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Best tech gear for dad under $100

Don't have a ton of money to spend on dad? Fear not: There's plenty of good tech gear available for less than $100.

David Carnoy
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
John Falcone Senior Editorial Director, Shopping
John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
Expertise Over 20 years experience in electronics and gadget reviews and analysis, and consumer shopping advice Credentials
  • Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
David Carnoy
John Falcone
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1 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Tech gifts for less than $100

Even if your budget's a bit on the thin side, there are still plenty of options for gadgets for Father's Day.

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2 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Roku 3 (2015)

What dad can't use a media streamer? Roku's full-featured Roku 3 costs less than $100. That said, the new 2016 version of the Roku Streaming Stick offers similar performance and features for $50 less, so be sure to check that model out too.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

Amazon Fire TV_2015
3 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Fire TV (2015)

Amazon's Fire TV does have some cool advantages over Roku and competing devices, including excellent parental controls, great support and the ability to work with tricky hotel and dorm-room Wi-Fi systems (although Roku recently added that last feature).

The new Fire TV box also delivers next-generation 4K video for less than any other 4K-compatible streamer, although most 4K TVs have built-in apps that can do the same thing. Plus, its new Alexa voice-assistant feature offers cool tricks like replying to your queries about the weather and adding stuff to a to-do list.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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4 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech MX Master

Who doesn't love an awesome mouse? While somewhat pricey, the Logitech MX Master's expansive feature set and smooth operation make it a worthwhile purchase for power users.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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5 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Biolite SolarPanel 5+

Biolite's $80 SolarPanel 5+ is equipped with an internal battery that stores energy from the sun, which means you can keep a charge in reserve your for smartphone and other devices, although tablets will take longer to charge.

See price for Biolite SolarPanel 5+ on Amazon.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

JBL Flip 3
6 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

JBL Flip 3

JBL's third-generation Flip wireless speaker has a more streamlined, splash-proof design and better battery life (at 10 hours), while the price remains the same at $100. And as with all such speakers, the JBL plays any audio content from a Bluetooth-enabled source -- nearly any smartphone or tablet, and most recent computers -- so long as it's in the same room or relatively nearby. (Want more Bluetooth speaker options? Check out our list of best portable mini Bluetooth speakers, many of which are under $100.)

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

Amazon Kindle 2012
7 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Kindle 2014

Yes, tablets and smartphones can double as e-readers. But the $79 Amazon Kindle has a long-lasting battery and a paper-like screen that avid readers will appreciate. And unlike more versatile devices, there won't be any calls, emails or texts to distract the reader, either.

Amazon's latest entry-level e-reader, which occasionally gets discounted to $59, adds a touchscreen, but leaves off the integrated light found in the step-up 2013 Paperwhite, Voyage and Oasis models.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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8 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Amazon Fire HD 6

As much as we like e-ink readers, though, an extra $20 will get you a full-fledged color tablet. Sure, it doesn't have much storage (8GB) and it's not super-zippy, but the well-designed Fire HD 6 is one of the better options out there -- especially given its $99 price tag. It does come in a 16GB version for $20 more, and it's also worth mentioning that Amazon occasionally discounts both HD 6 models from time to time, making them even better bargains.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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9 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

1More Triple Driver In-ear

The 1More Triple Driver is of the best sounding in-ear headphones for under the $100 mark.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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10 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple TV

The new Apple TV starts at $149, but the old Apple TV, which doesn't come with the fancy voice remote or have the ability to play games, is just $69.

If your dad's invested in the Apple universe -- if he owns an iPhone, iPad or Mac, or already has lots of movies, TV shows, and music on iTunes -- Apple TV is a better choice than the Roku. And even though it's 3 years old, Apple is keeping its box fresh with new channels every few months.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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11 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is eco-friendly and practical -- use it with a Mac, iPad or iPhone and never worry about recharging the battery.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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12 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech UE Roll

The UE Roll is a fully waterproof, wireless Bluetooth speaker that sounds quite good for its size. It comes in multiple color options for around $70. For $30 more you can the slightly improved UE Roll 2, which just hit stores in time for Father's Day.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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13 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Beyerdynamic DTX 350p

Beyerdynamic makes some great high-end headphones, but lately it's been putting out some value models with great sound. The on-ear DTX 350p, which comes in black or white, sounds better than a lot of headphones that cost twice the price.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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14 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Sony MDR-7506

An oldie, but a goodie. Despite being first released in the 1990s, the Sony MDR-7506 may well be the best-sounding headphones you can get for under $100.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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15 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Plantronics BackBeat Fit

If your dad's a runner, the Plantronics BackBeat Fit may not be perfect, but it's one of the best wireless sports headphones available -- and it now costs less than $100.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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16 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Garmin Vivofit 2

Looking for a low-maintenance step counter? The Garmin Vivofit 2 is waterproof and has a one-year battery life, despite its always-on screen. Not bad for about $50 online.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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17 of 29 David Carnoy/CNET

Moshi IonBank 3K with built-in Lightning cable

Moshi's IonBank battery chargers are on the expensive side, but they are very stylish, with faux "vegan" leather protective coverings and integrated Lightning cables. The IonBank 3K, the smallest of the line, mroe than doubles the battery life of your iPhone (120 percent). It costs around $65.

See more info and pricing for Moshi IonBank 3K portable battery charger on Amazon.

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18 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Jawbone Up2

The new version of the Jawbone Up2 features a redesign that makes the band more stylish and, more importantly, less likely to fall off your wrist. It's leaps and bounds better than the original Up2. Plus, a new firmware update finally adds overdue automatic sleep tracking to this model and previous versions.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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19 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Skullcandy Grind Wireless

The Grind, one of our favorite budget headphones, now comes in a wireless Bluetooth version called the Grind Wireless for $90. It's available in multiple color options and sounds very good for its relatively modest price.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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20 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse

One of the swankier mice out there that's designed for mobile use, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is essentially a mini, travel-friendly version of Logitech's flagship MX Master.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

Jawbone Mini Jambox
21 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Jawbone Mini Jambox

The Jambox Mini initially retailed for $179, but has steadily dropped in price and now can be had for $75 in certain colors (yes, it's available in a variety colors).

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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22 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Monster Adidas Sport Adistar

Monster's Adidas-branded Sport Adistar In-Ear Wireless ($100) is one of the better fitting in-ear wireless sports headphones -- and it also sounds decent for the money. Another good choice for dads who run.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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23 of 29 David Carnoy/CNET

Belkin Travel RockStar

A dual-outlet travel surge protector may not be the most exciting thing to give dad, but the Belkin Travel RockStar is more than a surge protector: It also has a built-in 3000mAh rechargeable battery pack so you can juice up your phone or tablet even when you're not near an outlet. The RockStar lists for $60 but can be had for closer to $30 online.

See more info and pricing on Amazon.

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24 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Mophie Juice Pack Wireless

People have always bought Mophie cases to extend the battery life of their phones. But now you can add a new feature to the Mophie list: wireless charging.

That's right, along with the previously released wireless Juice Packs for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the company has now released the Juice Pack Wireless for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and the Plus versions of both phones. You can pick up these iPhone cases at Apple stores and Best Buy for $99.99. All of Mophie's cases will offer wireless charging in future.

See pricing for Mophie Juice Pack Wireless at bestbuy.com.

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25 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Adonit Pixel

When it comes to iPad styluses, the Apple Pencil has understandably gotten most of the press. But that digital pen only works with iPad Pros.

Adonit's new Pixel ($80), which the company calls its most accurate and responsive stylus to date, with an improved 1.9 mm Pixelpoint tip, is compatible with several iPads -- nine to be exact -- not just the top-end ones.

Like Adonit's two earlier styluses, the Jot Script and the Touch, the Pixel is Bluetooth-enabled and turns on automatically when pressed to the screen when using certain note-taking and sketch apps that have built-in Pixel support. It also ships with a magnetic charger/dock that plugs into the USB port on your computer.

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26 of 29 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Amazon Echo Dot

It's not so easy to get an Echo Dot right now (only existing Echo owners can order it through the Echo and shipment dates have been pushed out to summer). But the new mini version of Amazon's cloud-connected, voice-activated speaker does cost less than $100.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

Logitech Harmony Home Control
27 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech Harmony Home Control

We've got a few products here at the end of the roundup that don't quite get in under the $100 mark, but if you're willing to stretch your budget a little, they're worth checking out.

The Harmony Home Control offers the best value for your money in the Logitech line, with an RF remote (no more line-of-sight issues) and the option to use iOS and Android devices as remote controls, too. It costs a little more than $100, but it's still a good deal.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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28 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite e-reader carries a list price of $119, but sometimes Amazon discounts it to $99. It's not as slick as the step-up Kindle Voyage, but it now sports an HD screen and is a fine e-reader, especially at $99.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

Bose SoundLink Color
29 of 29 Sarah Tew/CNET

Bose SoundLink Color

For about 30 bucks more than $100, you can pick up a Bose SoundLink Color. It doesn't perform quite as well as the $200 SoundLink Mini, but it's an attractive little Bluetooth speaker that delivers big sound for its size, is easy to tote around and recharges with a standard Micro-USB cable.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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