27 Great Tech Gifts Under $100

Solo Stove makes some of the best smokeless fire pits, including the Ranger 2.0 (small), Bonfire 2.0 (medium) and Yukon 2.0 (large) fire pits. But if you're looking for something a little smaller, it also makes two mini fire pits: the Mesa and Mesa XL. Both come in several colors, including traditional stainless steel. 

I started off using the smaller Mesa, but when the Mesa XL was released, I found myself gravitating to the larger version of the mini fire pit (pictured on the left) because it looks and feels a little more substantial while remaining compact. (As you might expect, it does produce a bigger fire with a heat radius of 2 to 3 feet compared with the Mesa's 1 to 2 feet.) 

As its name implies, the Mesa XL is designed to sit on a tabletop and is quite portable. Naturally, you could also set it on the ground, but when you put it on a table, it's at a good height for roasting marshmallows. It has the same 360-degree Signature Airflow system as Solo Stove's larger fire pits.

There are more affordable portable blenders, like the Blendjet 2 and the Hamilton Beach Single-Serve, but the Ninja Blast, which lists for $60, is a step up from those models. It looks and feels more premium, and though it isn't super powerful, it's a good option for making smoothies and protein shakes on the go or at home when you don't want to deal with a full-size blender. Additionally, you can drink right from the blender, as it has a leak-proof sip lid. Available in multiple colors and easy to operate, it has an 18-ounce capacity and recharges via USB-C. 

Tribit's StormBox Flow is another Bose SoundLink Flex knockoff for less that boasts some similarities with the Soundcore Motion 300, including the same list price. The Tribit may actually sound slightly better than the Motion 300, edging it out for bass performance, but the Anker speaker wins on design.

Like the SoundLink Flex, the Tribit StormBox Flow can be laid down flat with its speaker firing up. You can also wirelessly pair two of the speakers for stereo sound.

It has an IP67 water-resistance rating, which means it's dust-resistant and fully waterproof. Tribit says it delivers up to 30 hours of audio at moderate volume levels; that's impressive.

BioLite makes several different headlamps, with the BioLite HeadLamp 800 being its brightest model at 800 lumens. It's equipped with front and back lights (the front light swivels) that offer eight different lighting modes. It's good for a variety of settings, whether you're working in a dark environment or just walking your dog or riding a bike at night. The battery is rechargeable via a Micro-USB connection (I do wish it was USB-C).

Note that the step-down HeadLamp 425 costs $60, while the HeadLamp 325 is $40.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds have a lower list price than their predecessor and are arguably better. They have improved noise canceling and better sound quality, along with support for the LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. (Many Android smartphones do, and in theory, it offers slightly improved sound quality when paired with a music streaming service that offers high-res tracks.) They're lightweight buds that should fit most ears comfortably with four sizes of ear tips to choose from.

What's cool about Anker's 622 magnetic battery is that it's a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won't get fast wireless charging from this 5,000 mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts) but it's slim and easy to carry around. 

It charges via USB-C, and if you use a USB-C to Lightning to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That's not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it's faster than 7.5 watts.

Note that Anker has updated this model to move the charging port to the side (from the bottom), so you can charge it while using it as a stand. That's a worthy upgrade worth the $5 premium versus the old version (which confusingly retains the same 622 model number). 

Yes, you can buy cheaper French press coffee makers. Still, the Hydro Flask is insulated, so it keeps your coffee hot longer, and it's made of stainless steel, so it's more durable than a glass French press.

For people who've never used a French press, you dump the coffee grounds into the container, pour in hot water, and then put the lid on with the plunger pulled up (there's a mesh filter attached to the plunger). Let things brew for several minutes and then push down the plunger. The grounds get compressed at the bottom as you squeeze out that extra flavor. You then pour as much coffee as you want into a cup or mug. What remains in the French press will stay hot for up to a couple of hours (and maybe even a bit longer), so you can go for a refill or share it with someone else.    

A while back I took my kid to the doctor because he had a bunch of ear wax built up in his ear and was having trouble hearing (yes, gross). The doctor was able to dislodge it with a pressurized stream of water, which is exactly what devices like the Wush Pro by Black Wolf deliver. 

Designed to be used in the shower, the Wush Pro does indeed work to remove ear wax buildup. For people who have sensitive ears, it can be a little disconcerting to use at first, but read the instructions carefully and start at a lower setting before ramping things up (there are three pressure settings, and the Wush is equipped with a rechargeable battery). The pump inside does make some noise (it's a little irritating), but it's tolerable and beats a visit to the doctor.

Twelve South's HoverBar Duo is a flexible stand for iPads and other tablets that has a weighted base and an articulating arm to adjust the angle and height of your device. You can also remove the HoverBar from its base and clip it to a bar or shelf using the shelf clip. The second-gen model has a quick-release design, but the first-gen model is about $20 cheaper at $60.

If you're looking for a way to use your iPad in the kitchen, as a second monitor or as a video conferencing display, the HoverBar Duo is a nice accessory and makes a great gift for all those iPad owners out there.

I previously had the RiotPWR Mobile Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS, but it had one flaw. Because it had an integrated Lightning cable that allows for lag-free gaming -- at least when it comes to button presses -- you couldn't use it with newer iPads or iPhones that have a USB-C connection. The new RiotPWR RP1950 controller solves that problem by allowing you to swap out the Lightning cable module for a USB-C cable module. 

Like RiotPWR's earlier iOS controller, which is white, the black RP1950 is a more traditionally shaped Xbox-like controller that includes a mount for your phone. While there's no built-in battery that keeps your phone charged while playing, like the Backbone and Razer Kishi V2, this model has a pass-through charging option if you want to hook up a separate Lightning cable to a battery pack or wall charger.

The controller is nicely designed and doesn't feel cheap (the dock can accommodate a variety of iPhones, including larger iPhone Max models). Remove the dock and you can use this with any iPad that has a Lightning or USB-C port. To swap cables, you have to stick a paper clip in a hole in the bottom of the controller, which releases the cable module. It's a little tricky the first time you do it, but once you figure out how it's done, it's pretty straightforward.

It's also worth noting that even though this is called an "iOS controller," it will work with Android smartphones and tablets that have USB-C ports.  

Anker's upgraded compact charger can charge a MacBook Pro 13 at full speed. Not only is it small for how much power it can deliver (it has foldable prongs), but it also has three ports (2 USB-C and one USB-A) that allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time. Be aware that power is split between the ports if you charge more than one device. It uses the next-generation GaN 3 technology. 

Sony released its new entry-level CH-720N noise-canceling headphones in 2023. They're quite good, but if you can't afford them (they list for $150), the company's new budget on-ear CH-520 headphones are an intriguing option for around $50.

They lack noise canceling and are pretty no-frills, but they feature good sound for their price. They're also lightweight and pretty comfortable for on-ear headphones, and have excellent battery life (they're rated for up to 50 hours at moderate volume levels). Additionally, they have multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair them with two devices simultaneously (such as a smartphone and computer) and switch audio. Voice-calling performance is decent, though not up to the level of what you get with the CH-720N. 

Note that there's no wired option -- this is a wireless Bluetooth-only headphone. The CH-520 offers balanced sound overall, with decent clarity. The bass has some punch but doesn't pack a wallop, and you aren't going to get quite as wide a soundstage as you get from Sony's more expensive over-ear headphones. But these definitely sound better than Sony's previous entry-level on-ear headphones, and they sound better than I thought they would. I tried the white color, but they also come in blue and black. 

We really liked this Lightning-connected controller from startup Backbone when it first came out in its original black version. You can still get that model, but it now comes in a white PlayStation version for use with the PS Remote Play app.

Like the Razer Kishi, it turns any iPhone 6S or later into a Nintendo Switch-style gaming experience, with added smarts for social and chatty gamers. Like the Kishi, it connects via Lightning with pass-through charging but has no built-in battery. While the Kishi V2 is now more Backbone-like in its design (with better ergonomics) the Backbone controller still holds an advantage in the software department with a superior companion app.

Diatomaceous earth shower mats may cost more than your standard cloth bath mat, but they hold up better over time, feel good underfoot and dry surprisingly quickly. Bonus: You don't have to stick them in the wash to clean them. 

Sutera's Stone Bath comes in a few designs, including slate, granite and gray with wavy grooves (pictured). They include a non-slip safety mat that you put underneath the stone mat. 

The Roku Ultra has always been a fine 4K HDR streamer. As the flagship in Roku's extensive line of sticks and players, its bag of nifty tricks includes a remote finder and a remote with programmable remote buttons. This version adds better Wi-Fi, a faster processor and the ability to stream in Dolby Vision -- a long-awaited feature that allows it to better compete with the best streamers from Amazon, Apple and Google. 

Yes, the Roku Express 4K Plus, which costs around $40, is a better value, but the upgraded Ultra is often on sale these days for $70 (it lists for $100) and it has an Ethernet port for those who want to go with a wired connection.

NutriBullet keeps it simple with three power levels, a pulse setting and 1,200 watts of power. It performed well in all of our tests. Smooth batters, finely crushed ice, green smoothies, hot soup and good grated cheese (our torture test) were all easy to achieve. A reasonable price tag means you won't have to break the bank to get a good blender.

The 64-ounce blending jar is plenty big enough for most recipes. The personal blender comes with a handy recipe book and a tamper to make sure all your ingredients contact the blades. The NutriBullet blender jar is also dishwasher safe and comes with a one-year warranty. 

Simple, powerful and consistent, the NutriBullet is one of the best moderately priced blenders on the market right now.

BioLite has several portable lighting options, and the Alpenglow 500 is one of its more recent additions. It's a portable lantern that has multiple modes and color options. As its name implies, it delivers 500 lumens, and it is indeed pretty bright.

The step-down Alpenglow 250 offers 250 lumens for $15 less. Both are rated for five hours of battery life on the high setting and up to 200 hours on the low setting.

Whoever you're getting this for may be a little embarrassed, but will most likely appreciate it in the end. Panasonic says this groomer has a unique V-shaped head that's "built to go everywhere" -- and with precision. It comes with two attachments, has almost two hours of battery life, and can be used wet or dry. A travel case is included. It's an excellent manscaping device.

The list price recently crept above $100, but we left it on this list as a bonus pick because it costs just a little more than $100. 

The Yoose Mini Electric Shaver isn't the most powerful electric shaver, and I can't say I got the cleanest, closest shave using it. But it's really small -- about the size of some wireless earbud cases -- and it does work well enough and feels more premium than I thought it would. That makes it a good on-the-go electric shaver. 

Available in multiple colors, it's IPX7 waterproof, so it can be used both wet and dry. Though it retails for $90, discounts often drop its price closer to $60.