Testing new gear is a regular thing for all of us at Yahoo Tech. We test a lot of gadgets, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the most expensive, most flashy items are usually the ones to make headlines. But we’ve found that it would be a mistake to overlook the little things in the tech world. Some of the best gadgets we’ve tested don’t cost a fortune, and are small, affordable and endlessly useful. We’ve collected 50 such items here in our list of favorite gadgets we’ve tested that come in at $50 or less. They run the gamut from Bluetooth trackers and smart plugs to gaming controllers to security cameras. We guarantee that, if you end up picking up any of these items, they’ll probably end up being some of your most used devices on a daily basis. Quick Overview This is the handheld fan to have on you during the warmer months of the year. Its clever design allows you to wear it around your neck, prop it up on a table or keep it in handheld mode while staying cool, and it has five speed settings to choose from. You'll also always know when it needs a recharge thanks to the handy display in the center of the fan that shows its remaining battery life. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor Sorry, Apple: The Pebblebee Clip 5 is a better AirTag than the AirTag. This Bluetooth tracker includes a keychain loop, rechargeable battery, flashing LEDs, safety features and two-way tracking. And it works with Android phones, not just iPhones. — Rick Broida, Senior Technology Writer This will undoubtably be the cutest charger in your pack. The adorable digital face changes as the accessory powers up your devices, and its little "shoes" are magnetic so you can easily stick the charger to one spot. And with its 65W max output, it's strong enough to recharge phones, tablets, gaming handhelds and other mobile devices. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor Under $50? Try under $30. The Soundcore 2 is an older model, but it still does the job beautifully. At this price, you can buy two of them, place them at opposite ends of a room, and listen as the space fills with clear treble and thumping bass. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter A $40 set of earbuds shouldn't sound this good, but here we are. The Bass BP1 Pro punch way above their weight (and price) class, and what's even more amazing is they're often discounted to $30 or less. — Rick Broida, Senior Technology Writer Have you ever left the house and wondered whether you unplugged the curling iron or turned off the coffee maker? That's why I first bought smart plugs, so I could turn off outlets with the tap of an app. Now I use them for Christmas lights around the holidays, the few lamps I own that don't have smart bulb capabilities and, most importantly, to automatically brew my coffee every morning so I can pour myself a cup as soon as I wake up. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer Yes, the days of needing AA or AAA batteries for most of our electronics are dead and gone. But there are still some stragglers left, and for those I maintain that everyone should keep a set of rechargeables somewhere in their house. For older mice, clocks, TV remotes, Xbox controllers or whatever else, they’ll effectively pay for themselves after a few uses, and they’re certainly better for the environment than plowing through disposable alternatives. I’m listing the Panasonic Eneloop series here because it’s popular and has served me well in the past, but know that there are plenty other options out there that could work just as well. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter I bought this to throw in my backpack when I was working away from my desk. But Logitech's tiny Pebble mouse has found its way into my weekly rotation (I like to swap between a mouse, trackpad and trackball in an attempt to confuse my wrist pain into staying away). The Pebble is super light, accurate and connects easily and reliably to my MacBook. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter My router has always struggled to reach the entirety of my house, but this Wi-Fi extender has made all the difference. It took no time to set up and now I can listen to podcasts and music on the opposite side of my house and in the basement without any connection lags. — Katie Teague, Senior How-To Writer Proton is the best VPN I've ever used. It's fast, easy to learn and comes with an expansive list of servers, plus unimpeachable privacy bonafides. Although its free plan is great, you'll need this paid deal to choose your own location. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter These little hand warmers became an essential for me this winter. The two pucks can be used together while magnetically attached, or separated to stuff one in each pocket to keep your hands toasty. The best part? they heat up in just a few seconds (seriously) and they'll last up to eight hours on a single charge. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor If you hate cable clutter, this is your hero product. It powers my laptop, AirPods and phone from one small hub — no cord spaghetti, no outlet gymnastics. Whether I'm at my desk or on the road, I can plug in once and be done. The peace of mind (and desk space) it saves is worth way more than its price tag. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer They’re two decades old and look like something you’d get for free on an airplane, but the Koss KSC75 remain the budget champ for anyone who considers audio quality the most important part of their headphones. (I promise you, some of us still exist.) The open-back, clip-on design gives every track a wonderful sense of space, while a balanced midrange keeps it all sounding natural. They’re a fine buy for gaming too, and if (/when) they break, you can replace them for just $9 a pop. Just don’t expect much in the way of deep bass. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter The Echo Dot in my household gets used daily, from weather checks to my toddler shouting at Alexa to play a song he likes. I often use it to call my phone when I've misplaced it and to check on any orders I have on the way. — Katie Teague, Senior How-To Writer Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max makes a great upgrade for an older TV, bringing you all the streaming services and — wait for it — a ton of cloud-gaming features. Yep, just pair your favorite controller and you can play Xbox Game Pass games, no console required. — Rick Broida, Senior Technology Writer These 8BitDo controllers are some of the best (and most affordable) accessories for the Switch 2. They connect via Bluetooth and give you a much more egonomic way to interact with your console. Their Hall Effect joysticks are built to last, and these controllers support rumble vibration too. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor I always used to go straight to Garmin for distance tracking, but when I got sick of dropping hundreds of dollars, I checked out Blackview instead. I'm really glad I did — this tough, dependable unit is ideal for runners and hikers, and also packs in heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking and everything else you'd find on a pricier smartwatch. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter I needed more rapid-charging blocks for my MagSafe chargers around the house (they're USB-C), but I still wanted the ability to plug in regular USB cords so I recently bought these. You can charge two devices at one time, so I'll often have my Fitbit and iPhone plugged in to the same block. — Katie Teague, Senior How-To Writer Cheap charging cables are the fast fashion of tech — they look fine for a week, then fray or stop working entirely. Anker's braided cords are the opposite: They last, they charge fast and they don't twist into knots that defy physics. I've had the same USB cable for three years, which in tech years might as well be a family heirloom. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer Gadgets that perform more than one function are always appreciated. Just grab this 10,000mAh battery pack and you'll already have the required USB-C cable to use it and the two-prong wall plug to recharge it. It has a handy readout on the side to tell you how much juice it has left and the cord doubles as a little carry strap. Like most Anker gear I've tried, it's solidly built. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter For all you gamers on a budget, the Cloud Stinger 2 pairs a light and soft design with a clear boom mic and an excited, bass-heavy sound. Like any cheap headphone, it has its trade-offs: The sound profile brings the boom but isn’t what anyone would call “accurate,” and the whole thing is made of plastic, so you won’t want to chuck it into a bag haphazardly. But you have to pick your battles in this price range, and for the most part, the Cloud Stinger 2 does so wisely. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter Traveling is exciting, but I don't want my appliances to be part of the risk. This extremely light travel adapter has all the different plugins a US-based globetrotter might need, while being compact enough to carry in a backpack. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter I got a set of these for my husband after he continuously misplaced his keys. Since he's been using the Tile, finding his keys has become a breeze. The tracker will ring while you're looking for your keys and you can also use the app to see their location. — Katie Teague, Senior How-To Writer You'll never want to travel without the AirFly SE after doing so once. The compact Bluetooth transmitter lets you use your AirPods or other wireless headphones or earbuds with airplane in-flight entertainment systems, and it also works with other machines like treadmills. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor When my Apple AirPods Pro arrived, the first thing I did was swap out the ear tips. They come with the medium size attached by default, but those left my ears feeling plugged up, like I had something jammed in there. So I sized down to small. A month later, they started falling out, so I moved up a size. A couple of months after that, I was using the largest size. Were my ears growing? In my mid-30s? Unlikely. That's when a friend suggested these Comply Foam Tips. They've been a huge upgrade. They compress when inserted, then expand to match the shape of your ear canal. That means a more secure fit, better passive noise isolation and — for a lot of people — way more comfort. They also stay in place better during workouts or long commutes, and they're less likely to loosen over time than silicone tips. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer OK, it lists for $60, but the Tapo SolarCam C402 is almost always on sale for $50 or less. This weatherproof outdoor security camera offers nearly all the features of pricier models, but doesn't saddle you with a monthly subscription. It's our top budget pick. — Rick Broida, Senior Technology Writer Ask three different tech reporters and you'll get three different answers for their favorite Bluetooth tracker. I'm partial to Chipolo's brightly colored Loop fob. It has a rechargeable battery, multiple ringtones and works with either iPhones or Android phones. Plus it can find your phone for you by double clicking the fob. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter Nintendo is constantly encouraging me to touch its screens, something I can never do without covering the delicate plastic in crud. This cheap screen protector has been a huge help. It fits directly over the screen of a Switch 2, aligns without complaining and doesn't reduce touch sensitivity at all. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter If you need to have your phone handy while driving, or you have an older car without a full, built-in navigation system, a magnetic mount like this one from Speck will be crucial. It securely attaches to one of your car's vents and uses strong magnets to grip your phone so you can see the screen while following directions. You'll get extra security if you also have one of Speck's ClickLock phone cases, but I've been using this mount for more than a year without one and my phone has never fallen off. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor The further we get into our “streaming era,” the more I’m compelled to remind you that you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to watch major networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and more. If you have an antenna, you can watch them all for free. (Legally!) Exactly which antenna you buy doesn’t really matter — it’s more important that you live someplace with steady reception in the first place — but this indoor model from Lyrwihn is the top pick in my colleague Rick Broida’s buying guide, so it’s a good starting point. Buying one of these doesn’t mean you have to unsubscribe from Netflix, of course, but the next time your internet goes down and you’re stuck with “nothing to watch,” you’ll be thankful. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter I bought these several years ago to control the lighting around the house and they pair perfectly with my Amazon Echo. I really only use them around the holidays and set a routine for when the lights come on and go off so I don't have to worry about a crazy electricity bill. — Katie Teague, Senior How-To Writer I don't lose things often — not because I'm especially organized, but because AirTags exist. One lives in my camera bag, one on my keys and one in my luggage, giving me instant location updates when the airline "temporarily misplaces" it (again). These little gizmos? Basically LoJacks for your peace of mind. — Chris McGraw, Senior Deals Writer Want to listen to AirPods or other earbuds while on an airplane? You need to plug a Bluetooth transmitter into the entertainment system. This one works great, and it's a fraction of the cost of some others. — Rick Broida, Senior Technology Writer A good ergonomic mouse like Logitech’s M720 Triathlon can add a little bit of relief to an otherwise drab workday spent at your desk. This particular model is a decade old and certainly not as premium as the high-end MX Master 4, but it’s still damn comfortable, neither too big nor too small, with a healthy back arch and thumb rest. It does use a AA battery for power, but that helps it last around two years on a charge. Like most ergo mice, however, the M720 is designed for right-handed users only — our condolences, lefties. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter I bought these headphones months ago and I'm still amazed by how much ambient noise they're able to cancel. With both dialogue and music, the experience is way closer to surround sound than a unit this small should ever be able to get. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter Not only does Zagg's screen protector prevent your phone's screen from succumbing to scratches and cracks during accidents, but it also prevents wandering eyes from spying on what you're doing. Anyone looking over your shoulder won't be able to see what's on your screen thanks to the two-way privacy filter. On top of that, this screen protector is super easy to install with the tools included in the box. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor Never fight with your family members over power outlets again. This electrifying outlet plug-in boasts five AC outlets and four USB ports, enough for everyone to charge their devices at once. Oh, and it's so

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