Featured in this article
Portable SoundTribit StormBox 2Read more$80 $66 (18% off)
Amazon
Light It UpGovee Neon Rope Light Strip 2Read more$70Amazon
A Smart SpeakerAmazon Echo Dot MaxRead more$120Amazon
Power UpNimble Champ Portable ChargerRead more$60Shop
Gift shopping on a budget is stressful. Prices sometimes soar around the holidays, making it tough to find genuine bargains. To help, we spent countless hours testing all manner of gizmos and gadgets to bring you expert advice on what is worth buying. These gifts are sure to bring a smile to your loved ones’ faces without breaking the bank too badly, though we know $100 isn't exactly cheap, either.
For more ideas, the WIRED 101 is full of things (sometimes expensive) that are sure to impress. If you don't mind spending more, check out our Best Tech Gifts guide, and if money is tight, we've also made a list of the Best Gifts Under $25. For giftees with a particular passion, you can find tailored options, like gifts for audiophiles, coffee fans, book lovers, and more.
Updated November 2025: We've added several new gadgets.
Portable Sound
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Tribit
StormBox 2
$80 $66 (18% off)Amazon
$80Tribit
Despite the affordable price, the Tribit StormBox 2 sounds great, with dual-firing drivers and passive radiators. It comes in a 7-inch-long pill shape and can output up to 30 watts, with a bass boost button for that extra oomph. Battery life is up to 24 hours, and it supports stereo pairing if you have more than one.
This gadget appears in our Best Bluetooth Speakers guide.
Light It Up
Courtesy of GoveeSave to wishlistSave to wishlistGovee
Neon Rope Light Strip 2
$70Amazon
Most light strips are designed to be tucked away in recesses, but this Govee strip has a diffuser, so you can stick it anywhere you want and it still looks great. The adhesive-backed metal brackets make for easy installation. The Govee app allows you to schedule, cycle through colors, play animations, and even create your own scenes. Some transitions are blocky, and the app can be confusing, but this is a great way to introduce your recipient to smart lights.
This is our favorite diffused light strip from our Best Smart Lighting guide.
A Smart Speaker
Photograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAmazon
Echo Dot Max
$120Amazon
This cute ball of sound is the latest Alexa speaker from Amazon. You get rich, powerful sound from the Echo Dot Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends), a nice sloped design that makes it easy to see and press the buttons, and it also brings access to Alexa+, Amazon's souped-up version of its voice assistant. While Alexa+ offers a more natural conversation experience, the caveat is that it requires a subscription once Early Access mode ends. It'll cost $20 per month, though if your giftee has Amazon Prime, they won't have to subscribe.
Power Up
-Portable-Charger-Reviewer-Photo-(no-border)-SOURCE-Simon-Hill.jpg)
Photograph: Simon HillSave to wishlistSave to wishlistNimble
Champ Portable Charger
$60Shop
$60Amazon
Sling a good portable charger in your bag, and you will never be stranded with a dead phone again. Our favorite is Nimble's Champ, which is compact, light, and packs a 5,000- to 20,000-mAh capacity, capable of recharging most phones and laptops at least once, fully at its smallest size. It comes in snazzy speckled colors with a handy lanyard strap and a small USB-C cable. We are also big fans of Nimble’s environmental efforts (using bioplastics and plastic-free packaging).
This power bank is the top pick in our Best Portable Chargers guide.
Desk Tidy
Courtesy of OakywoodSave to wishlistSave to wishlistOakywood
Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger
$109Shop
$98Amazon
We love multifunctional gadgets like this headphone stand from Oakywood, which offers a place to hang your cans and a spot to wirelessly charge your phone. The angular base in solid walnut or oak is super stylish, and the steel stand keeps your headphones neatly out of the way.
This headphone stand appears in our Best Wireless Chargers guide.
Game On
Courtesy of 8BitDoSave to wishlistSave to wishlist8Bitdo
Pro 2
$50Amazon
$50Walmart
Comfy to hold for long gaming sessions, with a subtle texture that adds grip, this mobile controller combines sensitive analog sticks with clicky buttons and an excellent D-pad. It can connect via Bluetooth or USB-C cable for gaming on a Nintendo Switch 2, MacBook, Windows PC, Android phone, or iPhone. Battery life is 20 hours, it has programmable buttons on the back, and it’s easy to remap.
This is a top pick in our Best Mobile Controllers guide.
Smarter Home
Courtesy of EveSave to wishlistSave to wishlistEve
Motion Sensor
$55 $37 (33% off)Amazon
$50Apple
For folks looking to make their home a little smarter, a motion sensor can prove very handy indeed. This one from Eve reliably tracks room occupancy and light levels, works with Matter for easy compatibility, and makes it very easy to automate things like smart lights and smart shades.
Forty Winks
Courtesy of HatchSave to wishlistSave to wishlistHatch
Rest (2nd Generation)
$70Amazon
$150 $130 (13% off)Amazon (Rest+)
This combination sound machine and night-light is also a dimmable bedside clock. You can customize colors, adjust the volume, and play content from the sound library in the app, but you can also just tap the top to cycle through options (there is a child lock if you need it). The optional $50 annual Hatch membership adds bedtime stories, lullabies, and meditations.
This gadget appears in our Best Sound Machines and Best Night-Light guides.
Wireless Keyboard
Photograph: Henri RobbinsSave to wishlistSave to wishlistKeychron
B2 Pro
$40 $34 (15% off)Shop
$40Amazon
One of the best scissor-switch keyboards available, the Keychron B2 Pro offers a comfortable and quiet typing experience, is fully customizable (you can use Keychron’s Launcher software to remap keys and set up macros), and it looks pretty stylish.
You’ll also find this deck in our Best Keyboards guide.
Gaming Mouse
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
SteelSeries
Rival 3 Gen 2
$35Amazon (Wired)
$60 $50 (17% off)Amazon (Wireless)
You don’t have to spend big to snag a great gaming mouse, and the Steelseries Rival 3 proves it. This mouse is lightweight, responsive, and has a lovely rubbery scroll wheel and a couple of handy side buttons. It’s everything most people need without the unnecessary frills.
This is the budget pick in our Best Gaming Mice guide.
Excellent Earbuds
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Soundpeats
Capsule3 Pro+
$130 $90 (31% off)Soundpeats
A perfect review score is rare, but the Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro+ (10/10, WIRED Recommends) are a little bit special. They deliver epic sound from a combination of dynamic and xMEMS drivers, boast good microphones, offer solid noise canceling, and have easy-to-use touch controls.
These earbuds are the top pick in our Best Headphones Under $100 guide.
Coffee to Go
- Courtesy of Hydro Flask
- Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
Hydro Flask
Coffee with Flex Sip Lid
$33 $28 (15% off)Amazon (16-ounce)
$33 $22 (33% off)Hydro Flask (16-ounce)
With a practically indestructible powder coating, this travel mug is ideal for folks seeking a low-maintenance mug that doesn't need careful handling. It also has a pebbled texture that adds grip, and it holds plenty of coffee.
This is the top pick in our Best Travel Mugs guide.
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Boutayna-Chokrane.png)
Waffle House
Courtesy of Best BuySave to wishlistSave to wishlistCuisinart
4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker
$75Amazon
Solidly made, with a sleek stainless lid surrounded by sturdy plastic, this Cuisinart waffle maker (7/10, WIRED Recommends) can feed a family of four. It weighs about 10 pounds, so storing it under the counter is recommended. There are five settings to get the shade of waffle you prefer, and it is mercifully tough to burn them with this gadget.
This waffle maker appears in our Buy It for Life guide.
TV Time
Photograph: Parker HallSave to wishlistSave to wishlistRoku
Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
$48Amazon
$60 $34 (43% off)Walmart
This clever stick plugs right into an HDMI port on your TV and comes with a hands-free remote, so you can use voice commands to pick movies and shows. Roku’s interface is responsive, easy to navigate, and acts as a gateway to every streaming service under the sun.
This is the top pick in our Best Streaming Devices guide.
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Simon Hill is a senior writer for WIRED and has been testing and writing about technology for around 20 years. You can find his previous work at Business Insider, Reviewed, TechRadar, Android Authority, USA Today, Digital Trends, and many other places. He loves all things tech, but especially smartphones and ... Read MoreSenior writer and reviewerTopicsShoppingbuying guidesgift guidestechnologygadgetsgiftsholidaysAccessories and PeripheralsThe Clock Is Ticking on These Prime Day Deals—All Under $100These are all products we've tested and loved, and they're all on sale until Prime Day ends for under $100.Simon HillThe 30 Best Amazon Prime Day Deals Under $50Everything is expensive. Treat yourself to one of these WIRED-approved Prime Day picks under $50.Molly HigginsTop HP Coupon Codes and Deals October 2026Save up to 60%, plus an extra 20% with HP promo codes for laptops, printers, PCs, and more tech.Luke LarsenTop Samsung Promo Codes: 20% Off in October 2026Save 30% or 10% with Samsung coupon codes, up to $1,000 on appliances, plus limited-time deals on the Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7, and S25.Molly HigginsMaytag Promo Codes: 15% OffUpgrade your home for less with these verified Maytag discount codes, military savings, and limited-time closeout offers on washers, dryers, and more.Matthew KorfhageThe Best Prime Day Deals on Phone Accessories Won't Last After TonightJust bought a new phone or looking to enhance an existing one? Prime Day is the time to save on accessories like batteries, chargers, and more.Les ShuExclusive Blue Apron Promo Code: $25 OffBrowse chef-curated meal plans, plus get $25 off with an exclusive Blue Apron coupon code, plus 50% off your first 2 orders, and more top coupons on WIRED.Louryn StrampeThe 28 Best Prime Day Tech Deals Will Expire TonightNever pay full price. Bag yourself some Prime Day tech deals on our favorite WIRED-tested gadgets before they disappear.Simon HillWhat WIRED’s Frequent Fliers Are GiftingTravel smarter with gifts packed by WIRED’s globe-trotting staffers.Boutayna Chokrane The 38 Best Last-Minute Prime Day Deals That Are Still LivePrime Day might be over, but the discounts are still going. We’ve tracked down the best last minute Prime Day deals on all the gear our team recommends.Louryn StrampeAltra Running Promo Codes and Deals October 2026Score big savings on Altra Running shoes with up to 50% off sale styles, 20% off select models, 10% off your first order when you sign up, plus free standard delivery on every purchase.Boutayna Chokrane Top Litter-Robot Promo Codes: $150 Off Bundles, $50 Off the Starter Bundle, and MoreGet the latest Litter-Robot Discounts on Litter-Robot self-cleaning litter boxes, accessories, and more.Molly Higgins
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