The Verge’s favorite holiday gifts under $50

Glocusent Bookmark Style Reading Light

Glocusent’s Bookmark Style Reading Light is the perfect gift for those who burn the midnight oil reading. The clip-on USB light offers a lightweight design and multiple brightness levels, providing a soft, warm glow that’s dim enough that it won’t disturb anyone else trying to get some shut-eye nearby.
Price: $10.99+

Scrabble Vintage Bookshelf Edition

Word nerds will love the commemorative edition of Scrabble. The stylish, fabric-wrapped board game is meant to sit alongside vintage copies of For Whom the Bell Tolls and 1984; however, instead of containing pages full of prose, it opens to reveal 100 letter tiles and various wooden components inspired by the original 1948 edition of Scrabble.
Price: $27.30+

Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker

Anker’s Soundcore Select 4 Go is a small but mighty Bluetooth speaker with up to 20 hours of battery life, a waterproof IPX67 rating, and the ability to float in water. It also features a built-in strap and can produce stereo sound when paired with another Go, just in case you and your bestie want to punch up the sound while at the beach.
Price: $24.99+

Apple AirTag

AirTags can function as a second set of eyes for iPhone owners, allowing you to keep tabs on everything from your car keys to your backpack. That’s because the ultra wideband location trackers tap into Apple’s extensive Find My network, which allows for impressively precise tracking and lets users share the tracker with up to five other people for even greater peace of mind.
Price: $24+

Panel Sound Pickleball Paddles

Pickleball has exploded in popularity, and chances are your sports-minded giftee has been curious to try it out if they haven’t already. Panel Sound’s comfortable fiberglass rackets aren’t exactly high-end, but they work great as a beginner-friendly set with USA Pickleball certification. That means they’re even considered appropriate for tournament play.
Price: $39.99

Keychron C3 Pro mechanical keyboard

There’s just something about mechanical keyboards like the wired C3 Pro that makes them irresistible, even if you don’t spend a good chunk of your day chipping away on a computer. Keychron’s entry-level tenkeyless option puts the average laptop board to shame with red backlighting, linear or tactile switches, and the ability to remap keys via the VIA app.
Price: $36.99

Liberty Classic Floral Origami Flower Kit

You don’t need to be the creative type to enjoy the traditional Japanese art of origami, which is known to reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Liberty’s Classic Floral Origami Flower Kit has everything you need to get folding, including 75 patterned sheets and instructions for creating a decorative kusudama ball and four other flower designs.
Price: $16.96+

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)

Anker’s compact USB-C hub is a relatively inexpensive way to bolster the number of ports on your laptop. The 8-in-1 hub features a single USB-C port for 100W Power Delivery, one 10Gbps USB-C port, two 10Gbps USB-A ports, SD and microSD card slots, and an ethernet port. It also has an HDMI port capable of up to 4K 60Hz output, which is a bona fide rarity at this price.
Price: $49.99

Hit Me Hard and Soft (vinyl)

With certified bangers like “Birds of a Feather” and “Chihiro,” it’s no wonder Billie Eilish’s third LP quickly became one of this year’s bestselling albums upon its release. All 10 tracks are a treat for the ears, making it a great gift for any self-proclaimed Avocado or aging millennial who still “doesn’t get” the 22-year-old hitmaker.
Price: $32.97+

Blink Mini 2

The Blink Mini 2 is an inexpensive way for your giftee to keep an eye on valuables back home while out of town. The tiny 1080p camera features motion detection, two-way audio, and IP65 weatherproofing, the latter of which lets them monitor their back patio when paired with Blink’s optional outdoor adapter.
Price: $39.99

Tsuki “Midnight Edition” Black Page Bullet Journal

Along with being festive, the holidays are oft-considered a reflective time of year, making a bullet journal the perfect gift. With 150 dot grid pages and a set of 10 gelly pens, the Tsuki “Midnight Edition” Black Page Bullet Journal provides a fun, creative way for your friend or loved one to mull over the previous year while setting goals for the next.
Price: $48.98

Twinkly Strings USB-C Stars

If you want to deck the halls with more than just boughs of holly, Twinkly’s star-shaped string lights are a great addition. They can transform any living space into a colorful winter wonderland teeming with possibility, thanks in part to their integration with various smart home platforms and the fact you can individually tune each LED via Twinkly’s AR mapping feature.
Price: $34.99+

Echo Dot (fifth-gen)

Amazon’s latest Echo Dot offers a ton of value for less than 50 bucks. It’s both a good speaker and an alarm clock with access to plenty of Alexa-enabled skills, allowing you to effortlessly set reminders, check the weather, and play your favorite tracks. Hell, it can even boost your Wi-Fi coverage if you’re on an Eero mesh Wi-Fi network.
Price: $22.99

Sungboon Editor Deep Collagen Power Boosting Mask (four-pack)

Sungboon’s collagen mask is the rare TikTok sensation that actually lives up to the hype. Like magic, the face mask works overnight to improve elasticity, temporarily erasing fine lines and wrinkles. It also soothes, hydrates, and rejuvenates your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion that should last far longer than the viral videos from which it sprang up.
Price: $19

JLab Go Air Sport

The right song can push you through even the toughest gym session, but not if you’re constantly fumbling with your earbuds. Luckily, JLab’s Go Air Sport offer great sound for the price and a secure fit thanks to a dedicated pair of ear hooks. They also carry an IP55 rating, ensuring it won’t matter how much you sweat during your next HIIT workout.
Price: $19.99+

Nomad ChargeKey

Nomad’s keychain-friendly ChargeKey is perfect for frequent travelers who don’t want to lug a bulky charger around. The short braided cable comes in either a USB-C or Lightning-only configuration, both of which can deliver up to 60 watts of power. The cable tips even feature integrated magnets, allowing them to secure together when not in use.
Price: $23.75+

Women of Science Tarot deck

Even if you don’t believe in divination, you have to admit the Women of Science Tarot deck is pretty fun. The unique set bridges the gap between spirituality and science with illustrations depicting inspirational STEM leaders, from computer scientist Annie Easley to chemist Rosalind Franklin. Each major arcana card also includes info on a foundational scientific concept, making for an educational, inspiring deck.
Price: $24.39+

Amazfit Band 7

Honestly, if all you need is a basic fitness tracker, the flagship Apple Watch Series 10 is overkill. The platform-agnostic Amazfit Band 7 nails the basics for less than $50 while boasting a stunning OLED display, Amazon Alexa support, and other features typically reserved for more expensive wearables. The menstrual tracking and abnormal heart notifications are just a plus.
Price: $39.99+

Twelve South AirFly Duo

Let’s face it: the wired earbuds airlines provide for you to use with in-flight entertainment systems aren’t exactly great. Thankfully, wireless adapters like Twelve South’s AirFly Duo let you use your own set of Bluetooth earbuds. The Duo also syncs with two pairs of headphones simultaneously, so you can binge up to 20 hours of Love Is Blind alongside your travel companion.
Price: $42.99

Puncheons & Flagons

If you’re wondering what to get the Dungeons & Dragons fan in your life, Puncheons & Flagons makes for a great game night companion. The clever book comes with 75 easy-to-follow recipes for delicious D&D-themed cocktails and mocktails — from a Necromancer to a Baldurian Tonic — along with directions for both sweet and savory snacks. It’s a Sword Coast staple if there ever was one.
Price: $20.69+

Laurensory External DVD Drive

If you thought the humble optical drive was dead, think again. Laurensory’s External DVD Drive is a cheap and efficient way to watch, listen, rip, and burn movies and music that lives only in disc form. It connects via USB-A or USB-C, too, so your giftee should have no trouble uploading those cathartic, Sharpied mixtapes from the early aughts to their computer.
Price: $18.39+

Tapo Matter Compatible Smart Plug Mini (three-pack)

Don’t want to buy smart lights for the Christmas tree? You don’t have to. TP Link’s stackable Tapo P125M smart plug lets you outfit traditional lights with a bit of smart functionality, granting you the ability to schedule or control them using an app or your voice. They also support Matter, meaning they’ll work with a wide range of smart home platforms.
Price: $18.99

The Verge Wrapping Paper

We may be biased in this instance, but we consider wrapping paper to be as essential to gift-giving as the gift itself. That’s why we designed two sets of 8.75 × 19.75-inch wrapping paper for our gift guide shoot this year, both of which you can purchase in our store if you want to outfit your presents with a bit of colorful eye candy.
Price: $15

Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope

The Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope offers an easy way to get a full-body workout at home. Its weighted handles allow you to incorporate some minor strength training, while a built-in LCD display with a timer and jump counter help level up what is otherwise a basic piece of equipment. It even estimates calories burned, which isn’t bad for less than $20.
Price: $16.99

Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener

Meross’ garage door remote is easy to set up and allows you to control an existing garage door opener from wherever you may be using either your voice or the Meross app. The basic device is compatible with more than 1,600 different models, too, and this premium HomeKit-compatible version integrates nicely with iPhones for speedier operation.
Price: $39.99

Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (32-ounce)

You can’t go wrong with Owala’s FreeSip Water Bottle, regardless of which size you choose. The triple-layered stainless steel vessel keeps drinks cool for up to 24 hours and comes with two spouts: one for sipping and one for a big swig. To top it off, each bottle features a collapsible handle, one that effortlessly flips open when it’s time to move.
Price: $32.94+

Stardew Valley

If you or someone you know hasn’t played Stardew Valley yet, now is an excellent time to do so. The recent 1.6 patch makes the cozy farm simulator even more enjoyable by allowing you to play with seven other people on PC, raise new crops, and experience a wealth of late-game content that wasn’t available until now. You can even drink mayonnaise, because why not?
Price: $14.99+

Bialetti Moka Express

Italy is the birthplace of espresso, so it’s no surprise that Bialetti’s attractive Moka Express pot brews up one-of-a-kind espresso-like coffee. The stove-top espresso maker has been used to serve delicious coffee for nearly a century at this point, yet it can still rival many modern machines, rendering it a great gift for both traditional types and the less tech-savvy.

Price: $37.13+

SwitchBot Bot

Do you ever wish you could turn on your coffee maker or hit the light switch without getting up? The SwitchBot Bot lets you do that. All you need to do is stick the inexpensive contraption on a standard button or rocker switch, which will allow you to control or schedule your pet feeder, garage door, and a wide range of other devices from your smartphone.
Price: $26.10+

BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Markers

If you don’t want to commit to a tattoo, BIC’s tattoo markers are the next best thing. You can use the eight markers to create all kinds of colorful designs on your skin, either by drawing freehand or using one of the provided stencils. Best of all, they only last a few days and can easily be washed off, so you can cycle through a new batch of temporary ink every week.
Price: $23.53+

The Charger

If you or someone you know wants to cut back on cable clutter, The Charger is the perfect gift. The thick silicone puck features a built-in 4-foot USB-C cable that retracts with the touch of a button, so you don’t have to deal with cables unless you want to. It also quickly delivers 35W of GaN charging, which is enough to juice most phones, a Nintendo Switch, tablets, and earbuds.
Price: $44

Evolution

If you’re looking for a tech-free way to entertain friends or family while huddling for warmth indoors, board games like Evolution are perfect. The card-based strategy game rewinds time, pitting players against one another and forcing them to adapt to an ever-changing ecosystem in which hungry predators loom and resources are always at a premium.
Price: $34.79+

Mueller Immersion Blender Stick

Versatility is the name of the game with Mueller’s handheld immersion blender. The ultracompact kitchen tool comes with a detachable whisk, frother, and blending shaft, which makes it easy to whisk eggs or make soup on cold, blustery days. The eight-speed blender is just as suitable for whipping up smoothies and baby food, too, making it the kind of gift that’ll come in handy year-round.
Price: $39.99