Under-$40 Tech Products That Will Enhance Your Life So Greatly

When you think about buying new tech, you might be more likely to imagine splashy expenses, like a new iPhone or laptop. And those purchases are great, but some of the best and most life-enhancing tech purchases you can make are actually the cheaper ones that clock in for under $40.
In fact, some of my favorite electronic tools are cheap things I didn’t know I needed until I had them (shoutout to my extended charging cords, which I now can’t live without). These gems exist in so many different departments of online shopping, from smart home tech to travel must-haves and entertainment devices.
Even if you think you already have everything you need, tech-wise, I dare you to take a look at the list we’ve rounded up here and tell me that some of these buys wouldn’t make your life way easier. Keep reading to see our picks for game-changing affordable tech products under $40.
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Getting a Roku Express 4K+ can help you streamline your TV-watching experience. It has 4K picture quality and is easy to set up, according to reviewers. Upgrading to Roku streaming gives you access to services like Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu and more from your customizable home screen. The Express 4K+ also comes with over 400 free live TV channels. You can also integrate it into the rest of your smart home — Roku works with Apple AirPlay, Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home.
Promising review: “I bought this a month ago because I moved into temporary housing without cable waiting for my new home to be built. It’s easy to set up and use. I’m now a convert. I will not go back to my expensive cable tv with difficult customer service. You can get local channels, movie channels, sports and even MLB for about half the cost of cable. You simply buy the Roku product, plug it into the hdmi on the tv, and an electric source. Connect it to the internet and your all set.” — Dr Kathy
Former HuffPost editor Janie Campbell previously lauded the Kasa smart plugs, which have since become a HuffPost reader favorite.
“I have houseplants under grow lights in darker corners of my home, and can turn those on and off even if I’m halfway around the world,” she wrote. “I can put them on a schedule when I travel, but still turn that schedule off if someone needs to stay in my apartment. I can leave an appliance running, and turn it off while running errands. I can use my smart plugs for Christmas lights, or to make it appear someone is home for safety. I have a bedroom air purifier set to turn on one hour before my usual bedtime and to turn off in the morning, right as my living room air purifier is scheduled to turn on (doing this with a coffee maker or fan is an absolute no-brainer).”
The plugs have a compact design, work with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control and come in a convenient four-pack.
If you travel a lot, or you’re just always losing your keys, wallet or other important items — hey, no judgment here — an Apple AirTag is one of the easiest solutions for Apple product users. It connects with your iPhone or iPad with just one tap, so you’ll always know where the item you’ve attached it to is. When you’re looking for something, you can also “ping” the AirTag so it plays a sound and helps you track it down. This is useful for luggage, keys, wallets, cars, pets and more, as thousands of reviews can attest to.
For some reason, I always thought Amazon’s Alexa devices were super expensive because of how high-tech they are, but it turns out you can get a first-generation Echo Pop (first released just last year) for only $40. Ideal for small spaces like bedrooms and offices, this smart speaker comes equipped with Alexa so you can use voice control to do a host of daily tasks. That includes setting timers, playing music, making calls, controlling your other smart home devices, starting and adding to a grocery list and more. It comes in four colors, including this fun purple.
Promising Amazon review: “Got this to play music and get soothing sleep sounds to help me sleep, but was amazed at how many other uses it had. I now get my weather every morning and all of my notifications from my phone each morning. Alexa even helps me keep my shopping list and chores organized. Very handy when I need to know something and don’t have time to do a GOOGLE search online. Oh and I LOVE how I have immediate access to so many recipes. This is a MUST HAVE for every homemaker, mom, and dad.” — Cupcake69
I previously sang the praises of this universal travel adapter, which is one of my favorite tech tools among the ones I own. It’s a true example of an all-in-one product: With four different plug types, it accepts plugs from most countries and can plug into sockets from over 200 countries and regions. It has three USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, meaning you can charge or use multiple devices at once (a game-changer for hotel rooms with a limited number of outlets). I even use the adapter to charge my Kindle and portable charger while I’m at home, because the Epicka adapter’s acceptance of so many types of cords and plugs takes some of the guesswork out of the different charging cords for my devices.
Heads up: For a limited time, you’ll get an extra 15% off on Amazon by clipping the on-page coupon. Savings how up at checkout, not in the cart.
Like the Roku Express 4K+, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K plugs into your TV and offers you advanced 4K streaming. The Fire TV Stick, specifically, also gives you access to 300,000 free (with ads) movies and TV episodes on Fire TV Channels, Amazon Freevee, Tubi, Pluto TV and more — in addition to the up to 1.5 million movies and shows you can watch through streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and others. If you’re an Alexa devotee, the Fire TV Stick may be a better buy than the Roku, as it comes with an Alexa voice remote for AI-powered search with voice control.
Another favorite recent tech purchase of mine are these Dasku charging cords, which are available in three lengths up to 10 feet. My advice? Go for the longest one — I didn’t realize how chained I was to the wall outlet until I was able to charge my phone in bed and still be able to use it when I rolled over.
The feature that’s special about these cords, though, is the 90-degree angle that will keep you from damaging your charging cord by constantly bending it. The cords are also double-braided for extra durability. You can get the USB-A or USB-C connector types, and it works with a ton of iPhone, iPad and AirPod models; just check the product page to make sure it works with what you have.
A 4.4-star average rating with 271,000 reviews? Say less. These mega-popular Tozo earbuds offer 10 hours of continuous playtime from a single charge, are compatible with wireless charging and have high stereo sound quality. You can also operate them easily while listening by simply tapping the earbuds to fast forward and holding to adjust volume. They’re also waterproof and extremely durable, with reviewers sharing stories about accidentally putting them in the washing machine and finding that they still work perfectly. You can get them in six colors.
Make sure you clip the 10% off coupon to get an extra discount applied at checkout.
Promising review: “I recently lost my old pair of these and I immediately went on to buy another set. These are my go-to every day wireless earbuds for my bus commute (and everything else I need headphones for). For context, I have very small ears and almost none of the “airpod style” headphones will stay in. I hate the real apple airpods, they constantly fall out and really hurt my ears because they are too big. I have tried a few other brands, returning all of them to amazon within 5 minutes of trying them on, before I tried these. they are so comfortable, very small, and stay in my very small ears faithfully without any issue. sound quality is excellent, bass is good, and noise cancelling is great. the battery life is great and lasts me at least a few days of heavy use (3-6 hours daily) between case charges. If I happen to lose the pair I currently have, I will be buying another.” — Cosmicray817
The Blink Mini security camera gives you the ability to see what’s happening inside your home and even talk to pets and visitors with two-way audio. The video is 1080p HD quality, the camera works with Alexa and you can customize settings for certain zones to get alerts on your phone when motion is detected. The camera itself is easy to set up and is less than two inches tall or wide, so you can set it up where you need without it taking up a ton of space.
Promising Amazon review: “Once a week I have to work a 16 hour shift and my puppy is left home alone and I get so worried. Since I got this, I am not worried anymore, I am able to watch it live and set it to ‘armed’ and it records everytime something moves. It doesn’t take any batteries cause it’s corded so that’s nice, I can mount it on the wall, i havent yet but I plan to. Video quality is great! Sound is very good! I can talk through it as well. It’s a great little camera, small, amazing quality, and i can have more than one linked to the app! I am definitely getting more.” — Roberta Hasch
If you want a surge protector power strip but don’t love the long, thin shape and size of most standard power strips, this bestselling one has a conveniently compact square shape with outlets on four of its six sides. You can also wall mount it to have it take up even less space. Available in two colors and with six different cord lengths, the power strip has eight outlets, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports so you can charge so many devices at once. The main plug is angled at 45 degrees, too, so it won’t cover up a bottom outlet if you plug it in a top one.
This wireless, waterproof speaker has a lot of fans, with over 96,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. The battery lasts for 24 hours of playtime, and one reviewer noted that the sound was “surprisingly full and warm for such a small speaker.” It also has intuitive, user-friendly controls with five large, raised buttons on the top.
Note: Clip the coupon for an extra $10 off the sale price applied at checkout. Right now, only the black version is on sale for below $40.
Not all planes are using the latest tech for their in-flight entertainment systems, and you may often find that you can’t use your AirPods or other wireless Bluetooth headphones to watch an in-flight movie. The Twelve South AirFly SE aims to solve that problem by plugging into the audio jack and connecting with your Bluetooth device, so you don’t have to buy separate wired earphones you’re likely to only use occasionally and possibly lose or get tangled among all your other cords. It works for over 20 hours on a single charge, and beyond airplanes, you can also use it on gym equipment, gaming devices or other tech that might not be Bluetooth-compatible.
Promising review: “I use this on a trip going overseas. I connected it to my Bose headsets so I didn’t have to be attached by a wire and I could actually watch what was on video on the airplane opposed to my little phone.It’s an awesome device, and I actually gifted it to a brother of mineThe Bluetooth hooked up with no issues battery life is great. It is truly a great thing to have when you’re traveling.” — J. Jones
Speaking of wireless Bluetooth headphones, why not try these Sony headphones that occasionally go on limited-time sale for under $40 in select colors? The headphones have a battery life of 50 hours and are light and comfortable, with soft ear pads and a cushioned headband. They can even connect to two devices at once for ultimate convenience. The built-in microphone also lets you take calls hands-free while using the headphones. As one reviewer put it, “Hard to believe Sony is selling these for such a cheap price. Couldn’t recommend more.”
We’ve covered this three-in-one Apple product charger before, particularly when it arose as a surprise bestseller duringPrime Day this past July. Able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time with just one cord, it’s a major space, time and outlet saver. It has high-powered, fast, wireless charging, is compatible with a ton of Apple product models (check the list on the product page to make sure yours is among them) and comes in six stylish colors.
Heads up: Check the 30% off coupon box on the product page for select colors to get an extra discount at checkout.