11 cheap gadgets we've found to be highly useful (and they're on sale)

This Anker USB-C wall charger is a great purchase if your charging gear always seems to disappear. It comes in multiple colors and isn’t on sale often for under $13. I’ve lost track at how many of these I own at this point. 

This cord wrangler keeps my MacBook charger off the ground and out of reach of my curious cats. It’s especially great for making sure your charging cables don’t fall into the abyss behind your desk, couch, or bed, and for $30, it’s something I should have invested in a while ago. 

You can’t go wrong with a smart plug to upgrade your home. Turn on lights, appliances, decor, and more from your phone. I use several brands of smart plugs, but Amazon’s version is 20% off right now in the 4-pack iteration. The single plug is technically the only option that meets the $25 cap, but the multi-packs have the best value right now. 

Also: These 7 smart plug hacks changed how I run my home – here’s the setup

I’d buy these anytime just to be able to avoid using a light switch, and I’ll be stocking up for my new home. Our smart home expert, Maria Diaz, also loves smart plugs and has fully optimized her home with them. 

Besides being optimistic that it would work better than Q-tips, I’m not sure what possessed me to purchase this little gizmo, but I’m glad I did. And now my knowledge is your knowledge. This AirPods cleaner tool has a 4.5/5 star rating and over 10,000 reviews, so at least others agree with me. 

Also: Your AirPods are gross. Grab this $7 tool to keep them clean

It’s dual-ended, with a soft bristle tool on one side and a sharp scraper and a small brush combo on the other. It does its job and is handy. Would buy again. 

This isn’t on sale, and it doesn’t need to be, because it’s so cheap. This lens and screen cleaner kit is a deal in itself, and it’s my absolute favorite. Koala cleaner is my go-to for keeping my prescription glasses, laptop, iPhone, tablet, and other items streak, smudge, and dirt-free. The bottle lasts forever, and the special K-Cloth is perfect for cleaning my gross fingerprints off my glasses and tech. 

Also: This $8 cleaning solution is my new favorite tech essential – see the results for yourself

It’s formulated for most speciality glass, too, including coated camera and eyeglass lenses, and I would know. This has not damaged the anti-glare coating on my glasses at all and I’ve been using it for years. Immediate add-to-cart, no regrets. You can’t beat this for $8. 

This is also not on sale, but it was $13 well spent. I learned the hard way that I should have bought a keyboard protector when I got my new work MacBook Pro. Lesson learned — but don’t make my mistake. 

Also: The tech products we absolutely loved in 2025

This keyboard cover is barely noticeable, thin, and doesn’t hinder my screen when it’s closed. It keeps gross crud off of my keys, and it comes off easily, so I can shamelessly shake off crumbs and other bits from between keys. Bonus is that it helps keep accidental spills from running into your keys, too.