The Best Tech Gadgets for People on a Budget
By: Andrew Martin
Tags: Electronics, Tech, Gadgets, Culture, Technology

Image via Cyber Security Wiki

The Best Tech Gadgets for People on a Budget

You can barely blink without something new and flashy coming out of the world of technology. Many of these things provide great value to our lives but are typically accompanied by a high price tag. Fortunately, there are good deals that can be found if you know where to look, including these five gadgets, which are incredibly fun and useful, and all less than $70.

Wockoder Portable Bluetooth Record Player: No matter how far technology advances, a large portion of music lovers will always be partial to their vinyl records. Unfortunately, players can be clunky and delicate. Wockoder has married the old-school feel with modern convenience and created an incredibly affordable player.

The three-speed player is designed with a retro look but is incredibly compact and folds up into a small suitcase weighing about seven pounds. Starting at around $69.99, it provides the rich smooth sound required by vinyl heads and also offers the ability to connect through USB, Bluetooth or traditional headphone jacks for more convenient and contemporary methods of listening.

Sometimes, things from the past can continue being popular and effective, especially when given little technological twists. This is one such item seamlessly bridging generations. As an added benefit, it comes with a spare needle, which is a must for any record player owner.

Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD, USB-C Portable Charger: With the average person having multiple electronic devices they use throughout the day, making sure they are appropriately charged is a never-ending endeavor. Plugging into an outlet will get the job done but doesn’t allow for mobility and range.

The Anker PowerCore covers recharging needs while barely being there. At less than an inch thick and just eight ounces, it’s wafer frame ensures backpacks won’t get turned into bags of rocks. It has the capacity for more than two charges for an iPhone XS or Google Pixel, and can do almost one full charge for an 11" Ipad Pro. Depending on how you re-charge it, it will regain full charging power between 4.5–10 hours.

There are more robust chargers out there but with its size and $29.99 price tag, it’s hard to beat its well-rounded performance. 71% of Amazon reviewers give it five stars, reflecting the product’s value and utility.

Charging Cord Bracelet: Too often, people forget to take charging cords for their cell phone and other electronic devices with them when heading out for the day or on trips. If they are remembered, they get jammed into bags and frequently get hopelessly entwined with other items.

The Charging Cord Bracelet is the cost-effective and dynamic solution to this problem. Made from faux leather and available in a variety of sizes, it’s water resistant and comes in black or white. Compatible with iPhones and iPads, the $49.99 price tag makes it affordable, especially given the amount of use it can provide in so many different situations.

Wyze HD Home Smart Indoor Cameras: Earlier in the year, my fiancé and I experienced an attempted break-in to our home. Naturally, it was disconcerting and left us searching for ways to prevent it from happening again. My brother recommended Wyze cameras as a steal of a bargain for a home security camera system. Boy, was he right!

At prices starting at around $20 per camera, we bought several to place in key areas around the house. Utilizing an internet connection and a memory card (if you want to upload up to a couple of weeks of footage at a time to a cloud), additional options can add an extra $15+ per camera but aren’t necessary. Not only is the footage crystal clear, but features like night vision; voice and movement detection; an easy to use app for your phone; and the ability to communicate between your phone and whoever is on the other end of the camera make these incredible devices. With the proper mounting equipment, these are also compatible with outdoor use.

Not only are Wyze cameras a terrific security option but we have also enjoyed all of the wildlife we have captured coming near our house that we had never seen before. The ease of programming cell phone delivered movement notifications (with playback) or simply logging into the camera means you are never too far from home.

JBL Quantum 100 — Wired Over-Ear Gaming Headphones: A major turning point for gamers was the dawning of the ability to play and communicate with other players all over the globe. After all, challenging and trash talking complete strangers is way better than whipping your little brother at a game.

The JBL Quantum 100 Gaming Headphones are a Rolls Royce performance at a Kia budget. Starting at $40, the buttery soft cans and detachable boom microphone make an enhanced gaming experience widely accessible. 70% of customers who have bought them on Amazon have left five-star reviews.

Part of what is needed for maximum comfort is equipment that’s not too bulky and clunky. This headset is slender and lightweight, which is seen as a benefit by many. If you’re used to jumping around it may not be as hardy as you’d like but for the average gamer this is a great deal.

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