leather, so it’s nice to hold as well, and not as slippery. This case will set you back $34.99 should you choose to buy it. It comes in a ton of different colors, 16 in total.
MOFT MagSafe Wallet Stand (Amazon)
Honorable mentions
Here are a couple of more products in this price bracket that you may like…
Spigen ArcField wireless charging stand
Many of you, and/or your loved ones, probably own iPhones, and at the same time AirPods. Well, if that’s the case, the Spigen ArcField is a great accessory to pass on as a gift. This thing is made for iPhones, and it can charge both an iPhone and AirPods at the same time. The iPhone magnetizes to the upper portion of the stand, in either portrait or landscape mode. The AirPods, on the other hand, you can place on the stand below. This does require a charging brick, though, which is not included, so keep that in mind. The Spigen ArcField is priced at $49.99.
Spigen ArcField wireless charging stand (Amazon)
UGREEN RG 65W robot charger
The UGREEN RG 65W is one of the cutest chargers we’ve seen. This charger looks like a cute little robot, and it actually provides plenty of power. This is a 65W GaN charger, and it has three charging ports included on it (at the top). Just to be perfectly clear, this is not a power bank, you’ll need to plug it into an outlet. Think of it as a proper charger for your devices, as its feet basically get removed to uncover charging pins for an AC outlet. Yes, you can charge three devices at once using this charger, though the maximum output is 65W. This charger will set you back $49.99.
UGREEN RG 65W robot charger (Amazon)
Roku Express
The Roku Express is a very popular streaming device. It’s extremely affordable, which is a major part of its appeal. This streaming box costs only $29. On top of that, it is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. This thing can stream HD content with ease. It will get you access to free, live, and premium TV channels, and a nice little remote is included in the package as well. Once you install the Roku mobile app, you’ll get even more features to use, such as listening to your TV via wired or wireless headphones. Needless to say, it’s a neat gift at only $29.