27-inch 1440p monitor
From the video: $120 vs $250 monitor: why 1080p looks soft at 27 inches
At 27 inches, 1440p keeps text sharp where 1080p starts to look soft.
See it on AmazonPaid link
From today's video
Also from recent videos
1080p mini projector with Google TV
From: Mini projector gift: check for a real Netflix app before you buy
Built-in Google TV means Netflix and the other apps just work, which a lot of cheap projectors can't promise.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds
From: Tech gifts under $100: three worth the step up
Strong noise cancelling for well under flagship prices. The included ear tips matter more than the brand.
Gift picks for 2026
Each pick comes from a QuickByte video (a few of those videos are still on the way). Useful things, sensibly priced, that we'd tell a friend to buy. Sorted by budget.
Under $25
Digital kitchen scale
Weighing flour instead of scooping it is the easiest way to make a recipe come out the same every time.
ThermoPro TP19H instant-read thermometer
Reads in a few seconds and has a backlit screen, so you stop guessing whether the chicken is done.
Tile Mate tracker
Works with iPhone and Android, so it's the safe tracker gift when you don't know what phone they have.
Anker Nano 30W USB-C charger
Most phones don't come with a charger anymore, and this one is pocket-sized but fast enough for a phone or an iPad.
UGREEN 240W USB-C cable (USB4)
One cable that handles full-speed data, 4K video and laptop charging, so nobody has to guess which cable is which.
MagicFiber microfiber cloths (6-pack)
The only thing that should touch a screen. Cheap, washable, and a solid stocking stuffer.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Under $50
Anker Nano power bank (10,000mAh)
Built-in USB-C cable and 30W output, so it actually fast-charges a phone instead of trickling.
Redragon K552 mechanical keyboard
A compact, sturdy mechanical board for a fraction of the big-name price. Great first keyboard for a teen or a new desk setup.
Echo Pop or Nest Mini
Small, cheap and genuinely useful for music, timers and lights. Pick the one that matches the phone they use.
4K streaming stick
The cheapest way to make an older or slow smart TV feel new. Roku, Fire TV and Google TV all have the big apps.
Belkin Qi2 magnetic charger
Snaps into place so the phone charges at full speed instead of running warm on a misaligned pad.
5-speed hand mixer
Handles cookie dough, whipped cream and cake batter, and it goes back in a drawer when you're done.
See it on AmazonPaid link
65W two-port USB-C charger
One small brick can charge a USB-C laptop and a phone at the same time, so you pack one charger instead of three.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Under $100
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds
Strong noise cancelling for well under flagship prices. The included ear tips matter more than the brand.
Variable-temperature gooseneck kettle
Worth it for tea and pour-over people, since green tea wants water well under boiling. Everyone else is fine with a basic kettle.
Cosori Pro LE 5-quart air fryer
Five quarts is enough to cook a single layer of fries or wings for a family of four.
Kodak Step mini photo printer
Prints 2x3 sticky-back photos straight from a phone with no ink to buy, which teens use for journals and lockers.
IP67 clip-on Bluetooth speaker
IP67 means it can handle the beach, the shower and a dropped drink, and the clip hangs it off a bag.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Qi2 3-in-1 stand with Apple Watch charger
Charges an iPhone, AirPods and an Apple Watch overnight, because the watch gets its own puck instead of a flat pad.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Worth the splurge
1080p mini projector with Google TV
Built-in Google TV means Netflix and the other apps just work, which a lot of cheap projectors can't promise.
Wi-Fi photo frame
The family sends photos from their phones and they just appear. Pick one that doesn't require a subscription.
Baratza Encore burr grinder
Grinds every bean to the same size, which does more for the taste of your coffee than a new coffee maker.
Kindle Paperwhite
Paper-like screen, weeks of battery and nothing pinging them mid-chapter. In the US it borrows library books through Libby.
Dual-basket air fryer (8 qt)
Two 4-quart baskets mean the chicken and the fries finish at the same time, which a single basket can't do.
See it on AmazonPaid link
More gear from the videos
Samsung 870 EVO SSD (500GB)
The upgrade that makes an old laptop boot in seconds instead of minutes. Check that your laptop takes a 2.5-inch drive first.
27-inch 1440p monitor
At 27 inches, 1440p keeps text sharp where 1080p starts to look soft.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Leave-in probe meat thermometer
It stays in the turkey and beeps when it's close, so you're not opening the oven every ten minutes.
See it on AmazonPaid link
Robot vacuum with lidar
The spinning lidar turret maps your rooms, so it cleans in rows instead of bumping around and missing spots.
See it on AmazonPaid link
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you, and nobody pays to be on this page. Budget groups are based on typical prices when we chose each pick; Amazon shows the current price. Photos show the kind of product, not always the exact model.
Latest videos
- Mini projector gift: check for a real Netflix app before you buyWatch
- $25 vs $150 coffee maker: the difference is water temperatureWatch
- Tech gifts under $100: three worth the step upWatch
- Tech gifts under $50: three that don't end up in a drawerWatch
- $15 kitchen scale vs measuring cups: why the same cookies come out differentWatch
- Electric kettle gift: skip the $90 one unless they drink teaWatch
- Don't replace your phone until you check its battery healthWatch
- The tech gift grandparents actually use every dayWatch
- Don't buy a new router until you try moving this oneWatch
- Before you buy an air fryer, check the quarts, not the presetsWatch
- Smart ring vs smartwatch gift: check the monthly fee firstWatch
- Text codes vs an authenticator app: which one actually protects you?Watch