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The holidays are coming, and there’s still plenty of time to plan out your gift giving. The thing is, a perfect gift is not always easy to find, which is why we’ll try to help out. We have a series of gift guide articles on the site listing various different suggestions in different categories and price points. In this article, we’ll list some of the best gifts under $100, well, some of the best ones we’ve been able to track down. All of these products are available via Amazon, and all the required information is included below. You’ll find both tech and non-tech gifts down there, along with plenty of information about each one.
Best tabletop charger: UGREEN 100W GaN charger
Charge all your devices via a single, compact accessory
Many of you probably have plenty of chargers around the house, different versions of them. The thing is, most of them are probably quite slow at this point, and you have new tech gadgets to think about. You need something more robust, and at the same time something that won’t take as much space. The UGREEN 100W GaN charger is an ideal choice. One thing to note, though, this is not your regular charging brick, not at all. This charger is meant to sit on a table, or something of the sort.
You do plug it into an AC outlet, and then plug it on a table. On the front side of this square charging box, there are four ports. Three of them are Type-C ports, while one is a Type-A port. Together, they can provide a max output of 100W. So, you can charge one device at 100W, or four devices at 25W each (max). It all depends on how many devices you’re charging, and how fast they allow you to charge them. This charger will automatically set the ideal charging for each of them, pushing as much as it can.
The UGREEN 100W GaN charger features dynamic temperature sensors, and an intelligent PWM chip that adjusts power outputs to safeguard your devices. It is compatible with a wide range of devices, of course, and it comes in a single color only, it combines gray with black colors. Should you choose to buy it, you’ll need to pay $99.99, which sits right below our $100 limit.
UGREEN 100W GaN charger (Amazon)
Best compact keyboard: Logitech MX Keys Mini
An outstanding, premium keyboard for typing & productivity
There are plenty of great keyboards available on the market, but some do shine brighter than others. The Logitech MX Keys Mini is a well-known offering, and for a good reason. This keyboard is very compact, and yet it screams quality. From its build to the typing experience and the features it offers. I personally own one, and have been using it for quite some time now. After spending around 8 hours a day typing, for months, I can vouch for it without a problem. Just make sure to use the included Wi-Fi dongle. Bluetooth can be quite wonky.
In any case, everyone needs a keyboard, and at $99.99, this one is not exactly the most affordable one out there. Still, it sits under our $100 limit here, and it is basically a high-end keyboard. The keys have a good amount of travel, though this is not a mechanical keyboard, not at all. So if you or the person you’re buying this gift for prefers mechanical keyboards, this one is not for them, that’s for sure. It’s more of a chiclet-style keyboard, but with more key travel than most such offerings.
The Logitech MX Keys Mini is compatible with a wide range of devices, including macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. You can pair it up with up to three devices, and switch between them easily, via a press of a button. This keyboard can also be recharged via a Type-C port, and it can go on for up to 5 months with the backlighting turned off. It’ll offer considerably less use if you use the backlight, though, so keep that in mind. It comes in gray, white, and pink colors, and if you grab it from the link provided below, you’ll also get a free Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription. The Logitech MX Keys Mini costs $99.99.
Logitech MX Keys Mini (Amazon)
Best chic water bottle: memobottle A6
Carry water with you everywhere you go… in style
Staying hydrated is very important. That is especially true for warmer regions, but everyone should keep their water intake high during the day. There are a number of proven benefits to doing that. We can often forget about that, however. That’s why it’s always good to have a water bottle nearby. Speaking of which, water bottles are usually made out of plastic, and we all know how that affects the environment. So, either reuse the same water bottle, or get something like the memobottle.
What is memobottle? Well, it’s a fancy flask, basically. It comes from a company called memobottle, and it comes in several different sizes and materials. You can get it in A5, A6, A7, and SLIM sizes. The AX basically represents the size of a piece of paper, so the A6 memobottle is the size of an A6 piece of paper. The model we’ve singled out here is the A6 in size, and it’s made out of stainless steel. It comes in both black and white colors. This particular model is priced at $55, but don’t worry, if you don’t like it, there are more options.
You can get the SLIM version for $60, the A7 size for $50, or the A5 size for $65. The A6 model can hold 17oz/500ml of liquids, the A5 36oz/1,080ml, the A7 8oz/250ml, and the SLIM 20oz/600ml of liquids. You, of course, don’t need to keep water in there, you can keep whatever you want. Just keep in mind that you will need to wash it regularly, as you’ll need to do with other bottles too. Speaking of which, with your purchase, you’ll also get a 6-month supply of cleaning tablets, it seems. Check out the Amazon listing below for more information.
Best power bank for clumsy people: Nitecore NB10000 GEN 2
A power bank that is not only very compact, but also rugged
Some smartphones offer outstanding battery life, others, not so much. The same goes for wireless earphones, and so on. If your devices don’t get you through the day on a single charge, or perhaps you travel a lot and don’t have the time to think about charging… well, having a power bank is not a bad idea at all. There are plenty of options in the market, but some are better than others. The one we’ll talk about here is somewhat special for two reasons, its size and design.
The device in question is called the Nitecore NB10000 Gern 2. In other words, it’s the second-gen product of Nitecore’s 10,000mAh power bank. The company refers to this power bank as “ultra-slim”, which is kind of true considering how much battery capacity you’re getting. First and foremost, this gadget is TSA-approved. You can easily carry it with you on a plane, no worries. It is also around 40% lighter than your typical power banks, says the company. Despite that, however, it’s very rugged thanks to a Carbon Fiber Polymer build. It is also IPX5 rated, so you don’t have to worry about some rain or snow.
You can charge various different devices with this gadget, without a problem. There are two ports on it, a Type-C and a Type-A port. The Type-A port has an output of 18W, while the Type-C port has an output of 20W. That Type-C port also has an input of 18W, as you’ll use it for charging. If you decide to get this, you’ll also get a mini multi-tool for your keychain. That multitool has a built-in carabiner, magnet, and serves as a stand, bottle opener, and has a tripod hole. This entire package will set you back $59.90.
Nitecore NB10000 GEN 2 (Amazon)
Best tiny gadget storage: mordeco REVOV Tray Box
A magnetic box for storing your compact essentials
Some of us simply love having unique gadgets around the office. There are various non-tech products available out there, and the moderco REVOV tray box definitely belongs in that category. What is this exactly? Well, it’s essentially a compact storage box, but with a twist, literally. This box swivels around to open, and then swivels back to close. Everything is regulated via magnets, and from what we’ve seen in video content, it’s quite satisfying to open and close.
The top lid is magnetized, and the magnets are really well deployed here. The tray comes with an aluminum bottom part, and a lower center of gravity due to the swiveling action. It is also slip-resistant when sitting on a table. The top (Tray) is designed with 100% beech wood, and the diameter of the tray is 7.8 x 5.12 x 3.07 inches. What’s this for? Well, you can place all sorts of products here, and there are several different compartments that you can utilize, as shown in the image above.
At the top, on the lid, you have three different compartments. One is ideal for a pair of AirPods, or some other truly wireless earbuds. The one next to that fits something the size of a larger USB stick, while next to that you have plenty of space for a small sticky notepad, card keys, or something of the sort. The bottom section seems to be wide open, and can hold some larger items, such as a smartwatch and a wallet in combination. Those are just some examples. It is an ideal gift for someone’s office, or perhaps bedroom or living room. It costs $69, if you’re interested, and comes in two colors, black and white.
mordeco REVOV Tray Box (Amazon)
Honorable mentions
Here are a couple of more products in this price bracket that you may like…
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD
If you know someone who’s in need of a portable SSD, SanDisk has some great ones. The one we’ve highlighted here is a 1TB one, and it’s immensely popular, for a good reason. It has a recognizable design eve, and it’s quite fast. It offers up to 1,050MB/s data transmission via its Type-C port. USB 3.2 Gen 2 is used here, by the way, and the drive comes in three different colors you can choose from. It is available in Black, Monterey, and Sky Blue colors. This particular model costs $79.99 (down from $99.99), but you can get 500GB, 2TB and 4TB models too.
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD (Amazon)
Logitech MX Master 3S
If your loved one is spending a lot of time on a computer, and you’ve noticed that they could use a mouse upgrade… well, the Logitech MX Master 3S is a great option. This Logitech product is priced at $89.28, and it’s one of the best mice you can get on the market. It’s ergonomic, has a very capable vertical wheel on the left, and has great build quality. It also has an insanely high DPI, if needed. This mouse is also quite bulky, in a good way. Do note that it may not be suited for small hands, though.
Logitech MX Master 3S (Amazon)
PlayStation Classic
A while back, Sony reintroduced its very first PlayStation, but in a much, much smaller form factor, with pre-installed games. It comes with 20 preloaded games, including Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, and more. The console itself is around 45% smaller than the original, and two wired controllers are also included in the package. The package also comes with an HDMI cable, and a virtual memory card. The console comes in one color, the original one, gray. The price tag is set at $99.
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller
We’re staying in the gaming sphere with the next product. It’s the Razer Kishi game controller/gamepad. Versions for both Android and iPhone are available, and both are listed below. This is one of the best game controllers for your smartphone that you can get. It has a Type-C charging port, and great build quality on top of that. Razer also says you won’t get input lag here. The Razer Kishi costs $59.95 for Android, and $65 for iPhones.