40 Gifts Under $100 That Will Delight Any Tech Enthusiast (2026) | WIRED

Gift shopping on a budget is stressful. Prices can soar around the holidays, making it tough to find genuine bargains. To help, we spent countless hours testing all manner of gizmos and gadgets to bring you expert advice on what is worth buying. These gifts are sure to bring a smile to your loved ones’ faces without breaking the bank too badly, though we know $100 isn't exactly cheap, either.
If you don't mind spending more, check out our Best Tech Gifts guide, and if money is tight, we've also made a list of the Best Gifts Under $25. For giftees with a particular passion, you can find tailored options, like gifts for bird lovers, home chefs, book lovers, and more.
Updated October 2026: I've added 20 new entries and removed several older picks.
The perfect tiny speaker, the JBL Go 5 fits in the palm of your hand but produces a surprisingly punchy sound with deep bass and clear mids. It's also tough, with an IP68 rating, offers plenty of connectivity options, and boasts battery life of up to 50 hours. It even supports stereo pairing if you have more than one.
This is the budget pick in our Best Bluetooth Speakers guide.
Most light strips are designed to be tucked away in recesses, but this Govee strip has a diffuser, so you can stick it anywhere you want and it still looks great. The adhesive-backed metal brackets make for easy installation. The Govee app allows you to schedule, cycle through colors, play animations, and even create your own scenes. Some transitions are blocky, and the app can be confusing, but this is a great way to introduce your recipient to smart lights.
This is our favorite diffused light strip from our Best Smart Lighting guide.
Sling a good portable charger in your bag, and you will never be stranded with a dead phone again. Our favorite is Nimble's Champ, which is compact, light, and packs a 5,000- to 20,000-mAh capacity, capable of recharging most phones and laptops at least once, fully at its smallest size. It comes in snazzy speckled colors with a handy lanyard strap and a small USB-C cable. We are also big fans of Nimble’s environmental efforts (using bioplastics and plastic-free packaging).
This power bank appears in our Best Portable Chargers guide.
The Google Home Speaker is our favorite smart speaker right now. It boasts impressive sound for its small form, the AI is a little more human than competitors, and it comes in a range of fun colors. Gemini is also helpful and smart, though some of the best features require a subscription.
This speaker is the top pick in our Best Smart Speakers guide.
We love multifunctional gadgets like this headphone stand from Oakywood, which offers a place to hang your cans and a spot to wirelessly charge your phone. The angular base in solid walnut or oak is super stylish, and the steel stand keeps your headphones neatly out of the way.
This headphone stand appears in our Best Wireless Chargers guide.
Comfy to hold for long gaming sessions, with a subtle texture that adds grip, this mobile controller combines responsive analog sticks with clicky buttons and an excellent D-pad. It cradles your phone with a built-in USB-C connector for a speedy connection and includes pass-through charging, a screenshot or screen-recording button, a mute button, and a headphone jack. There's also a handy companion app with an optional subscription.
This is a top pick in our Best Mobile Controllers guide.
This versatile motion sensor can flag access to a cabinet, drawer, or safe. You can easily configure it in the app to set exactly what triggers an alert, set the cooldown period, and choose how you want to receive alerts. Unlike many other smart home devices, it keeps everything private.
This gadget appears in our Best Motion Sensors guide.
I have a constant whining tinnitus sound in my ears after a misspent youth of loud gigs and clubs. A white-noise machine helps me tune it out at night so I can drop off to sleep. This is what I have on my nightstand right now, and it works great. Compact, easy to use, and with 22 non-repeating sounds (I like the ocean surf) and a timer function, it's all you need.
This gadget appears in our Best Sound Machines guide.
One of the best scissor-switch keyboards available, the Keychron B2 Pro offers a comfortable, quiet typing experience, is fully customizable (you can use Keychron’s Launcher software to remap keys and set up macros), and looks pretty stylish.
You’ll also find this deck in our Best Keyboards guide.
You don’t have to spend big to snag a great gaming mouse, and the SteelSeries Rival 3 proves it. This mouse is lightweight and responsive, with a lovely rubbery scroll wheel and a couple of handy side buttons. It’s everything most people need without the unnecessary frills.
This is the budget pick in our Best Gaming Mice guide.
Solid sound, active noise cancellation that works well, stable Bluetooth connectivity, a robust app with adjustable EQ and programmable controls, and a respectable IP55 dust- and water-resistance rating—these full-featured earbuds have it all.
These are the cheapest option in our Best Wireless Earbuds guide.
This feline charging block is so cute. The cat's face changes when it's on standby and charging, and the screen can show the total outgoing wattage and break it down by port (it maxes out at 65 watts). There are two USB-C and two USB-A ports to plug in all your small gadgets.
Hydro Flask (16-ounce)
With a practically indestructible powder coating, this travel mug is ideal for folks seeking a low-maintenance mug that doesn't need careful handling. It also has a pebbled texture that adds grip, and it holds plenty of coffee.
This is the top pick in our Best Travel Mugs guide.
Whether you're walking the dog at night, working on a PC or a car engine, or looking for something in the basement, a headlamp like this keeps your hands free and provides plenty of light (600 lumens) where you need it. The battery lasts at least 10 hours on a full charge.
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