5 last minute tech gifts for under $50

Man, it really seems like the holidays snuck up on us this year. If you’re anything like me, then you might not have even started shopping for gifts yet. We’ve all got a lot of tech fans in our lives, and let’s face it: technology can be expensive. Can you save Christmas without breaking the bank?

Quest accepted. We scoured the internet for some of the best tech gifts we could find for under $50. When you’re shopping on a budget like this, you’re probably not going to blow anyone’s mind with bleeding edge technology, but we tried to pick things that were fun, useful, and which could make good gifts for technophiles and luddites alike.

Keep in mind, these are just a few ideas. Also be sure to check out our best gift guides for even more:

The Chromecast is one of those devices that, when you don’t own one, you don’t know why you would want one. Then, after you get one, you don’t know how you ever lived without it. The ultimate YouTube binge session device for groups and all around house party facilitator, the Chromecast lets you stream and queue up content from your phone to your television.

Chromecast Audio is slightly different. It lets you stream music from your phone to any speaker in the house. Each of these devices run for $35, but you can get both for $55. If you’re shopping for two people, that’s two gifts for $27.50 each: more than enough reason to include this bargain on our list.

Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio Review

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Starting off our list, we have the CB3 Ultra Slim Bluetooth Speaker. It’s a sleek, almost steampunk looking device that offers some pretty killer audio. Its compact, ultra slim and light design make it easy to grab and slip into a pocket or backpack, so you can take your music anywhere. The battery life is solid at around eight hours of play time, so you can use it all day before needing a recharge.

This one took some finagling to make the list, but it’s just so good for what you’re paying that we had to include it. The Kindle Fire is a simple tablet that’s incredibly powerful for its $49.99 price tag, and it’s the perfect gift for an avid ebook reader. If you’ve got a bookworm in the family, this is a hard item to pass on. It doesn’t have the Google Play Store, but it does come with Amazon Underground, an alternate store that offers many paid apps for free.

There’s a catch on this one, though. As it currently stands, it looks like the Fire may not be back in stock until just after Christmas. Don’t worry. There’s an old pioneer trick to solving this problem. Simply order the tablet now, then print out a picture of the Kindle Fire and wrap it in a box. When they open their gift on Christmas morning, tell them a renegade drone stole their gift but that Amazon is shipping a replacement ASAP. When the Fire arrives a couple of days later, it’ll be like the Christmas that kept on Christmasing. Works every time.

This plucky little portable battery charger usually runs for almost $40. I went to add it to my list expecting it to still have that pricetag, but it turns out it’s on sale now for $9.99. What’s more, we found a coupon code that knocks it down to $6.99. If that’s not a deal, I don’t know what is.

The iDeaUSA Portable Battery Charger is great for the constant smartphone or tablet user on the go who is constantly frustrated that they have to recharge their device in the middle of the day. Fits perfectly in a purse, but is a little bulky for your pocket. Order it now and use the coupon code IDPME44L to get one for $6.99. Heck, get five of ‘em and you’re still under budget.

You know that family member who has to look for their keys every time they leave the house? What about that friend who has a couch that devours TV remotes like a ravenous giant amoeba? The guy whose wallet always seems to go missing when the check arrives? This is the gift you’re looking for.

The Tile is a tiny tab with a hole for a keyring. The sturdy and unassuming little device is actually a Bluetooth tracker that pairs with an app on your phone. When you attach Tile to your keys or any other item, you can pull up that object’s last known location on a map or activate the Tile’s beeping function to locate it by ear. Lost your phone but have your keys? Press on the Tile’s surface to make your phone ring even if it’s on silent! This genius little solution to an everyday problem runs for $24.99, but buying in packs of 4, 8, or even 12 offer ever-increasing savings.

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