Black Friday is a great time to save on big-ticket items like 4K TVs, laptops, and headphones. But if you’re on a tight budget this holiday season, there are plenty of worthwhile deals on practical upgrades for $50 or less — think power banks, smart speakers, location trackers, and entry-level earbuds that punch above their weight. And, yeah, you can save on video games, too, even first-party Nintendo Switch titles.
If you have an extensive wish list to get through, this guide can help you check off a lot of boxes without draining your wallet. Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller, for instance, is a great gift for multiplatform gaming. If you’re looking for a way to spend cozy nights, you can also save on a 4K version of Peter Jackson’s masterful Lord of the Rings trilogy. Then there’s UE’s Miniroll speaker and the noise-canceling CMF Buds Pro 2, which will let you take your holiday playlist on the go. There are a lot of great choices on sale below… if you act fast.
Xbox Wireless Controller
While the Xbox Wireless Controller lacks more advanced features like customizable buttons and sensitivity adjustments, it continues to set the standard for how a controller should look, feel, and work. To top things off, it runs on a pair of AA batteries rather than a rechargeable cell, giving you a bit more flexibility in the long term.
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Astro Bot
Astro Bot is the kind of game you buy a PlayStation 5 for. The refreshing title features gorgeous environments and wildly inventive mechanics, many of which turn tried-and-true platforming mechanics on their head. It doesn’t hurt that Sony’s titular robot is absolutely adorable, either.
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Ultimate Ears Miniroll
The UE Miniroll is a funky, disc-shaped Bluetooth speaker that can get surprisingly loud — especially if you make use of its support for Auracast, which lets you pair it with other Miniroll speakers. It provides up to 12 hours of continuous playback, and thanks to its IP67 rating, it’s ready for your next pool session.
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Amazon Fire 7 Kids (2022)
Amazon’s tiny tablet is the perfect size for little ones. It has a 7-inch display, and it can withstand everyday bumps and drops thanks to its protective case. If something does happen, the free two-year warranty covers accidents. It also includes a six-month subscription to Amazon Kids Plus, which offers access to ad-free books, interactive games, and more.
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Samsung P9 microSD Express Card
The P9 is great if you need more storage for your Nintendo Switch 2. The microSD Express card offers sequential read speeds of up to 800MB/s, but only gadgets with a microSD Express card slot can take full advantage of the highest speeds. That includes certain cameras, tablets, and drones with a microSD USH-I slot.
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Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey is one of the crowning achievements of the original Switch thanks to its tight platforming, ingenious level design, and a game mechanic that lets you control certain enemies and parts of the environment. There are still bosses to battle and coins to collect, but Odyssey feels like a breath of fresh air.
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Amazon Luna Wireless Controller
Amazon’s wireless Bluetooth controller features a sturdy build and works across various devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also lets you effortlessly hop between platforms, so you can pause your game on one device and resume it on another.
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Amazon Echo Spot
Amazon’s Echo Spot smart speaker / alarm clock has a 2.83-inch squared-off display for showing the time, weather, music playback, and other bits of info you may want at your bedside. Unlike the original Spot, there’s no camera to worry about having in your bedroom — though it does have a mutable microphone for Alexa voice controls.
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CMF Buds Pro 2
The CMF Buds Pro are surprisingly robust, with high-end features like active noise cancellation and a transparency mode that lets you tune into your surroundings. The charging case also features a smart dial that lets you adjust the volume, while multipoint Bluetooth support means the Buds Pro 2 can connect to two devices simultaneously.
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Lord of the Rings Trilogy
It’s tough to beat the value of getting all three LOTR films in 4K — including both the theatrical versions and the extended cuts — in a single box set for under $100. Plus, each film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR with Atmos.
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Ring Battery Doorbell
Ring’s latest battery buzzer features head-to-toe video, improved battery life, and color night vision, all of which are great features for keeping an eye on deliveries. It can also send you motion alerts and capture sharp 1080p HD video, while a two-way talk feature lets you have a quick convo with visitors directly from the Ring app.
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8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller
8BitDo’s second-gen Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller boasts additional buttons over its first-gen counterpart, along with interactive LED lighting and tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) joysticks that are more durable than the drift-resistant Hall effect sticks we’ve become accustomed to seeing.
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CMF Watch Pro 2
CMF’s latest smartwatch features an OLED display, GPS tracking, and support for more than 100 sports modes with automatic recognition, letting you keep tabs on a variety of workouts. It can also track your activity, sleep patterns, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels, which it can then sync with the Apple Health or Google Health Connect app.
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Hoto 3.6V Electric Screwdriver Kit Pro
Hoto’s rechargeable screwdriver is ideal for small repairs. It offers three torque modes, a rotational speed of up to 220rpm, and a helpful circular LED for illuminating dark spaces. Meanwhile, the durable case holds all 25 steel bits and an extension bar for getting into hard-to-reach places.
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Luigi’s Mansion 3
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the series’s most ambitious title, even though it retains the Luigi-as-a-Ghostbuster gameplay the series has employed since 2001. It takes place in a haunted hotel overrun with ghosts. To deal with them, you’ll need the help of Gooigi, a doppelgänger made of goop that can help you explore every nook and cranny. The game’s slapstick humor outweighs any spookiness.
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Lego Boarding the Tantive IV
This 502-piece set re-creates the heart-stopping scene when Darth Vader and a platoon of Stormtroopers board the Tantive IV in the original Star Wars. It comes with seven minifigures, including the formidable Lord of the Sith and two Rebel fleet troopers. You can also flick a lever to “blast” open the main door.
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Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor
Amazon’s Smart Air Quality Monitor touts a compact design, voice alerts, and automated triggers that allow it to turn on air purifiers and other Alexa-enabled devices. It lacks a display, however, and pairs best with an Echo device.
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Apple EarPods (USB-C)
Apple’s wired earbuds are comfortable, offer great microphone quality for the price, and feature a built-in remote for controlling audio playback.
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Nomad Tracking Card Air
Nomad’s slim Tracking Card Air pairs with Apple’s Find My network, offers up to five months of battery life, and charges wirelessly using any Qi or MagSafe-compatible charger. It also carries an IPX7 rating for water and dust resistance, providing some additional peace of mind.
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Twelve South AirFly Pro 2
The AirFly Pro 2 is a handy tool for frequent travelers. The long-lasting Bluetooth adapter can plug into an in-flight entertainment system’s auxiliary jack. That means you don’t have to rely on the subpar earbuds most airlines provide. Even better, the adapter can sync with two pairs of wireless earbuds or headphones at once, so you and your partner share a movie, a podcast, or music.
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UGREEN Nexode 65W Charger with Retractable USB-C Cable
Ugreen’s 65W Nexode charger makes it easy to pack light, with a built-in retractable USB-C cable that extends to over two feet and securely locks at any length. It also features additional USB-C and USB-A ports, allowing you to charge three devices simultaneously. If you don’t like carrying extra accessories, this charger is for you.
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Lego Large Creative Brick Box
Legos are the perfect way to escape the holiday chaos. The Creative Brick Box features 790 colorful pieces, including various baseplates, wheels, windows, and doors. The large set encourages imagination with its open-ended nature, so you can build whatever comes to mind. It also comes with a handy storage bin and works with other Lego sets.
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Disney Plus, Hulu Bundle (with ads)
You can get an ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle for $4.99 a month ($8 off) for an entire year. Both streaming services feature a deep catalog of new and classic shows and movies, including The Simpsons, Andor, Toy Story, The Fantastic 4: First Steps, and Freakier Friday.
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Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid Delta is a ground-up remake of the 2004 classic Metal Gear Solid 3. It features completely revamped visuals and modern controls, so moving Snake through the jungle feels just as smooth as it did in 2015’s Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It retains the original plot and performances, along with various cutscenes, levels, and other gameplay elements.
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Apple AirTags
Apple’s AirTags are unobtrusive, waterproof, and tap into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating.
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Blink Video Doorbell (second-gen)
The latest Blink Video Doorbell is a nice step up from its predecessor, offering a 1080p head-to-toe view and more accurate motion alerts. The second-gen model promises up to two years of battery life, while an infrared night vision mode allows you to get a beat on visitors when it’s dark outside. When someone does drop by, you don’t even need to get up to answer, as it supports two-way talk through the Blink app.
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Iniu Pocket Rocket P50 power bank
Iniu’s 10,000mAh P50 proves that powerful power banks don’t have to be cumbersome. The P50 is about as thick as a deck of cards, but features 45W charging speeds, two USB-C ports, and one USB-A port. It also has a braided lanyard that doubles as a USB-C cable, so you don’t need any extra accessories.
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Apple TV (six-month subscription)
Apple is hosting a Black Friday sale that lets you lock in six months for just $5.99 per month, which is over 50 percent off the usual cost. This promo isn’t applicable to those eligible to redeem three free months earned through buying a new Apple device, nor will it work for those who get the subscription through a third party, like Amazon.
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Nomad ChargeKey V2
The Nomad ChargeKey V2 is a 4.7-inch, 240W charging cable that features a wide loop, allowing you to easily attach it to your car keys. It boasts USB-C connectors at both ends and supports transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps.
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Echo Pop
The Echo Pop is one of Amazon’s smallest Alexa-enabled smart speakers. It offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender.
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JBL Go 4
JBL’s pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker features up to seven hours of runtime, dual device connectivity, and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. You can also pair it with other Go 4 speakers for bigger stereo sound, if desired.
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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023)
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is noticeably faster than its predecessor, features Wi-Fi 6E, and benefits from twice the storage. It can also showcase widgets and artwork when idle, and continues to offer robust Alexa integration.
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Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1)
Snagging a USB-C hub for your laptop (or even a handheld gaming PC) doesn’t need to be a pricey endeavor. This one has video-out support, passthrough charging, microSD and SD card slots, and more.
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Amazon Smart Plug
Amazon’s aptly titled Smart Plug doesn’t require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, which, in turn, allows you to control a range of devices with just your voice.
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Ring Indoor Cam (second-gen)
The second-generation Ring Indoor Cam lets you keep an eye on your place in 1080p, with support for motion detection alerts, a live feed, and color night vision.
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Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K maintains its simple interface that puts your apps front and center and adds support for Dolby Vision HDR.
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CMF Buds 2A
With 12.4mm drivers, active noise cancellation, and an IP54 rating, the CMF Buds 2A offer high-end features at an affordable price. You can also customize the sound, adjust ANC levels, and find the earbuds using the Nothing X app.
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Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation
Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds improve upon the original model with a more comfortable design, improved noise cancellation, and a more natural ambient sound mode. They also support hands-free Alexa commands.
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Soundcore Select 4 Go
Soundcore’s Select 4 Go is a compact Bluetooth speaker with up to 20 hours of battery life and support for stereo pairing with a second Select 4 Go. It also carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, rendering it a great option for hiking or a trip to the beach.
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Blink Mini 2
The 1080p Blink Mini 2 adds weather resistance to what was already an affordable security camera. It continues to offer a ball-and-socket mount for easy wall mounting as well, along with the option of local storage with a Sync Module or cloud storage; it also offers features like person detection, all for $3 a month.
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HBO Max
An HBO Max Basic subscription provides access to shows like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and The Pitt, as well as films like Superman and Weapons. You can get a year of the monthly, ad-supported subscription for $2.99 ($8 off) a month until December 1st.
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Hoto Air Pump Pocket
Hoto is known for its nifty electric screwdrivers, but it also offers a range of essential tech upgrades for other needs. Its 150psi electric air pump is a great gadget to buy, especially when it’s on sale.
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Blink Outdoor 4
The 1080p Blink Outdoor 4 security camera offers support for motion detection, night vision, and two-way audio. There’s the option of local recording with the bundled Sync Module 2 (the newer Sync Module XR is out, but we haven’t tested it yet), and unlike the third-gen model, it supports person detection and has a wider field of view.
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Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is the company’s first indoor camera that can rotate 360 degrees to give you a full view of your home. While it’s a big upgrade to the company’s smallest camera, it lacks automatic motion tracking.
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Anker Nano Charger (45W) with USB-C Cable
Anker’s tiny USB-C wall charger can supply up to 45W of power, which is perfect for quickly charging your phone and other small electronics. And with foldable prongs, it’s easy to travel with.
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Baseus PicoGo Ultra-Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5,000mAh
Baseus’ sleek PicoGo charger is a cable-free way to supply your iPhone with up to 7.5W of power. Its 20W USB-C port lets you charge an iPhone’s battery from zero to 55 percent capacity in 30 minutes if you plug it in using the included braided charging cable.
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Anker 140W 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C Cable
Why settle for a flimsy USB-C cable that can only charge a single gadget when you can opt for a braided one designed to charge two at once? Anker’s two-headed cable supports charging speeds of up to 140W split between two gadgets.
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SwitchBot Bot
If you’ve ever wished you had a robot that could push a button for you, that’s precisely what the SwitchBot Bot does. It’s simple, smart, and works on anything with a button. Stick it on the device you want to turn on or off, and you’re set.
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Govee Smart LED Bulb (four-pack)
Govee’s 800-lumen A19 lightbulbs can be controlled with either your phone or a smart speaker. You can also set the hubless smart bulbs — which work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant — to adjust their brightness and color automatically in time with your music using your phone’s built-in microphone.
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ChomChom Roller Pet Hair Remover
The ChomChom is a reusable roller that works great for removing unwanted pet hair from furniture, allowing you to skip lint rollers, vacuuming, and other cleaning tools in a pinch.
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