Best gifts under $100 for new grads

The perfect alternative to the SNES Classic is the Nintendo 2DS XL. This $150 portable plays nearly all of the same games, plus hundreds more. If that's beyond your budget, though, the standard 2DS is just $80. The one snag: The standard 2DS can't play most SNES titles from Nintendo's library. It does, however, come bundled with either New Super Mario Bros. 2 or Mario Kart 7.  

The biggest bang for your buck in Roku's current lineup is the $70 Streaming Stick Plus. The plug-in design gives you full 4K and HDR compatibility, and a remote with both voice control and the ability to control your TV's volume and power. Oh, and it streams every major (and hundreds of minor) video service out there, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, Movies Anywhere and HBO Go.

If you want to move beyond the Stick, the new Roku Ultra box adds a private listening mode and a handy remote finder button.

Amazon's 4K Fire TV streaming dongle isn't quite as good as Roku's stick. But it costs the same $70 and it's fully compatible with Amazon's best-in-class Alexa voice assistant. If your grad lives at a place full of Echo speakers -- a long shot, to be sure -- it's a great way to go.

Speaking of Amazon: The company makes the only tablet priced under $100 that we can enthusiastically recommend. The 2017 version of the $80 Fire HD 8 tablet is zippier than ever, and it offers expandable storage, too. 

After your grad takes a much-needed break from books, she can be reintroduced via this entry-level $80 Kindle. It offers a better reading experience in the sun than a glossy-screen tablet or smartphone.

Amazon's second-generation Echo is more affordable and more attractive than its predecessor. Its ubiquitous Alexa voice assistant handles a boatload of queries and smart home controls, and the audio quality is better than that of the entry-level Echo Dot. And with seven plastic or fabric finishes (oak is shown here), it can fit into any decor.

The $50 Google Home Mini sounds and looks great -- even better than the Amazon Echo Dot. It uses Google Assistant to draw from a bevy of online services to field your queries that feel more helpful and personal than Alexa does. If your grad is moving into her own place, this could be the perfect housewarming gift. 

OK, let's return to the world of non-Amazon devices. If your grad expects to be by the pool frequently or likes to listen to music in the shower, the waterproof UE Wonderboom is a great choice. The $99 Bluetooth speaker is about the size of a softball, and it sounds great for its size. 

The $99 JBL Flip 4 is also waterproof and delivers similarly great sound.

The SoundCore Boost comes from the accessory mavens at Anker. It doesn't sound quite as great as the JBL or the UE, but it's also water-resistant -- not fully waterproof, though -- and it costs closer to $80.

The Bose SoundLink Micro is for anyone who values ultimate portability in a waterproof wireless speaker. You won't find any other speaker this small that sounds this good. Especially for only $99. 

A lot of grads already have a new Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro, but do they have the ultimate USB-C Hub for said MacBook (or another USB-C based notebook that's got limited port options)? Kingston's sturdy Nucleum ($80) allows you to add external ports for HDMI, USB-A (2), micro and standard SD memory cards, as well as an extra USB-C port.

Buy Kingston Nucleum USB-C Hub on Amazon.

See more from CNET's Grads Gift Guide.

If your grad's a runner or an athlete, the sporty BackBeat Fit wireless headphones may be just the ticket.

With its springy coiled design, the Urbanears Stadion model is a fresh take on Bluetooth sports headphones for less than $100.

The Jabra Halo Smart earbuds are a wireless "neckband" model. The stereo earbuds magnetically hold together around the neck when not in use. You can actually find these at prices as low as $30.

Moving from wireless to wired headphones: The Sony MDR-7506 model is a true classic. These first debuted in 1991, but they are also arguably still the best-sounding headphones you can get for under $100.

With their stainless-steel build, the $89 Beats EP may be the best value in the Beats line. They come in black, white, red and blue.

If you're buying for someone who cares more about sound quality than familiar brands, consider the 1More Triple Driver. This model is one of the best-sounding in-ear headphones under $100.

OK, these are the final headphones on the list. The JBL Reflect Mini 2 doesn't have the absolute best sound quality for a $100 pair of headphones, but they're so comfortable that it kind of makes up for it. Also, the reflective cord glows at night when it catches the light. Your grad a nighttime runner or walker? Then definitely check these out. 

The Fitbit Charge 2 and Alta HR are our favorite fitness trackers, but they'll cost you closer to $150. You can gift the more minimalist Flex 2 fitness tracker for closer to $60. Unlike those more expensive models, it's fully waterproof, too.

If you're buying for someone who spends all day on a Mac or Windows PC, a top-notch mouse like the Logitech MX Master is just the ticket.

The MX Anywhere 2 mouse is basically a downsized, portable version of the MX Master. And it's available for closer to $50.

The step-up Kindle Paperwhite adds a gently lit screen for nighttime reading. The unit costs $120, but we're including it here because it's often discounted to $99. It's possible you'll see it that low before graduation season. 

The new Nintendo Super Nintendo Classic packs 21 awesome retro games into one tiny box that hooks up to any HDTV, and it even includes a second controller for two-player matches in Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II. This one is still terribly hard to find at its normal retail price of $80. 

See more from CNET's Grads Gift Guide.