Best Budget Buys
Tech doesn’t have to be expensive to make a big difference in your everyday life. Smart devices and entertainment accessories alike offer great value without breaking the bank. With that in mind, here are 20 tech picks that offer great value at a reasonable price.
1. Instant Camera
Fun, cheap, and cheerful, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is an instant camera for all your party snaps and other light photo merriment. At only $80, it spits out glossy, hi-res pictures on color or black-and-white Instax film. With only a single button and a twist-to-select lens, it's simplicity in action.
2. Budget Laptop
The Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) is an excellent budget laptop that provides consistent performance. The processor is more than capable of handling basic tasks like web browsing and light productivity work, and the battery life is impressive for such an affordable machine. It has a simple design and very reliable functions.
3. Budget Tablet
The $99.99 Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) is the inexpensive 8-inch tablet that offers great access to movies, shows, and apps without emptying your wallet. A big step up from the entry-level Fire 7, it's an excellent choice for a first tablet or Prime-powered companion for first-time users, and is small and light enough to be a go-to spare device for travel or daily use.
4. Android Phone
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a great budget phone that's under $200, with lots of power under the hood. It's got a super-bright 90Hz display, an all-day battery, dependable 5G, and a capable camera. With six years of OS and security updates and a microSD card slot, it's a solid value for anyone in need of a budget-friendly, feature-packed smartphone.
5. Smart Speaker
The Amazon Echo Pop is a tiny, cheap smart speaker that adds Alexa voice control to your home for less than $50. It packs clear audio in a compact body and serves as a bonus Eero mesh Wi-Fi node. It's the easiest and cheapest way to expand your smart home network.
6. Gaming Laptop
The Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3) is one of the best affordable gaming laptops. This is a great pick for new or budget PC gamers looking for solid performance at a low price. The Nitro V 15 can run games at 1080p and 60fps, and it also has a good build and screen at less than $1,000.
7. Smart Bulb
AiDot Linkind Matter Smart Light Bulb is the cheapest way to add smart bulbs to your home, and it's actually a good one. The Dot uses Wi-Fi to support all major smart home ecosystems, it's fully Matter-compatible, and can be controlled instantly through voice commands or the app. Colors are bright, and you can also program the Dot to simulate natural lighting conditions.
8. Robot Vacuum
The TP-Link Tapo RV30 Max Plus impresses with its high-end features such as LiDAR navigation and a self-emptying dustbin, all at an affordable price point. Additionally, it can be used as a mop and vacuum, providing even more convenience for daily cleaning tasks. It's a great value, especially if you're looking for a reliable robot vacuum that won't break the bank.
9. Keyboard
The Keychron C3 Pro is a low-cost mechanical keyboard that offers a premium typing experience at a budget-friendly price. For under $50, the keyboard features pre-lubed switches that feel smooth and quiet as you type, smart cable management, and open-source VIA software support.
10. Voice Phone
The TCL Flip 3 brings you the uncomplicated mobile phone experience of a bygone era. Make and receive calls with ease using the keypad, simple apps, and external display. A compact and easy-to-carry design, along with the loudspeaker technology, makes it an excellent companion for your everyday use.
11. Media Streamer
The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is the low-cost way to add streaming functionality to any legacy HDTV. It comes with nearly all the same features as its higher-end 4K counterpart but at a lower price, giving you access to all your favorite apps and services for less money. For under $20, it's one of the most accessible and inexpensive upgrades you can make to bring your home entertainment system into the modern era.
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12. Inkjet Printer
The Epson Expression Home XP-5200 is an inexpensive all-in-one inkjet printer for home use. It costs just a little more than $100. It has excellent print quality, especially for photo prints. The Epson XP-5200 is very compact and is easy to place on a small table or shelf.
13. Laser Printer
The HP LaserJet M209d is a cheap monochrome laser printer for the single user with light-duty printing tasks. Text quality is very good, superior to many other budget mono lasers. It has no Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity, but is a good, simple no-frills printer at a low price.
14. Smart Scale
If you're looking for a smart scale that won't break the bank, the Etekcity HR Smart Fitness Scale is a fantastic choice. This affordable scale tracks 14 health metrics, syncs wirelessly to your phone or tablet, and connects to a variety of fitness apps. Plus, with its rechargeable battery and accurate readings, it offers great value for just under $80.
15. All-in-One Desktop
The Dell 24 All-in-One (EC24250) is a slim, low-cost desktop with a 24-inch display, wireless keyboard and mouse, and plenty of ports for connection options. It could use a faster processor and better audio, but the Dell AIO is a decent performer that's great for day-to-day computing and streaming media.
16. Wi-Fi Router
The TP-Link Archer BE230 is a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 7 router that offers next-gen networking on a budget. It offers respectable throughput, dual-band connectivity, multi-gig wired ports, and parental controls and network security features. While it is missing some of the higher-end bells and whistles, it provides outstanding value for a sub-$120 router.
17. Security Camera
The TP-Link Tapo C120 is a low-cost smart security camera that surprisingly includes high-end features such as 2K video, color night vision, and smart alerts. Its compact design is both portable and flexible with options for local or cloud storage, and Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. The built-in spotlights and the camera's indoor and outdoor functionality make the Tapo C120 one of the best value options.
18. Headphones
The Anker Soundcore Space One is a good value under $100, with some very good performance. This model offers hi-res LDAC streaming, wired listening, and an adjustable EQ with its companion app. It also has great noise cancellation, solid audio quality, and comfortable ear pads, while offering up to 40 hours of playback with ANC on.
19. Monitor
The Philips 271V8LB is an affordable 27-inch monitor that punches way above its price of just over $100. It has a VA panel with great contrast, full sRGB color gamut, 100Hz refresh rate, and adaptive sync support, making it suitable for both productivity tasks and casual gaming.
20. Console
Nintendo Switch Lite is the more affordable handheld spin-off of the Switch console. It gives you access to Nintendo's wonderful collection of exclusives, classics, and indies. Remove the Switch's dockable TV functionality, and you've shaved a lot off the price.
