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The best cheap tech gifts under $100 to give for the holidays
ZDNET Recommends
The holiday season is here, but you don't have to spend a fortune on a great gift for someone. With the huge range of tech gadgets and accessories on the market -- ranging from smart home devices to gadgets that make working from home slightly easier -- you can find something at an affordable price for this gift-giving season.
Below, we've compiled our best picks of tech gifts for $100 or less to make the hunt for gifts easier if you're on a budget.
Also:
- The best cheap tech gifts under $75
- The best cheap tech gifts under $50
- The best cheap tech gifts under $25
- Price: $35
- Features: 8-inch touchscreen | 13 MP camera with built-in shutter and auto-framing | 1280 x 800 resolution
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is the perfect all-in-one gift -- it serves as a smart home assistant, as a way to make video calls, and as a digital frame to show off your favorite photos.
You can get calendar reminders, traffic updates, and set timers, or even enjoy your favorite playlist via Spotify. There is also access to streaming services like Prime Video and Netflix. The Amazon Echo Show can even control other smart devices in your home.
Also: The 12 best Echo speakers: How do Amazon's Alexa devices compare?
- Price: $100
- Features: 16GB of storage | 300 ppi screen | Up to 6 weeks of battery life
The entry-level Kindle got an upgrade this year that puts it at almost the same level as more expensive Kindle models. With this Kindle, you'll get Amazon's lightest e-reader yet at just 5.56 ounces, 16GB of storage to hold plenty of books, a 6-inch 300 ppi screen, and a free Kindle Unlimited subscription for three months.
If you want an e-reader for less than $100, this is the one to get.
Read the review: The new entry-level Kindle has officially converted me to e-readers
- Price: $100
- Features: Connects via Bluetooth | HP Zink photo paper | Free HP Sprocket app
Easily print photos from your phone with this HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer. It prints photos onto HP Zink photo paper that are 2.3 x 3.4 inches. You can even add filters, frames, and stickers to your photos before printing using the free HP Sprocket app.
Plus, when you buy the printer from Amazon, it comes with 50 sheets of photo paper so you don't have to purchase those extra.
- Price: $70
- Features: 1080p camera | Cordless | 130-degree field of view
If you're looking for a gift related to smart homes that can also bolster security, Ring's stick up cam is an affordable option. Suitable for use in or outdoors, the camera connects to a mobile device and monitors an area for any suspicious activity in real-time. If motion is detected, an alert is sent to the user, who can then access their camera to see what is happening. This device comes with a 1080p camera and night vision.
Read the review: Ring Stick Up Cam Battery review: An all around security camera, inside and out
- Price: $60
- Features: Up to 10 days of battery | Water resistant up to 164 feet | Touchscreen
An affordable gift this year for those who are either fitness enthusiasts or would like to start leading a healthier lifestyle is the Fitbit Inspire 2. This fitness tracker, available in three colors, connects to a user's smartphone and is able to track activity levels, sleep patterns, heart rate, and more.
Also: The top Fitbit devices: Versa, Ace, Charge, Inspire, and Sense compared
- Price: $80
- Features: 12-hour battery life | Universal compatibility | 65Hz-20kHz frequency response
Give the gift of music with the JBL Flip 5 Portable Bluetooth speaker. It delivers a clear, loud, and booming sound perfect for any part. You can bring it anywhere to listen to your favorite tunes -- even to the pool or beach since it is rated IPX7 for water-resistance. It can also be paired with another JBL compatible speaker for complete stereo sound.
Also: Ditch the AirPods and get a portable speaker instead: Our top picks
- Price: $80
- Features: Included charging case | Bluetooth 5.0 | 33-foot range
Over the past few years, wireless earbuds have disrupted the traditional headphone market in a big way. While it's always handy to have a case to hand to stop them from going missing, the advantage of these kinds of headphones is their portability and lack of wires -- and the Jabra Elite 65t is no exception. These stylish wireless earbuds would make a great gift this year as they not only pack up to five hours of use but also contain a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.
Read the review: Jabra Elite Active 65t review: Better than the AirPods and designed for active users
- Price: $89
- Features: Three-speed massage | Heat option | Carrying handles to customize massage pressure
Over at Best Buy, you can pick up a Shiatsu Deluxe neck and shoulder massager, a heated cushion that fits snugly around your neck and shoulders for instant relief for tired muscles. When many of us are sitting at a PC all day now in our home offices, this massager is a thoughtful gift -- and one that will likely have a lot of use.
- Price: $100
- Features: Energy-efficient LED lights | 3.52 pounds | Over 50 plant capsules
For the friend or family member with a green thumb, gift them this smart indoor garden. You can choose from more than 50 plant refill capsules you can choose from, including peppers, chives, catnip, yellow tomatoes, and more. Click & Grow's plants contain a patented nano-material called Smart Soil that automatically releases oxygen and water to your plants and is inspired by NASA technology.
The device's lamp has a 16 hours on/eight hours off cycle to optimize your plants' growth. In addition, its water float indicator will let you know when it's time to refill the tank.
Also: The 5 best indoor gardens: Smart tech for your green thumb
- Full, high-quality sound
- Sleek design
- Little interoperability
- Price: $99
- Features: 360-degree sound field | 12 ounces | 6 color options
Apple users usually want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, so get your Apple-obsessed friend the Apple HomePod Mini. The HomePod mini is a small, spherical-shaped smart speaker featuring Apple's voice assistant, Siri. It's about three inches tall with a circular screen at the top that lights up when Siri is listening or when the device is playing music or engaged in a phone call.
It's part smart hub, and part music speaker thanks to its high-quality sound that provides a deep bass.
Read the review: The HomePod mini is for Sirious Apple users only
The best cheap tech deals under $100 during the holidays
Below are five tech deals under $100 across major retailers happening right now.
How did we choose these cheap tech gifts?
Our process in deciding these products included extensive research into each product including reviews (both good and bad), pricing, category of the gift, and trusted brands. We considered different gift options in various categories so gift givers would be able to find a gift for anyone on their list for any occasion.
Where to find the best cheap tech gifts?
You can find the best cheap tech gifts at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon.
What are the best gifts by category this holiday season?
- The best tech gifts of 2022: Holiday edition
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- The best cheap tech gifts under $100 to give for the holidays
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- The best cheap tech gifts under $50 to give for the holidays
- The best cheap tech gifts under $25 to give for the holidays
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