29 best gifts under $50 — our top picks for 2023

Amazon Echo Show 5 with Sengled smart bulb, JLab JBuds Mini, Anker Nano Battery Pack and RiotPWR Gamepad Controller
(Image credit: Amazon, JLab, Anker, RiotPWR)

Searching for the hottest gifts of the season that won't break the bank? We've got your back. Our test team works throughout the year to evaluate all of the latest products from smart home gadgets and gaming gear to headphones and kitchen appliances. We've found that the $50 mark is the sweet spot where products are nearly as durable and feature-packed as the most premium options in their categories.

Be it a portable blender or the hottest new video game, we have something for everyone. With deals in full swing and the clock counting down to get your gifts on time for the holidays, now is the perfect time to start your shopping. We've hand-picked what we deem the best gifts under $50. And to make things easy for you, we've separated them all by category below. Also be sure to check out our best tech gifts list for 2023. 

Mobile and Tech Accessories

JLab JBuds Mini

JLab JBuds Mini
For just $39 the JBuds Mini wireless earbuds deliver strong performance, and the super-compact design will be attractive to anyone with small ears. Advanced features like Multipoint Bluetooth connections and an ambient listening mode round out this solid pair of budget buds. Read our full JLab JBuds Mini review to learn more.

SOOPII 100W USB C to USB C Cable with LED Display

SOOPII 100W USB C to USB C Cable with LED Display
This 6-foot-long braided USB-C wire supports fast charging at up to 100W. Pair it with a fast charger and you can power up your phone or laptop's battery life from completely dead to 50 percent in less than 30 minutes. Its built-in display measures wattage to ensure that your device is charging at the fastest speeds possible.

Apple AirTag

Apple AirTag
The Apple AirTag is an excellent key finder that is extremely easy to set up and does a great job of locating your valuables. In other words, it's the perfect gift for the person who's always misplacing their keys or wallet. 

Anker Nano Battery Pack

Anker Nano Battery Pack
This 10,000mAh portable charger from Anker has a built-in USB-C cable, making it the perfect accessory for most smartphones and tablets. We like this battery pack accessory because of its battery status display.

Sony SRS-XB100

Sony SRS-XB100
One of the best Bluetooth speakers in terms of portability is the Sony SRS-XB100, making it a great gift. It's a particularly good shower speaker, though it's the right size for a golf bag speaker as well.

Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone Case

Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone Case
A brand-new clear iPhone case is a foolproof gift, but you'll want to be sure to get one with anti-yellowing properties like the Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone Case, our favorite overall iPhone 15 case.

Smart Home

Kasa Smart Plug Mini

Kasa Smart Plug Mini

The Kasa Smart Plug Mini is one of the best smart plugs for its compact size and ability to sync up with all major smart home ecosystems. Its fantastic Tapo app lets you remotely power on or off connected devices and schedule what times they operate. It also has an Away Mode to turn things on or off to make it seem like someone is home to deter trespassers. 

Amazon Echo Show 5

Amazon Echo Show 5
This compact smart display plays video and lets you easily interact with smart home devices. It comes in about the size of an alarm clock and fits into all kinds of spaces from your kitchen to your bedroom nightstand. Plus, the Echo Show 5 serves as a digital photo frame when it's not in use. You can get it with a free smart color-changing light bulb for just $39.

Govee WiFi Water Sensors

Govee WiFi Water Sensors
Monitor your smart home for leaks with these internet-connected sensors. If a drip or flowing water is detected this gadget will send a real-time notification to your smartphone identifying which room triggered the alert. This gives you time to act quickly or head back home to minimize damage.

Suitcase AirPods Pro 2 Case Cover

Suitcase AirPods Pro 2 Case Cover
Tech accessories make for some of the best gifts under $25, giving a little facelift to your friend's existing devices. We adore this AirPods Pro 2 case that looks like a travel suitcase, complete with customizable stickers. 

Wyze Cam v3

Wyze Cam v3
This camera punches far above its weight class with a sharp 1080p resolution, smart home controls, and a built-in siren for under $50. Not only is it loaded with value but its IP65-rated body can be used indoors or out. No matter where you place it, you'll get clear video and color night vision at a fraction of the price. And, we like that it has local storage, too.

Govee Neon RGBIC Rope Lights

Govee Neon RGBIC Rope Lights
This elevated (yet still affordable) smart light strip is a hassle-free home decor upgrade, perfect home offices, living rooms and bedrooms alike. Thanks to the flexible design, it can even be used to design neon light murals. 

Home Entertainment

Roku Express 4K+

Roku Express 4K+
One of the best Roku streaming devices, this compact box turns any regular TV or projector into a fully functional smart TV. It grants you access to hundreds of streaming apps and can be used to wirelessly stream pictures and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your TV over AirPlay. 

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock
Add a discrete but powerful smart speaker to your home theater to control the lights, temperature, and even your TV with your voice. This Echo Dot has motion and temperature sensors built-in to trigger automations. Plus you can see the time at a glance which is helpful during movie marathons. 

GANA HDMI Switch

GANA HDMI Switch
If you've filled up your TV's HDMI ports with a streaming device, soundbar and gaming systems, this gadget turns a single HDMI port into two. Just attach your two HDMI devices to it and the third to your display and switch between both connected gadgets with a press of a button.

Majority Sound Bar

Majority Sound Bar
This compact dual-channel speaker gets seriously loud. It enhances the booms of explosions and special effects in your favorite shows and movies. Despite its massive 50 watts of power, it creates an immersive and clear sound free from tinniness even at maximum volume. In addition to relaying audio from your TV through its HDMI connection, you can play audio from other devices over a 3.5mm auxiliary cable, Bluetooth and USB.

JSAUX HDMI 2.1 Cables

JSAUX HDMI 2.1 Cables
This two-pack of six-foot JSAUX HDMI 2.1 cables is ready for next-generation gaming and video resolutions. With support for 48Gbps high bandwidth, these cables can transmit up to an 8K resolution at 60 frames per second.

Toys & Games

Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports
Play your favorite sports on Nintendo Switch, with the motion controls inside the Joy-Con controllers. Play Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton and Chambara with friends and family in your living room.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

Assassin's Creed Mirage
Pitched as a return to the franchise's roots, Assassin's Creed Mirage ditches the RPG bloat of the most recent AC games in the form of a smaller, more focused experience. You play Basim, a petty thief turned master assassin in 9th-century Baghdad. With a vibrant city to explore and a list of targets to eliminate, Assassin's Creed Mirage is exactly what the series needed in 2023. 

Lego Star Wars Luke Skywalker's X-Wing

Lego Star Wars Luke Skywalker's X-Wing
This X-Wing replica Lego set is perfect for Star Wars fans. It comes with interactive parts plus three minifigures as well as an R2-D2 droid. 

Educational Insights Kanoodle

Educational Insights Kanoodle
Kanoodle has taken TikTok by storm, and it's no surprise. This addictive brain teaser game is a joy to solve alone or with a group of friends. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for kids and adults alike.

RiotPWR Gamepad Controller

RiotPWR Gamepad Controller
The RiotPWR Gamepad Controller upgrades mobile gaming, adding a physical controller to your smartphone with no hassle. It's compatible with over 1,000 games and works with both iPhone and iPad.

Riders Republic

Riders Republic
Riders Republic offers a massive extreme sports playground that you can explore on a bike, skis, snowboard, wingsuit or even a rocket-powered glider. With dozens of events to complete, and tons of secrets to unearth across its large-scale map, you'll likely still be playing Riders Republic by the time New Years 2024 rolls around as there's so much content to enjoy. 

Kitchen Gadgets

Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
Place the two included probes into your proteins and you can use your phone to check on the temperatures of your meat while it cooks in your grill, smoker or oven. Set target doneness levels and you'll get a notification when your meat is cooked well enough to your liking.

Magic Bullet Portable Blender

Magic Bullet Portable Blender
This portable blender is great for athletes or anyone who's trying to eat healthier. It can be used to make a wide variety of health shakes and smoothies. Just add your protein powder or fruit of choice and you're set! It can also be used as a water infuser. 

Dash Stirring Popcorn Maker

Dash Stirring Popcorn Maker
What do you get for someone who has every kitchen gadget? We'll guess they don't have a self-stirring popcorn maker. This can make up to 12 cups of popcorn at once, so family movie night is covered. 

Cosori Mini Air Fryer

Cosori Mini Air Fryer
This 2.1-quart air fryer is ideal for single-serving items like sides, snacks, and wings. At under five pounds, it's easy to move between rooms or stow away in a cabinet when you don't need it. This is a perfect fit for a university student who wants a discrete way to heat up leftovers from the mini fridge in their dorm.

Stanley Adventure to Go Insulated Travel Tumbler

Stanley Adventure to Go Insulated Travel Tumbler
More everyday carry than kitchen gadget, you can't go wrong gifting someone a Stanley cup. Whether you want to keep 35 ounces of coffee hot and fresh for up to 25 hours or a thirst-quenching beverage ice-cold for 27 hours or more, this insulated stainless steel thermos has your back. It boasts a leakproof design with a built-in cup that doubles as a lid. It's also comes with a lifetime warranty to boot.

DASH My Pint Electric Ice Cream Maker

DASH My Pint Electric Ice Cream Maker
This brilliant ice cream maker lets you make homemade ice cream right from your kitchen. It's a great gift idea for an ice cream-lover, so they can experiment their own creations. You can use it for gelatos and sorbets, too.

Hunter Fenollol
Senior Editor, Smart Home

Hunter Fenollol is a Senior Editor for Tom’s Guide. He specializes in smart home gadgets and appliances. Prior to joining the team, Hunter reviewed computers, wearables, and mixed reality gear for publications that include CNN Underscored, Popular Mechanics, and Laptop Magazine. When he’s not testing out the latest cooking gadgets, you can likely find him playing a round of golf or out with friends feeding his paycheck to a QuickHit slot machine. Hunter started his career as an intern at Tom’s Guide back in 2019 while in college. He graduated from Long Island University Post with a degree in Communications and minor in Advertising. He has been vlogging ever since the iPhone 4 took front-facing cameras mainstream.