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Best Father's Day gifts under $50

A lean bank account doesn't let you off the hook for gifts this Father's Day, because you can easily spend less than $50 and still get him some great gadgets. Here are CNET's favorites, which include everything from video streamers to wireless speakers to -- yes -- even a tablet.

Justin Yu
Justin Yu covered headphones and peripherals for CNET.
Justin Yu
Tech under $50
1 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Dad always deserves the best, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a lot to buy him a nice tech gift.

"Cheap tech" used to mean throwaway products -- but not anymore. Now, you can get some of the most convenient and useful gadgets available at amazingly low prices, including everything from headphones and video streamers to wireless speakers and fitness trackers. That's good news for you -- and good news for your wallet.

Creative Sound Blaster Jam
2 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Creative Sound Blaster Jam

We're starting to see prices on wireless Bluetooth headphones dip to below $100. But the Creative Sound Blaster Jam is the first wireless model for under $50 that we can recommend.

It's perfect for the dad who likes listening to music on his smartphone or tablet, without being encumbered by wires.

Amazon_Basics_Portable_Bluetooth_Speake_35834967_02.jpg
3 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Basics Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The largest Bluetooth speaker on our list is still small enough to travel well, and it delivers a bit more oomph than the micro-mini models listed previously. The Amazon Basics model is also available in blue, white and red. A smaller model, the Ultra-Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker, retails for just $30.

Misfit Flash
4 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Misfit Flash

If your dad's New Year's resolution this year was to get in shape, the Misfit Flash is one of the only real choices you can get for $30 or less. The standard Flash (linked here) includes the wristband shown above, which is a better investment than the $20 Flash Link, which only includes a clip-on holder. Both, however, work with Android phones and iPhones, making them nearly universal accessories your dad can use to track his steps.

Sol Republic Punk
5 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Sol Republic Punk

Looking for a more rugged wireless speaker? The Sol Republic Punk is water-resistant, so it's great for your dad to take to the pool, beach or shower.

Originally priced at $70, it can now be found for under $50. But also note that its larger, better-sounding sibling, the Sol Republic Deck, can now be purchased for a few bucks more -- even though it once sold for $200.

Roku Streaming Stick (2016)
6 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Roku Streaming Stick (2016)

If your dad is a cutting-edge shopper, the newly updated Roku Streaming Stick will blow him away.

For just $50, the 2016 stick is much faster than the old one and now it lets you listen to programming via headphones plugged into the jack on your phone.

biolite-06.jpg
7 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Biolite PowerLight Mini

The $49.99 Biolite PowerLight Mini is a handy lantern, bike light, and charger all in one. You clip it to a pocket or strap or mount to your bike (mount included) and its 1350mAh USB rechargeable battery provides up to 52 hours of light or a backup boost to your phone. Lighting Modes include White Lantern, Red Night Vision, Red/White Strobe, and White Point Light.

See pricing and more info for Biolite PowerLight Mini on Amazon.

Divoom Voombox Travel Bluetooth speaker
8 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Divoom Voombox Travel Bluetooth speaker

Rounding out the outdoor-friendly Bluetooth speaker list for Father's Day is the Divoom Voombox Travel. It's one of the better-sounding water-resistant wireless speakers you can buy under $50.

Amazon Fire tablet
9 of 22 James Martin/CNET

Amazon Fire tablet

We're not gonna say this is a great tablet. But if your dad is an Amazon Prime member, you could do a lot worse than the new entry-level Fire tablet, which costs just $50 but boasts a 7-inch screen and includes expandable storage.

JBL Clip+ Bluetooth speaker
10 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

JBL Clip+

As the name suggests, the JBL Clip+ can be latched on to nearly anything while it's streaming music from a smartphone or tablet, making it a great gift idea for active dads who want to soundtrack a day of exercise. And the "plus" version adds water resistance, to boot.

Tylt Energi 2K
11 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Tylt Energi 2K

Best for dads that are always running out of charge on their phones, the Tylt Energi 2K does double duty as a standard USB charger (with fold-away prongs) and external battery pack. That's because there's a rechargeable 2,200mAh battery built into the unit, which comes in three different colors (blue, black, lime green).

When plugged into the wall, the Energi 2K charges your device first, then its internal battery. When on the go, it should almost double the battery life of your dad's phone.

Logitech X100 Bluetooth speaker
12 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech X100

Bluetooth speakers, meanwhile, are also ideal for music-loving fathers who use their smartphones or tablets as a primary music source. The doughnut-shaped Logitech X100 is available in multiple colors and delivers good sound for its size and price (about $25).

Amazon Fire TV Stick
13 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Fire TV Stick

For $5 more than the Chromecast, the Fire TV Stick gives your dad a nice dedicated remote control that'll ease the transition once you cut off him cable subscription, maybe?

It's got most of the key services he wants (Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Crackle, Amazon Instant), as well as HBO Now/HBO Go and the "skinny bundle" cable alternative, Sling TV. The 2015 model includes a voice-activated remote for just $10 more, and it's got some Alexa-enhanced smarts, to boot.

Shortcut Labs Flic
14 of 22 Chris Monroe/CNET

Shortcut Labs Flic

Is your dad a tinkerer? If so, the Flic "smart button" will be right up his alley. This $34 gadget is literally just a button, but you can stick in anywhere and program it to do all manner of automated stuff by sending commands to nearby Bluetooth-enabled gadgets. Want a bunch? You can get four for $100 and hook up the entire family.

JVC HA-S400 Carbon Nanotubes headphones
15 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

JVC HA-S400 Carbon Nanotubes headphones

Anything is better than those stock earbuds your dad is probably still using to listen to music on his phone. Granted, you won't find Beats headphones for less than $150 or so, but these stylish JVC headphones are a nice budget alternative, and they get the job done for under $25.

Google Chromecast (2015)
16 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Google Chromecast (2015)

Let's start with some of the most indispensable tech you can buy today: video streamers. Google's Chromecast, updated for 2015, is the most affordable one on the market. For $35, it lets Dad stream hundreds of channels, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Watch ESPN, HBO Now/HBO Go, Showtime and Vudu -- though he'll need to be a subscriber for each, of course, which often involves monthly fees or a cable/satellite TV account.

Philips BT2500 Bluetooth speaker
17 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Philips BT2500

Your dad may get nostalgic over the Philips BT2500's retro design.

It looks like an old transistor radio -- with a nice big analog volume dial -- but the BT2500 travels well and delivers impressive sound for its size. (Step up to the double-wide BT3500 for $70 if you think he'll prefer more gusto -- and NFC pairing.)

Logitech K380 Multi-device Bluetooth Keyboard
18 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard

For just $40, the Logitech K380 is the best multidevice wireless keyboard we've seen to date. Toggle between three devices -- say, a PC or Mac, a tablet and a smartphone -- at the click of a button.

Philips Shoqbox Mini
19 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Philips Shoqbox Mini

The Philips Shoqbox Mini continues the water-resistant theme. The 2015 model can be had for around $40.

Google Chromecast Audio
20 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Google Chromecast Audio

If your dad is more of an audio person, the $35 Chromecast Audio is great because it turns any of his old stereos, boom boxes or dusty PC speakers into a modern wireless music system. Just tap a button on a phone or tablet app like Spotify, Pandora, NPR One or iHeart Radio, and the music is transported to those bigger speakers via Wi-Fi. It works with iPhones and iPads with a few apps, but Android users can send any audio from their phones without restriction.

Moshi_earbuds_35645522_03.jpg
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Moshi Mythro

If your dad prefers in-ear headphones, the Moshi Mythro earbuds are some of the best you can buy him for $30 or under. Unlike many supercheap models, the Mythros include an inline microphone for taking calls, and they exude pretty great sound quality considering the low price tag.

Apple TV (2015)
22 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

That's it for our favorite sub-$50 Father's Day gifts. But if you've got a higher budget, we've got plenty of more choices for him -- like the $150 Apple TV shown here. Check out the CNET 100 for the latest, greatest tech.

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