Score Top Tech Deals Under $50 This Black Friday

Finding incredible tech deals under $50 during the Black Friday sales is easier than you might think. Our team has sifted through the discounts to highlight gadgets and accessories we personally use and love, all available at a surprisingly low price point.

Useful Tech

For years, I put off buying a proper phone holder for my car, stubbornly trying to navigate without Android Auto. I finally broke down and purchased a generic wireless phone charger and holder from Amazon. It isn’t a premium brand, but the suction cup mount has held firm on my dashboard, and the auto-clamping feature keeps my device secure. The wireless charging is a massive improvement over the weak USB cable I used to struggle with.

Frequent international travel makes a versatile charging brick a non-negotiable item for me. The Minix 66W 3-Port GaN wall charger is my top pick because it’s incredibly compact yet powerful. With two USB-C fast-charging ports and one USB-A port, I can charge my laptop, phone, and another gadget all at once. The included European and UK plug adapters snap on easily, making it a true global companion.

I tend to use my phones until they practically fall apart, but even my reliable Pixel 6 has started showing its age with dwindling battery life. The solution was the lightweight Anker Nano Power Bank. It plugs directly into my phone’s USB-C port like a small attachment, weighs a mere 3.5 ounces, and provides a 5,000mAh boost, just enough to get me through a long day. Its light color also makes it easy to spot in the depths of my bag.

My ToAuto soldering station sat unused for a long time until I began tinkering with game console repairs. While it’s not a professional-grade tool from Hakko or Weller, it’s perfect for a beginner. It heats up quickly, includes various interchangeable tips, and comes with steel wool for cleaning. This little station has already helped me solder an HDMI port onto a PlayStation 4 and replace batteries in vintage Game Boy cartridges.

After my partner lost his wallet on a bus, I immediately ordered him a Tile Slim tracker. I’ve relied on Tile devices for my own keys and wallet for years. While the transit authority was helpful in retrieving the wallet, we’re hoping the tracker prevents any future trips to the bus depot.

The name “Royal Kludge” always makes me chuckle, but this is genuinely the best folding Bluetooth keyboard I’ve owned. It’s the only multi-device keyboard that stays put on my lap without sliding off. The fact that it’s a mechanical keyboard with swappable keycaps is a bonus. Its real strengths are the comfortable typing experience, the ability to switch between multiple Bluetooth devices seamlessly, and a vertical fold that prevents it from falling into the gap between my legs.

My former boss frequently recommended the Hoto electric screwdriver, so I decided to try it. It has since become a tool I use almost every week. It’s not for heavy-duty projects requiring high torque, but it’s perfect for tightening desk legs, assembling furniture, and securing my bike seat. The built-in LED light is a nice touch, and the included case neatly holds all 25 steel bits. It truly does make for a fantastic gift.

Older buildings often have loose electrical sockets that can’t support the weight of modern charging hubs. After a frustrating vacation where I had to balance a charging hub on a pile of books, I bought an Anker extension cord and power strip combo. It’s a compact cube with several outlets and USB ports at the end of a five-foot cable. It takes up a bit of suitcase space, but it has proven its worth on every trip since.

This clever device from Epicka combines six plug adapters into one unit. Some versions include USB ports for charging multiple devices from a single outlet. It’s bulkier than carrying a couple of specialized adapters, but for multi-country travel, it’s a lifesaver. I appreciate that it includes a spare fuse for voltage issues. While marketed as “universal,” it covers the four most common plug types, which works in most, but not all, countries. It’s still far better than paying inflated prices at an airport shop.

Bags and Backpacks

Let’s get the childish glee out of the way: NANANANANANANA BAT BAG! Killstar offers a great selection for those with alternative fashion tastes, and this Vamped Up backpack is a favorite. It won’t fit a laptop, but it’s spacious enough for a phone, wallet, e-reader, and other daily essentials. The back-facing zipper adds security, and the rubber-like bat design on the front has kept my belongings dry in the rain.

For over a year, the Alpaka 2L Flight Sling bag has been my constant companion for carrying phones, earbuds, and keys without weighing down my pockets. For a recent trip to British Columbia, I switched to the Alpaka 2L Flow Satchel, which has a similar capacity but adds a zippered back pocket for my passport and an expandable side sleeve that perfectly held my water bottle. The water-resistant construction with sealed zippers kept everything dry during a misty whale-watching excursion.

When I started cycling, I noticed everyone had fancy pannier bags, and I wanted in. Riding with a standard backpack guaranteed a sweaty back upon arrival. I discovered Two Wheel Gear, which makes a brilliant convertible bag. It functions as a pannier with stowable backpack straps, and once you’re off the bike, you convert it into a backpack. It includes a laptop sleeve, multiple pockets, and even a built-in rain cover.

With only one drink holder on my bike, I found it much more convenient to carry water on my back using the CamelBak Hydrobak hydration pack. This lightweight backpack holds 1.5 liters of water, which is sufficient for a two-hour ride. The handy straw allows for easy drinking, and the backpack keeps the water relatively cool. A zippered pocket provides space for keys, ID, and other small items.

Food Prep

I adore a simple piece of bread and butter, but I detest spreading cold, hard butter. My solution was an airtight ceramic butter dish that allows me to keep butter at room temperature. I’m not here to debate food safety guidelines, but in my household, with salted butter and a family that goes through it quickly, it has worked perfectly for us.

I never understood how much joy a grater could bring until we bought a Microplane. Whether I’m zesting citrus or creating fluffy piles of parmesan cheese, it’s an absolute pleasure to use. We still keep a standard box grater for vegetables, but the Microplane’s sharper blades are superior for almost every other task.

One of my first purchases after moving into my own place was a food chopper. While culinary purists may frown, it saves me an enormous amount of time. I frequently make tikka masala, which requires finely diced ginger, a task for which the chopper is perfectly suited. My old one recently broke, so I’m in the market for a new, perhaps fancier, model.

My wife and I originally bought a small blender for making smoothies and protein shakes. Its primary purpose has since evolved into making purees for our baby. Such is life.

The Instant Pot has been a kitchen staple for years. It can make rice, slow-cook stews, and even fry chicken, often in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. Cooking rice, for instance, takes just six minutes, and there’s no need to monitor the pot. Sometimes it’s just easier to let the Instant Pot handle the cooking.

Personal Items

When I planned a multi-week trip, I was anxious about caring for my fish. After considering various complicated options, I found the Petbank Automatic Fish Feeder. It clamps onto the tank and has 15 compartments for daily food portions, controlled by a timer. At feeding time, a hatch opens to release the food. It charges via USB-C and offers a long battery life. It fed my fish reliably every other day while I was away.

The one item I never forget for a multi-day trip is my Tushy portable bidet. Travel often means unpredictable toilet paper quality, and this bottle-based bidet ensures I can freshen up anywhere. The collapsible bottle is easy to clean, doesn’t leak, and stores discreetly in its own bag.

Happy feet are essential for a happy life. During a rainy week in Scotland, I lived in either Balega blister resist socks or Darn Tough wool socks. The Balegas have carried me through hundreds of running miles without a single blister. Wool socks are breathable, resist odor, and provide insulation even when wet, a must for rainy climates or active days. A crucial factor for me is that both brands offer sizes that accommodate larger feet.

The Sound Pocket isn’t the highest-fidelity Bluetooth speaker I own, but it’s the one I grab most often due to its incredibly small size. It truly fits in a jeans pocket or the smallest backpack compartment and has a silicone loop for easy attachment. While it doesn’t produce thumping bass, it sounds better than my phone’s speaker and is so compact that I never hesitate to bring it along.

Many excellent Bluetooth speakers exist, but the UE Wonderboom 4 is my perfect match. It’s affordable, compact yet loud, has all-day battery life, is waterproof, and it even floats. I keep one in my car trunk, and it has made me the hero of countless impromptu gatherings.

(Source: The Verge)