Tom’s Guide Value Awards: The 43 Best Tech Bargains of the Year

Right now everything is too expensive. Groceries, electricity, you name it. But if you’re in the market for a tech upgrade and you don’t want to spend a fortune for a quality gadget, you’ve come to the right place.

At Tom’s Guide we test and review hundreds of products each year, and our first annual Value Awards recognizes the very best bang-for-your-buck devices across multiple categories. So whether you’re looking for a big-screen Mini-LED TV, noise cancelling headphones or a new coffeemaker, we’ve got you covered with the very best bargains money can buy.

TVs

Best Value TV: Hisense U65QF Mini-LED TV

From the moment I laid eyes on it, I knew the Hisense U65QF was one of the best TVs for the money. For a sub-$500 TV, it 's super bright, incredibly colorful and, despite using Amazon’s Fire TV platform, a joy to use. When we brought it into our labs, we confirmed all of the above.

Starting at $449 for the 55-inch Hisense 55U65QF, this budget TV put its main rivals — the TCL QM6K and LG QNED80T — in their place with its 946 nits of peak brightness and Delta-E color accuracy score (lower is better) of 1.83. I’d never seen scores like these from an affordable TV before, and I knew we found something special.

It has some issues with motion processing and upscaling, but in this price range there’s no better option than Hisense’s budget king. — Nick Pino

Best Value OLED: Samsung S90F OLED TV

The Samsung S90F is one of the best OLED TVs of the year. It’s expertly priced and built with a slew of features for gamers and HDR movie lovers alike. What stands out most is its QD-OLED panel, a special design that combines quantum dots with OLEDs for enhanced color performance and contrast, which is exemplified by the metrics from our testing labs.

Highlighting this incredible color performance is its 100% coverage of the UHDA-P3 gamut, matched only by the Sony Bravia 8 II this year. In filmmaker mode, the Samsung S90F also has one of the best Delta-E (color accuracy) scores. In this case, Samsung’s middle-of-the-road OLED not only offers one of the broadest ranges in color coverage for HDR movies and shows but also realistic and lifelike color performance.

Samsung added Art Store compatibility to the full range of 2025 TVs, so the S90F can act like its popular The Frame, displaying famous photographs and art from around the world when it’s not in use. Given its exceptionally thin design, the S90F feels even more like a work of art, especially when it's wall-mounted. — Nick Pino

Best Value Streaming Stick: Roku Streaming Stick Plus

You can’t go wrong with a Roku streaming stick, and the Streaming Stick Plus is the most well-rounded value of the lot. It’s designed to meet most needs, offering performance where it counts in both HDR playback and speedy navigation. With 4K/60Hz playback, it’s a stellar streaming stick to rival Amazon and Google, packing several additional features that make it among the best streaming devices.

Although it’s normally priced at $39, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus maintains a consistent discount of $29. It’s incredibly lightweight and thin, weighing just 0.90 ounces (26.0 grams), which makes it the perfect travel companion. It also comes with access to Roku’s smart home ecosystem, allowing you to check on cameras, turn on lights, and keep a watchful eye on other Roku home accessories. — Ryan Epps

Phones

Best value Android phone: Google Pixel 9a

You don’t have to pay $799 or more to get a top-performing camera phone. Google’s Pixel 9a is capable of taking photos that rival anything you get from the leading flagships, even though it costs a fraction as much with its $499 starting price. The Pixel 9a benefits from the same photo-processing algorithms found on Google’s flagship phones, so images look sharp and detailed, with a nice dynamic range balancing light and shadow.

That’s not the only way the Pixel 9a offers you more value for your dollar. Its Tensor G4 chip means it can support most of the leading Google AI capabilities. (The Pixel 10 series and its newer G5 silicon introduces some newer tools.) So your phone can still offer smarts usually limited to more expensive devices among the best phones. — Philip Michaels

Best value iPhone: iPhone 17

While not the cheapest iPhone you can currently buy (that would be the iPhone 16e), the iPhone 17 remains the same price as previous standard iPhones while adding a whole bunch of upgrades.

A larger screen with a smoother 120Hz refresh rate gives the iPhone 17 a premium touch that has been missing for many years. The dual 48MP cameras on the back, combined with the new 18MP Center Stage camera on the front, make the 17's photography capabilities more versatile than ever, while the updated A19 chipset offers users both zippier performance and better battery life. Unless you want to brave the used market, you can't get more iPhone for the money than this. — Richard Priday

Laptops and tablets

Best value Mac: MacBook Air M4

Apple makes some of the best laptops, but they usually come with a premium. Well, that norm has been completely shattered by the M4 MacBook Air — delivering all the face-melting performance and impressive power efficiency you’d expect from any Apple Silicon-armed system at a mightily good price. At $799 (yes, the MSRP is $999, but it’s been $200 off for months now, so consider this the “real” retail price), this premium ultra thin-and-light is the game changer the laptop industry’s been looking for. — Jason England

Best value Windows laptop: Acer Aspire Go 15

When you just need the best Windows 11 laptop you can get for the cheapest possible price, look to the Acer Aspire Go 15. This $299 budget laptop has just enough hardware packed into its four-pound frame for writing, browsing the web and playing basic games. Streaming videos won't look amazing on the 15.6" 1080p display and you'll look washed-out and grainy on the 720p webcam, but they keyboard is comfy. Plus. you get plenty of ports to plug in your favorite accessories — including a better webcam if it's really important to you. And since it lasted over 10 hours in our battery tests, you know the Acer Aspire Go 15 will last you through a day of work or school. — Jason England

Best value tablet: iPad 11

Let the iPad Air and iPad Pro deliver the power of a laptop in a tablet. I’m here for Apple’s most affordable tablet, bringing more than enough performance to handle demanding apps, games and all the streaming services to binge my way through shows. For most, it does everything a tablet should offer and beyond, thanks to its speedy A16 chip — and finally delivering 128GB for storage is a boon. Apple’s base iPad offers a premium tablet experience for $349, which isn’t a bad deal, but considering it’s often found for $299 or less, the iPad 11 is value at its finest for a tablet. — Darragh Murphy

Best value mechanical keyboard: Keychron C1 Pro 8K

The Keychron C1 Pro 8K is a retro-style wired mechanical keyboard that’s ideal for touch typists. The board’s typing angle and rake make it incredibly smooth to type on, so you can work all day long without fear of strained wrists. The board is also hot-swappable, so you can make changes to the switches and keycaps to make it the ideal keyboard for you. And since it has 8K polling, you could kit it out to be one of the best gaming keyboards too. — Ashley Thieme

Audio

Best value headphones: 1More Sonoflow

The 1More Sonoflow show you what’s possible with a small amount of money. They make the sacrifices in all the right places — looks, extra features — so that they can focus on the important stuff. You know, like sound quality and noise-canceling performance. They sound much better than just about anything at the same, sub $100 price point, and block out plenty of noise. The icing on the budget cake? 65 hours of battery life. They even come with a helpful protective case to keep them safe from harm. What more could you want from the best headphones under $100?— Tammy Rogers

Best value earbuds: Sony WF-C710N

Sony’s $129 noise-canceling earbuds are one of the best things we’ve tested all year at Tom’s Guide. Despite their low price, Sony has loaded them with excellent ANC and some of the best sound under $200. They beat out options that cost twice as much — and even come in a very slick, jolly-ranchers-esque clear blue colorway. 8.5 hours of battery life helps cement them in 2025’s list of biggest pleasant surprises — and as some of the best earbuds you can buy. — Tammy Rogers

Best value speakers: Edifier R1280T

We’ll always shout about low-cost gear in Tom’s Guide’s Audio section, and the R1280T deserves a ton of praise. They’re a spectacular-sounding pair of retro-looking speakers, with plenty of inputs on the back so you can build a music system around them. Great for desktops and small to mid-size rooms, these $150 wonders are an excellent option if you’re looking to up your speaker game. — Tammy Rogers

Best value soundbar: Creative Stage Pro

There are two things we’re looking for when it comes to the best cheap soundbars. Great sound is a given, but we also want to make sure that you’re going to get a decent package without spending more on a subwoofer — and the Stage Pro brings the goods. It comes with a subwoofer included in the box, so you get those lovely, floor-rumbling bass tones for your movies and TV. Dialogue is clear, and movie soundtracks sound stirring. There’s not really much more we could ask for at this impressive sub-$200 price point. — Tammy Rogers

Fitness

Best value walking treadmill: Deerrun Q1 Mini

The DeerRun Q1 Mini is the ideal solution for remote at-home workers who want to get their steps in while still at their desk. It’s not for runners, since it has a max speed of 3.8mph, but the 35-inch belt is perfect for taking strides at your desk. It’s a super affordable option for an under-desk treadmill and is the perfect size to fit under standing desks, and is easy to move around for storage, since it’s on wheels. For less than $150, it’s everything you could want from a walking treadmill to boost your activity scores. — Sam Hopes

Best value massager: Hyperice Venom Go

The Hyperice Venom Go is the perfect way to get targeted sports recovery and relief from everyday aches and pains. It uses reusable sticky pads that gel to the skin and conduct heat and vibrations from the massage pod. The combination of heat and vibrations soothes muscle tension but drawing blood flow to the area, and the compact size of the Venom Go means you can take it with you anywhere. The Hyperice app is also a great way to visualize your recovery routine with the device, so you can see exactly what works for you. — Sam Hopes

Best value fitness earbuds: Soundcore AeroClip

The Soundcore Aeroclips are the perfect open-earbuds for getting active and staying aware of your surroundings. They’re incredibly comfortable with awesome sound quality, and you can even customize the sound with the Soundcore app. You get 32 hours of listening time with the charging case and eight hours of playback in the buds. The design is super sleek, and they don’t budge even during the most high-intensity workouts. They also have a waterproof rating of IPX4, meaning they are protected from water splashes in all directions, making them perfect for working out in the rain too. — Sam Hopes

Best value running shoe: Puma Velocity Nitro 4

Finding value in the running shoe market often means buying older models in sales, but the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is an excellent new shoe that undercuts most of its competitors on price while also outperforming them. It has enough cushioning to deliver a comfortable ride during your easy daily training runs, but the lively foam in its midsole provides enough bounce for faster workouts as well. Add in a comfortable upper and a durable outsole that grips better than most shoes in slick conditions and the Velocity Nitro 4 is a terrific all-round option at a good price. — Nick Harris-Fry

Best value cross trainer: Nike Metcon 10s

The Nike Metcon lineup has sat pretty stagnant in the cross training shoe world, with the 8s and 9s considered overly stiff and lacking versatility compared with competitors. However, the Metcon 10 has changed everything. The 10s tick boxes for stability, grip, lockdown and mobility, and are the comfiest pair from Nike we’ve tested yet, finally answering calls for true versatility.

The over-pronounced rubber wrap rope guard has been pared back, and the shoe has been made more pliable and flexible around the forefoot with a wider toe box and a stable but minimized Hyperlift plate for lifting. Dual-density ReactX midsole cushioning makes the shoe feel bouncier and suited to short runs. We think that, given the brand (and range), it offers true value for the money. — Sam Hopes

Wearables

Best value smartwatch: Apple Watch SE 3

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better smartwatch bargain than the latest entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 for $249. Not only is it Apple’s easiest-wearing smartwatch, but it also has nearly all the same features as its much pricier siblings. These include an always-on display, on-device Siri, FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, a daily sleep score with detailed sleep reports, tons of workout tracking modes, and support for all the same gesture controls, including the latest wrist flick gesture for dismissing notifications. — Dan Bracaglia

Best value fitness tracker: Amazfit Active 2

The Amazfit Active 2 is hands down my favorite fitness tracker under $100. First and foremost, it plays nicely with both Androids and iPhones. It also features wellness and fitness tracking tools/tech normally reserved for much pricier smartwatches. These include an onboard SpO2 sensor, body temperature sensor, and GPS. Comfortable and attractively designed with a faux tachymeter bezel, the Active also features a bright and easy-to-read AMOLED screen. And even though it is somewhat limited when it comes to smart features, you do get NFC for mobile payments, decent offline navigational tools, and an onboard AI voice assistant. The Active 2 additionally supports over 160 sports tracking modes. That’s a lot of smartwatch for under a Benjamin! — Dan Bracaglia

Best value smart ring: Ringconn Gen 2 Air

The Ringconn Gen 2 Air is my favorite wallet-friendly smart ring, priced at $199 and completely subscription-free. Reasonably comfortable, with a battery that’s good for over a week — that’s better than the Oura Ring 4 — the Gen 2 Air offers comprehensive sleep-tracking insights and 24/7 vitals monitoring. While the latest Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring provide an even greater level of overall holistic insights — including more fitness and recovery tools, as well as women’s health features — those from the Ringconn Gen 2 Air are accurate and easy to digest, making the device a perfect option for first-time smart ring buyers. — Dan Bracaglia

Best value fitness band: Amazfit Helio Strap

This subscription-free alternative to the screen-less Whoop fitness tracker costs just $99. Just as comfortable with similar battery life to the pricier competition (up to 12 days for the Helio Strap), it churns out loads of sleep insights and fitness tracking metrics. And even though the automatic workout detection is a little less reliable than we’d like, this is still a seriously powerful yet discreet way to keep tabs on your well-being and/or fitness journey without breaking the bank. — Dan Bracaglia

Drones

Best value drone: Potensic Atom 2

DJI isn’t the be-all end-all among the best drones, of course, and the Potensic Atom 2 makes a compelling case for not just a great value dront, but also as a competent, powerful quadcopter. It’s cheaper than the aforementioned Flip but it still captures detailed 48MP stills and 4K/30fps video. This bang-for-your buck drone features an AI night mode which works well in dimly lit environments, and AI subject tracking that powers fun intelligent flight modes, such as Parallel and Spotlight. — Nikita Achanta

Wi-Fi routers

Best value router: TP-Link Archer GE650

Gaming-centric Wi-Fi routers usually come with a serious price premium, but TP-Link clearly didn’t get the memo with this monster of a Wi-Fi 7 option. While the list price is $350, it’s almost always available for $250, and for that you’re getting a fully-featured router. I’m talking multi-gig speeds, impressive signal range, top notch customization and easy-to-use security via the app, while also giving you game port forwarding to prioritize data to maximizing your online multiplayer bandwidth. — Anthony Spadafora

Best value mesh router: Netgear Orbi 370

Turns out one of the cheaper mesh Wi-Fi systems you can get is also one of the better options to buy in terms of pure performance and power efficiency. If you need to spread your signal out around the house, this $350 three-pack is capable of covering 6,000 square feet with Wi-Fi 7 signal. That ensures gigabit speeds at close range, and a huge range of coverage wherever you are. For something with similar specs, you could be expecting to pay at least twice the price, so this is real value for your money among the best mesh Wi-Fi systems. - Jason England

Smart Home

Best value smart speaker: Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon's 5th-generation Echo Dot is a bit long in the tooth — it was released in 2022 — but, thanks to the upgrades Amazon made with Alexa+, this smart speaker continues to deliver exceptional value three years later. In addition to its low price, it also acts as an Eero Wi-Fi satellite, and a built-in temperature sensor allows you to integrate it into your smart home routines. Yes, you'll get better sound out of more expensive speakers, but the Echo Dot is great for those times when you just want something playing in the background. — Mike Prospero

Best value smart plug: TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini

Our best value smart plug is also our favorite model overall. Why? Because it delivers exceptional value for the price. It's small and well-designed and works with every major smart home platform, thanks to its integration with Matter. We connected it just as easily to Alexa as we did Apple Home. Plus, the Tapo app makes it simple to schedule; it has a vacation mode; and can even turn on and off automatically at sunrise and sunset, so it can adjust with the seasons. — Mike Prospero

Best value security camera: Wyze Cam v4

Wyze has long made some of the best home security cameras for less, and the Wyze Cam V4 is a prime example. In our testing, this camera delivered great looking video both indoors and out with its 2.5 QHD resolution, and costs less than $40. But what also makes this camera a great value is that you can save video locally, so you don't necessarily need to sign up for a subscription to use it — unlike many other security cameras. — Mike Prospero

Best value smart lock: Yale Approach

The Yale Approach has most of the features you'll need in one of the best smart locks, all for less than $100. This smart lock takes its cues from the August Smart Lock, which means we found it easy to install. We also like the fact that it works with Alexa and Google Home (our one nitpick: no Apple Home support). As this is a retrofit lock, you'll only be replacing the inside portion of your deadbolt, so it's not apparent to visitors from the outside that you have a smart lock. You can also get this lock with or without a fingerprint reader, and if you want to unlock it using a keypad, you'll have to purchase that separately. — Mike Prospero

Home appliances

Best value Keurig: Keurig K-Mini Mate

Cute, compact and reasonably priced, if you’re looking for a Keurig coffee maker, the K-Mini Mate is a savvy choice. Even at full price, it’s very affordable, but it can also be found on sale frequently. This machine delivers everything you need from a pod coffee maker: one-touch speedy brewing, a hot cup of Joe, and it also comes in a range of fun colors. It’s the ideal first coffee maker for students or those living in smaller apartments. — Millie Fender

Best value blender: Ninja Blast Max Blender

Looking for a high-quality sub-$100 blender? The Ninja Blast Max ticks a lot of boxes. In our review, we used it to blend everything from pancake batter to frozen berries, and it outperformed every other cordless blender we’ve used. It also did an excellent job of crushing ice, while its portable rechargeable base and removable drinking cup makes it ideal for taking to the gym, on trips, or even to the office. — Millie Fender

Best value air fryer: Philips 2000 Series Air Fryer

You’ll struggle to find many good air fryers for under $80, but if you’re on a budget, the brand you should try is Philips. It impresses us time and time again with its high-quality designs and premium performance, while often costing much less than alternatives from Ninja and Instant. The 2000 Series was new this year, costs under $100, and even features a fancy window which allows you to watch your food as it cooks. For the price, it doesn’t get much better. — Millie Fender

Best value espresso machine: Casabrews 3700 Essential

In the world of espresso machines, it doesn’t get much cheaper than the Casabrews 3700 Essential. But with its steel-colored exterior, single and double shot buttons, and surprisingly capable steam wand, it can more than hold its own against machines two or three times the price. Reviewer Erin said it best: “if you want an espresso machine for as little money as possible, the Casabrews 3700 Essential really is the best option.” — Millie Fender

Best value ice cream maker: Cuisinart FastFreeze

The FastFreeze is a Ninja Creami contender that more than holds its own. It’s compact, (comparatively) quiet, and capable of churning some seriously tasty ice cream from scratch. We were seriously wowed by just how affordable this machine is, awarding it a rare five stars in our FastFreeze review. If you want to get in on the homemade ice cream trend on a budget, it’s a no-fuss option that delivers every time. — Millie Fender

Robot vacuums

Best value robot vacuum: TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus

For those not looking to splurge on a robot mop hybrid, the Tapo RV30 is a great budget-friendly pick. We were impressed by its overall performance, particularly on hard floors, where it quickly handled larger debris such as cereal and kitty litter. It also mops away light stains and dirt in no time, despite not having water tanks. It may not have all the fancy mod-cons or features, but the Tapo RV30 is one of the best, cheapest robot vacuums that will get the job done well. — Cynthia Lawrence

Best value robot vacuum/mop: SwitchBot K11 Robot Vacuum and Mop

Despite its small stature and value price, this robot vacuum and mop hybrid did a great job at cleaning. In our tests, it impressed us with its pet hair suction and managed to pick up every last bit of debris, both on hardwood and carpet. Its only downfall was its mop deep cleaning and inconsistent mapping. However, it excels in light cleaning, and its miniature size makes it perfect for smaller homes. — Cynthia Lawrence

Best value stick vacuum: Dreame R10 Pro Cordless Vacuum

If you don’t have the budget for a Dyson but are still after exceptional power, the Dreame R10 Pro cordless is a somewhat surprising contender. Its design may look basic, but it's incredibly lightweight, easy to use, and can suck up just about anything off hardwood and carpets. Despite not having a display to see your settings, we liked its bright, LED floor lights to easily see under the sofa, and the bendable crevice gets into hard-to-reach places. Plus, it has a long-lasting battery at just over an hour. Priced under $250, this makes it a worthwhile investment. — Cynthia Lawrence

Home office

Best value standing desk: Uplift V3

The Uplift V3 is a highly refined standing desk that builds on the solid foundation of its predecessor. To make things easier, Uplift Desk has simplified the assembly process while also adding a new, wider cable management tray. Not only is one included with every desk but it’s now flexible and highly adjustable, which allows it to easily accommodate a large powerstrip and several bulky power adapters too. If you’re after a solid and extremely stable standing desk you’ll be able to use for years to come and adapt to the task at hand, the Uplift V3 is an excellent investment for your workspace and your productivity. — Anthony Spadafora

Best value office chair: Branch Aire Chair

The Branch Aire Chair has a premium look and feel to it despite its mid-range price. This all-mesh office chair is easy to assemble, comes with an optional headrest included and you get great support from its adaptive tilt and zoned mesh. The Branch Aire Chair also features a weight-activated mechanism you rarely find at this price that allows the chair to adapt to your body’s movements throughout the day. While you aren’t getting dedicated lumbar support and its recline is somewhat limited, this is a fantastic and sleek-looking chair that will keep you cool while working without breaking the bank. — Anthony Spadafora

Sleep/Mattress

Best value mattress: DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress

The DreamCloud is the second highest-scoring mattress we’ve tested, beating many luxury rivals. That’s impressive considering you can buy a queen DreamCloud Classic Hybrid for under $700 – that’s $1,100 cheaper than our best mattress of the year, the Saatva Classic. The DreamCloud delivers excellent comfort and support for a range of body types and sleeping positions, except for heavier weight stomach sleepers (see the Siena Signature below). It’s also breathable and safe for hot sleepers. If you want a luxury hotel mattress but have a smaller budget, the DreamCloud is an excellent mid-range alternative. No mattress delivers more bang for your buck for most sleepers than this one. — Claire Davies

Best value sleep tracker: Withings Sleep Analyzer

Instead of constantly wearing a smart ring or watch, this pad from Withings simply slips underneath your mattress to track your sleep, before sending the data directly to your phone. And after reviewing the Withings Sleep Analyzer, we think it’s certainly one of the best sleep trackers of the year. Priced at $199 at Withings, we compared its data with the more expensive Oura Ring 4 (a smart ring that retails at $349) and found it was consistently accurate (aside from a few times it thought lounging in bed was a daytime nap). For a sleep tracker that can accurately identify sleep apnea, we think this device is an excellent value. — Lauren Jeffries

Best value sunrise alarm clock: DreamEgg Sunrise Alarm Clock

The DreamEgg is a high-quality smart alarm, complete with great sunrise simulation and sleep sounds, that’s over $100 cheaper than the premium alarm clocks offered by tech brands such as Hatch and Lumie. In our DreamEgg review, we loved how the smart alarm is fully functional without a phone or app, with the essential buttons located on top of the clock. Plus it’s free of any pesky subscriptions, and the neutral color scheme looks chic and modern on your nightstand. — Eve Davies

Best value pillow: Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow

It’s unlikely that you can ever go wrong with the Coop Original Adjustable pillow. With a memory foam and microfiber fill mimicking natural down-like comfort and support and a fully adjustable build, it’s suitable for all sleeping positions and body types. It also comes with a super breathable cover made of Lulltra fabric (a blend of bamboo viscose rayon and polyester) which can work well for most hot sleepers too (or you can go for their Cool+ variant). At $85 for a standard size including a 100-night trial, 5-year warranty and free shipping, this is simply the best pillow you can get your hands on right now. — Becky George