15 of my favorite tech gadgets and accessories are on sale for $50 or less for Prime Day

Several of my favorite prime day gadget deals, including the Hoto screwdriver and Lenovo's Qi-charging mouse — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

As much as we love high-priced tech like graphics cards, monitors, or the latest handheld PC, most of us can't spend several hundred dollars on a gadget gift or purchase. But that doesn't mean you can't substantially improve your tech life while spending a comparatively small amount of money.

I own most of the affordable tech gifts in this list below, nearly all of which can be had for less than $50. I can honestly say that most of these products have made my nerdy world a little nicer in their own ways. If you're looking for an affordable gift for that techie friend or family member (or just something to get yourself) one of these under $50 options might be just what you're after.

For many of these deals, you'll need to click on coupons or add promo codes on the listing, so be sure to look for those to ensure you get the best price.

My favorite sub-$50 deals:

HOTO Wireless Screwdriver: now $36, was $70
Baseus 67W Charging Station: now $34, was $78
Lenovo Go Qi Charging Mouse: now $32, was $60

With my laptop and several other devices charging over USB-C PD, I like to have a USB-C charger in multiple rooms, as well as a compact charger for when I travel. This 67W Charging Station from Baseus accomplishes both. On my desk, it can charge all my devices, with a promised 67W via any of the three USB-C ports, or 67W total shared from the three Type-C and single Type-A port. And it also provides a handy power outlet behind the USB ports.

And when I need to travel, the USB section unplugs from the base, giving you a tiny (2.5 inches long) GaN charger to keep your devices juiced up on the go. This is one of those rare two-in-one devices that doesn't seem to have any downsides. Well, there is one, but it's not a huge deal, at least for me. The power prongs on the charger don't fold in to the charger when it's away from its base. But since I keep my charger and cables in a small bag when I travel, that's not really an issue.

Just be sure to select the 30% off coupon and use the code COMBO67W to get the discounted price.

I have wireless charging pads at my desk and three other places around my apartment for keeping my phone and watch juiced up, and I take one with me when I travel. So when I saw Lenovo had a Go Wireless Multi-Device Mouse that charges wirelessly using the Qi standard, I was intrigued. And now that I've owned one for over a year, it's my go-to travel rodent.

There's not much remarkable about this compact mouse in terms of its design. It houses a USB-C dongle under its magnetic top, and it also works over Bluetooth for pairing it with up to three devices. Lenovo claims 2-3 months of use if you use it a couple of hours a day, which is probably fairly accurate.

OK, this one's only for the DIY-inclined, because it involves cutting a hole in your desk (or anywhere else you might want some flush-mount power ports, like a nightstand). Jgstkcity's recessed power strip lets you drop a couple of AC outlets and two USB charging ports (one 30W USB-C) anywhere you need them – again, once you've cut a hole for it.

While it's always smart to be wary of no-name power strips, I've owned the older non-PD version of this strip for over two years and it's been functioning just fine. I have it installed in the narrow stand I built right behind my couch. It's a super-convenient place for power outlets, especially when friends or family stop by. I just warn people not to put drinks there. Thankfully the coffee table is even more convenient for that and it's right in front of the couch.

I build a lot of PCs and also do a fair bit of home improvement work around my apartment. So a cordless screwdriver is a nice thing to have. I also own a much slimmer Wowstick, but have found HOTO's NEX O1 Pro to be handier thanks to its extra (and variable) torque. It's great for loosening those factory-installed screws on PC cases that just don't want to let go, and also good for assembling small pieces of furniture.

The HOTO won't replace my DeWalt impact driver or drill for bigger, tougher jobs, but I can confirm it's ruggedly constructed. While helping relatives move into a new condo recently, I used it for a full day and dropped it off a six-foot ladder at least three times while installing shelves and curtain rods. It still looks and functions like it did when it was new.

The Hoto screwdriver is powerful enough for most common household tasks, easy to charge over USB-C, and even looks good on my workbench. I just wish it came with and stored more than 12 bits.

We usually leave coverage of things like Bluetooth earbuds to our colleagues at Tom's Guide. But after losing my primary pair earlier this year while traveling in Scotland, I picked up the third generation of JLab's ANC earbuds, and have been pleasantly surprised by just how good they are -- especially at their current sale price of $42.

Don't get me wrong, my Samsung Buds 2 Pro sound better and have better noise canceling, but the Samsungs sold for more than four times as much until recently. The JLab buds deliver decent noise cancelling and solid noise cancelling, both of which I definitely appreciated on my flight home and then a much longer flight to Taiwan not long after.

If you don't want to spend more and don't need the best performance, these are great budget earbuds, and even though I've since replaced my Samsungs for another (refurbished) pair, I often find myself reaching for these JLabs when walking out the door. I find the slim vertical charging case slips nicely in my pocket.

For me, the only real downside is they charge over a short attached USB-C cable. I've also read reviews that say they aren't great for making calls, but I try to avoid talking to while people on the go as much as possible, anyway.

Have you upgraded your router to Wi-Fi 6, but your desktop or laptop doesn't have the requisite hardware to take advantage of your newer network tech? TP-Link's AX1800 WiFi 6 USB Adapter is here to solve that problem for you. It's quite large by USB Wi-Fi dongle standards, but I've found it works quite well with the Wi-Fi 6 router that I have running downstairs from my office. And it instantly fixed an issue I was having with very poor reception from the SFF PC I built in the Fractal Terra case.

If you have a desktop with a spare PCIe slot and want to upgrade to the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard, TP-Link's Archer TXE75E add-in card has you covered and is currently on sale for a penny under $50. I've been using the non-E (Wi-Fi 6 model) of this card (which is also on sale for $37) for four years in my primary living-room PC and it's worked flawlessly.

This model uses an Intel AZ210 Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 card, under a heatsink and supported by a serious antenna. For more about why you might (or might not) want to opt for the 6E version of this card over the cheaper, older Wi-Fi 6 model, see our explainer about the differences between the two standards. Of course, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest standard, but routers that support those features are still very expensive, and devices that support it are also scarce. Still, if you're after Wi-Fi 7 and don't mind paying a little more, the tri-band Archer TBE400E is also available.

Do-it-all devices that pull together disparate features often turn out to be junk. But it’s hard to discount a $12 device that combines an under-the-desk headset hanger / cable holder and a three-port 20W PD USB charging hub. Cozoo's device ships with both 3M tape and screws for mounting under your desk, as well as cable tie-downs to help make the setup as tidy as possible.

Mine has been stuck under my treadmill desk for well over a year, using the 3M tape option, and it shows no signs of falling off. Given the price (and the fact that we’ve never heard of the brand before), we wouldn’t expect the audio circuitry / cabling to be top-notch. But again, I've been using mine for more than half a year and it's performed flawlessly so far.

What's exciting to say about a surge protector? If it's old and defective, it could help burn your house down. And even if it isn't, it's recommended you replace them every 5 or so years because the parts that actually do the protecting can become less effective over the years. So there's a good chance you're due for a new one. I own three of these Anker Power Strip Surge Protectors (2100J) or similar models, and they all have worked flawlessly.

What's not to love about an SNES-inspired wireless gaming controller that's compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and the Nintendo Switch? Not much, but I own the original Pro model and not one of these newer models with translucent plastic shells. That's peak late-90s nostalgia and I really don't want to love it as much as I do.

As you might expect given this controller's small size and many more buttons than the SNES controller it was based on, its Rumble motors aren't the strongest, and the layout can feel kind of cramped for some modern games. But for any kind of retro game and especially platformers (I'm looking at you, Super Mario Bros. Wonder), this is my go-to controller.

If all you want is for someone in your home or office to get their cables off the floor, some cheap cable management trays will do the job. This two-pack comes with tape, though heavier loads will ultimately require some screws.

Besides the trays, this key also comes with some cable ties and a few cable clips you can place along the bottom or sides of your desk. One of these has been holding up the PC cable clutter in my living room since May. But I had to screw it into my desk because it's holding one of the above Anker power strips, plus the external power brick from my TV/Monitor.

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After a rough start with the Mattel Aquarius as a child, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and ventured into mild PC modding in the early 2000s. He’s spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PCMag and Digital Trends.