We at The Verge love a good gadget or tchotchke, especially when it’s not too expensive. But with the rising cost of just about everything these days, many once-cheap gadgets aren’t so affordable anymore.
Amazon and other retailers sell all sorts of products from word salad brand names, but only some of it is handy and affordable enough to be worth telling you about. We’re highlighting some of our favorite picks that don’t suck and are on sale for Amazon Prime Day.
Some of them you’ve likely seen us recommend before, but there are newcomers, too. Some are simple desk items or note-taking tools that might help you in your work day, and others are purely just for fun — while being nicely giftable. Regardless, they’re all things we have tested or bought that we think are worth your money.
8BitDo Ultimate Mini Wired Controller for Xbox
A simple and affordable wired controller for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. It’s size is friendly to smaller hands and its sticks use anti-drift Hall effect sensors. The cute translucent colors are just icing on the cake.
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Vampliers 5-inch Mini Stripped Screw Remover Pliers
An invaluable tool for those of us who make mistakes with screwdrivers. (All of us.)
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Rak Magnetic Wristband
Losing a screw, washer, or drill bit during a repair is a pain, but magnets are here to help. The smarties at Rak designed a multi-section magnetic wristband that’ll let dad keep spares conveniently attached to his wrist, so he can easily grab what he needs (or stow pieces) while he’s at work.
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Apple AirTag (2nd gen)
AirTags might be popular for tracking baggage at the airport, but they’re also handy for keeping tabs on EDC. Apple’s latest trackers can pinpoint items more precisely — and from farther away — than the OG model, and they have a louder speaker.
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Lamy Safari Fountain Pen
The quintessential fountain pen, available in a wide variety of fun colors.
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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
The latest version of Amazon’s zippy Fire TV Stick 4K streams in 4K resolution, as its name suggests, and features support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Atmos / Vision, and HDR10 Plus.
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SwitchBot Bot
If you’ve ever wished you had a robot that could push a button for you, that’s precisely what the SwitchBot Bot does. It’s simple, smart, and works on anything with a button. Stick it on the device you want to turn on or off, and you’re set.
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Ugreen Nexode 65W Charger (four-port)
Ugreen’s Nexode GaN charger can deliver 65W of power across four ports, including three USB-C ports and a lone USB-A port. Its foldable plug and compact design also make it a great travel companion, whether you plan to use it with a phone or laptop.
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Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb (four-pack)
Kasa’s color-changing A19 bulbs support hands-free operation with both Alexa and Google Home. They also don’t require a hub, and can be set on a schedule to turn on in the morning and off at night.
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Anker Nano Charger (30W)
Anker’s tiny USB-C wall charger can supply up to 30W of power, which is perfect for quickly charging your phone and other small electronics. And with foldable prongs, it’s easy to travel with.
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Time Timer Mod Pomodoro Timer
A visual Pomodoro timer like the colorful MOD (Home Edition) is key to helping break tasks into manageable, bite-sized chunks.
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Kasa Indoor Pan / Tilt Security Camera
This indoor camera from Kasa features motion tracking, person detection, and support for two-way voice. It also boasts 360-degree horizontal and 133-degree vertical visibility, providing excellent coverage of your space.
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Wuben G5 rechargeable flashlight
The Wuben G5 flashlight is as small as a Zippo lighter, yet far more versatile, with a bright, rotatable light that can shine in numerous colors. It features USB-C charging and has an adjustable clip.
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Slice Auto-Retractable Box Cutter
Slice’s retractable, finger-friendly ceramic blade is great for tearing through packing tape and cutting plastic wrapping. The comfy tool also features a sturdy, reinforced nylon handle and a hooked design that makes it easy to stow when not in use.
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Kaisi 136-in-1 Electronics Repair Tool Kit
If you want to fix electronics instead of replacing them, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Kaisi’s 136-piece kit includes the spudgers, picks, tweezers, and screwdriver bits (111 of them!) to get inside gadgets and replace parts. The kit also has an anti-static wristband so you don’t accidentally short a motherboard with a shock.
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Anker 321 USB-A to Lightning Cable (3 ft 3-in-1)
Eliminate clutter with Anker’s 3-in-1 cable, which features interchangeable connectors for micro USB, Lightning, and USB-C.
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Epicka Universal Series Travel Adapter
Epicka’s universal travel adapter is an all-in-one adapter that includes four different plugs that cover over 150 countries.
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Loop Quiet 2 earplugs
Attending a live concert? You can protect your hearing with Loop’s Quiet 2 earplugs. They pack up to 24dB (SNR) of noise reduction and come with four eartip sizes, allowing them to accommodate a range of ear shapes.
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Ugreen 100W USB-C Cable (two-pack)
These cables from Ugreen are six feet each and support charging speeds of up to 100W, making them a suitable fit for tablets, some laptops, phones, and other portable gear.
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Gripstic bag sealer 12-pack
This reusable sealing rod locks air and moisture out to prevent your snacks from going stale, prevents freezer burn, and keeps food fresh longer.
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Ototo Nessie ladle
Ototo’s 10-inch Nessie ladle can add a playful, cryptid-inspired touch to your kitchen. It’s made of heat-resistant silicone, meaning it’s ideal for serving soups and sauces, and it stands upright on its own when needed.
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JLab Go Air Pop
The JLab Go Air Pop are an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug, so you’re never without a charging cable.
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Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker
Planning a picnic or Say Anything-level romantic gesture? The Soundcore Select 4 Go is an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker that can help set the stage, especially since it easily pairs with a second Go speaker for stereo sound.
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Hario “Mizudashi” Cold Brew Coffee Maker (1000ml)
Buying a delicious iced coffee is fun, but they get very expensive. And tragically, they’re sometimes not tasty enough to warrant their rising costs. However, you can make plenty of great cold brew at home for less with the help of Hario’s tall coffee maker.
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8Bitdo Micro Controller
8BitDo’s Micro is a pocket-friendly, 16-button wireless game controller compatible with iOS, Android, and the Nintendo Switch. It can make playing mobile games easier compared to tapping a touchscreen and is perfect for playing NES, SNES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance titles on the Nintendo Switch.
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Zepath USB-C Li-ion AA Batteries
Rechargeable AA batteries are handy, until it’s time to charge them. Most wall chargers let you refill four, maybe six, at once. Zepath’s clever solution is to ship them in a easy-to-use USB-C charging case that charges eight simultaneously. The batteries themselves are long-lasting, too.
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Scosche BTFreq Pro FM transmitter
For older cars without built-in Bluetooth, get Scosche’s BTFM9, which can bring wireless music streaming to its speakers. It has USB-C and USB-A ports for charging gadgets and a Bluetooth transmitter inside. Once it’s paired to your phone, the BTFM9 can stream audio from your phone over an FM frequency picked up by your car’s radio antenna. It’s a simple, tool-free upgrade for almost any car.
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Lamicall magnetic cord organizers
Lamicall’s magnetic cord organizers are simple yet effective tools that belong in every grad’s home. They hold the ends of your most frequently used cables so they don’t fall to the floor when you unplug them, and the low-cost accessories can be stuck to the side of your desk or kitchen counter. They also work great behind your entertainment center or wherever else is convenient.
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Tile Mate (2024)
Everyone has felt the sinking feeling of losing their keys. Tile’s Mate is a Bluetooth tracker designed to fit onto your key ring. If you forget them, you can check the tracker’s location using an app to retrieve them. The Mate also has an SOS button you can push to subtly alert friends and family members you’re in an unsafe situation.
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ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover
The ChomChom is a reusable roller that works great for removing unwanted pet hair from furniture, allowing you to skip lint rollers, vacuuming, and other cleaning tools in a pinch.
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Nite Ize DoohicKey Plus Key Tool
It’s a screwdriver, a ruler, a wrench, a bottle opener, a knife, and even a nail puller. And it’s got a built-in carabiner for easy attachment to a belt loop or your keys.
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GE Cync smart bulbs (two-pack)
GE’s 800-lumen Wi-Fi bulbs serve as a great entry point for making your home a little smarter. The color-changing LED bulbs work with Alexa and Google Assistant without a hub, and they support Matter for interoperability with Apple Home, making them a great choice if you’re unsure which smart home platform your giftee uses.
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LifeStraw personal water filter
LifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.
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Gerber Dime 12-in-1 mini EDC multitool
A multitool is a practical gift that won’t collect dust in a junk drawer. Gerber’s Dime has 12 tools, including wire cutters, scissors, nose pliers, two flat-head drivers, and a bottle opener. The Dime is only 2.75 inches long when closed, so it’s easy to carry in a pocket or keep in a car glove box.
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Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
Mornings are hard enough even before breakfast. The Dash Rapid egg cooker makes it easy to eat something nutritious, cooking up to seven eggs — poached, scrambled, or hard-boiled — in under 15 minutes. It automatically shuts off when your eggs are done, and you can pop the nonelectric parts in the dishwasher, making cleanup a breeze.
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Energizer Headlamp Pro (two-pack)
Having access to a spare headlamp is always a good idea, whether for grilling at night or sifting through an attic. The dirt-cheap Headlamp Pro might not be the brightest option available, but it runs on AAA batteries, carries an IPX4 weatherproof rating, and produces a 260-lumen beam that can illuminate up to 80 meters in front of you.
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TP-Link Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini
A smart plug adds functionality to an existing gadget rather than replacing it. Once the plug is connected to your Wi-Fi network and a gadget, you can turn it on and off using an app. TP-Link’s Tapo smart plug supports Matter, so you can add it to whichever smart home platform you use.
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Magicteam Sound Machine SN-A1
A white noise machine can help you sleep or concentrate when silence is too boring, or when music or podcasts are too overstimulating. It can play 20 sounds, including blue noise, pink noise, rain or ocean sounds, or a fan. You can set the machine on a timer to turn off after one to four hours, or run continuously.
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So. Many. Planner Stickers. 2,600-sticker kit
This bundle includes over 2,600 stickers designed to brighten and bring order to planners, calendars, notebooks, and to-do lists. They’re great for tracking appointments, deadlines, and social plans, and fun for journals and scrapbooks, too. It’s a simple way to help you stay organized and motivated.
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NIIMBOT D110 Label Printer with Tape
Niimbot’s inkless, rechargeable label printer can help you stay organized anytime, anywhere. The portable gadget pairs with both iOS and Android, and features a range of simple templates for creating custom labels.
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Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim
The hub-less Wi-Fi plug lets you control your lights, coffee maker, and other devices with a phone, complete with scheduling. The inexpensive plug also tracks energy use to keep electricity bills in check.
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Iniu Carry P55 Power Bank
This slim 10,000mAh charger can deliver 45W of power, letting you quickly charge an iPhone 17 or similarly sized phone to over 50 percent in under 30 minutes. It features two USB-C ports and a USB-A port for charging up to three devices at the same time.
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Lego Flowering Cactus
Lego’s Flowering Cactus is an adorable 482-piece set you never have to worry about watering — even lower maintenance than real cacti.
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Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light
Glocusent’s LED Neck Reading Light is a great personal book light that illuminates what you’re reading without bothering others. It even has adjustable brightness and warmth settings to dial it in to your liking.
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