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Holiday tech gifts under $75: MagSafe chargers, projectors, and more

Starting your holiday shopping? These are the best gifts to give the tech enthusiast in your life, for under $75.
Written by Nina Raemont, Associate Editor and  Christina Darby, Associate Editor
Reviewed by Kayla Solino
Renpho Eye Massager with Heat | Best self-care cheap tech gift
Renpho Eye Massager in white.
Renpho Eye Massager with Heat
Best self-care cheap tech gift
View now View at Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet | Best inexpensive tablet
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet against blue backdrop
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
Best inexpensive tablet
View now View at Target
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 | Best cheap wireless earbuds gift
OnePlus Nord Buds 2 behind flower petals.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2
Best cheap wireless earbuds gift
View now View at Oneplus
SwitchBot Blind Tilt | Best cheap tech gift to trick out your existing blinds
SwitchBot blind tilt against blue backdrop
SwitchBot Blind Tilt
Best cheap tech gift to trick out your existing blinds
View now View at Amazon
Moonside Lamp One | Best cheap tech gift for ambiance
Moonside Lamp One
Moonside Lamp One
Best cheap tech gift for ambiance
View now View at Amazon
Rocketbook Pro | Best cheap tech for digital notes
Rocketbook Pro on a desk
Rocketbook Pro
Best cheap tech for digital notes
View now View at Amazon
Dodow Sleep Aid Device | Best cheap tech gift for a good night's sleep
Dodow sleep aid device against pink backdrop
Dodow Sleep Aid Device
Best cheap tech gift for a good night's sleep
View now View at Amazon
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Camera | Best cheap tech gift for making memories
Fujifilm camera against blue backdrop
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Camera
Best cheap tech gift for making memories
View now View at Amazon
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th generation) | Best smart assistant cheap tech gift
Echo Dot (5th gen)
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th generation)
Best smart assistant cheap tech gift
View now View at Amazon
PVO Mini Projector | Best cheap tech gift for movie nights
Mini projector against pink backdrop
PVO Mini Projector
Best cheap tech gift for movie nights
View now View at Amazon
Show more (5 items)

If you're shopping for your loved ones this holiday season on a strict $75 and under budget, you've come to the right place. We know that money can be tight around this time of the year, and trying to find the perfect gift with financial constraints can kill your holiday cheer. 

By looking back at some of our favorite products we've tested and staying on top of the latest tech trends, we put together a thoughtfully curated list of unique tech gadgets with your budget and your loved ones's possible needs in mind, including wireless earbuds that'll make you question ever going back to AirPods, smart home gadgets, and an eye massager our team swears by. 

Also: 

  • Price: $70

When ZDNET's June Wan told me about the Renpho eye massager, Christina Darby, who contributed to this article, knew she had to try it. With built-in heating features and speakers, the Renpho Eye Massager is just what she needed after a full day of eye strain from staring at a screen or to quickly relieve sinus pressure. Gently massaging and heating your eyes, it's a great self-care gift to help anyone relax and distress, or even tame a headache. 

Users can also control the intensity of the massage as well as listen to built-in relaxing music or connect it to a customized playlist via Bluetooth. Featuring a portable design, the Renpho eye massager is a perfect desk or nightstand companion for a quick 20-minute break. 

  • Price: $150 (on sale at Best Buy for $75)

Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is $75 (when its usual asking price is normally double that) at Best Buy right now, so if you're trying to gift your loved one a tablet but don't have the funds for an iPad, consider this one instead. It comes with 32GB of storage, enough for the average amount of apps, songs, photos, and videos you're storing on the tablet. It's got a 10-inch screen for viewing your favorite shows and movies and a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1200. Use it like a portable laptop for answering emails, scrolling on social media, or streaming. 

  • Price: $59

Looking to gift your loved one a pair of earbuds? AirPods are great, but probably over your $75 budget, but lucky for you the $60 OnePlus Nord Buds 2 proved to ZDNET's June Wan that budget-friendly earbuds might be the way to go. Offering ANC, improved 12.4mm drivers, a decent 37-hour battery life, and an overall solid listening experience, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 don't skimp on "premium" earbud features despite the low cost. If your friend or family member could use a solid pair of wireless earbuds, these are worth the purchase.  

Review: Cheap noise-canceling earbuds are getting good. This $60 pair proves it

  • Price: $70 

Help upgrade your parent's existing blinds with the $70 SwitchBot Blind Tilt -- it's easy to install and, according to ZDNET's Maria Diaz, the "easiest way to automate your blinds." Never open them manually again. The small device attaches to the vertical "twisting wand" on horizontal blinds and is controlled via your smartphone or even voice-command smart devices like Alexa or Google Home. 

Review: SwitchBot Blind Tilt: The simplest way to automate existing blinds

  • Price: $65

Smart lights are a great way to elevate pictures, videos, or space in general, and while they can be an investment, this all-in-one lamp from Moonside saves you money and room real estate. When ZDNET tested the lamp last year, we were impressed by its compelling RGB custom accent lighting, especially for the budget-friendly price.

Review: This color-changing RGB lamp helps you set the mood for less than $70

  • Price: $55 on Rocketbook's website and $60 on Amazon 

The Rocketbok Pro is a completely reusable notebook that allows users to scratch their itch for handwritten notes while offering a digital storage option. Using an NFC chip, users can hold up their iOS or Android-run smartphone to scan pages to different cloud destinations. Once the notes are digitally preserved, wipe the page clean with a damp microfiber cloth and start fresh. 

Review: The Rocketbook Pro makes a strong case for the smart notebook

  • Price: $60

Give that tired and wired parent of yours the gift of a good night's sleep with the Dodow Sleep Aid Device. Place the device on a flat surface next to your bed and it shines a soft blue light onto the ceiling. Follow the motion of the light with your breathing and it relaxes you into sleep mode, enabling you to fall asleep faster. The device automatically shuts off so you can fall asleep with it still on. 

Also: The best headphones for sleeping in 2023 

  • Price: $69

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 camera is a fun and colorful gift, perfect if you're planning any type of gathering and perfect for your dad to collect fun, candid memories. Pulling inspiration from old Polaroids, the Instax Mini 11 is a sturdy camera with auto exposure, a selfie mode, and flash, and is able to print photos immediately after you say "Cheese." 

Unlike previous mini camera models, Fujifilm opted out of the exposure control dial on this one and instead just has automatic exposure. In addition, there is a selfie mode, so you can easily turn selfies into printed photos.

Also: The best instant cameras

  • Price: $60

The brand-new 5th Generation Echo Dot brings more powerful audio to Amazon's most popular smart speaker. While this Echo Dot is the same size as the previous generation, it features a completely redesigned internal structure for double the bass output and crisper audio, as well as a temperature sensor that can give you the room temperature or run automations through Alexa

The Echo Dot with Clock display now goes beyond the time to show calendar events and media information, making it a helpful addition for anyone looking for a sleek and compact smart speaker for their office.

Review: It sounds ridiculous but I forgot how useful digital clocks can be

  • Price: $56

Movie nights are so much better with this mini projector. With the PVO Mini Projector, you can watch movies or play games, taking advantage of its 1080p full HD display. With six total ports, including an HDMI port, a micro-USB, and an audio jack it's compatible with pretty much any device. 

Also: The 5 best portable projectors: Entertainment anywhere

How did we choose these cheap tech gifts?

With affordability top of our minds, we looked back at some of the products our team tested that would not only cover lots of different interests and wants, but also items that are suitable -- and budget-friendly -- as larger gifts. Our team also scoured Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers for other cheap gifts that make for great presents, and in some cases, memories. 

What is proper gift-giving etiquette?

The act of giving gifts has different protocols in cultures around the world. If you have in-laws, family, or friends who practice gift-giving in different ways than you're used to, don't be afraid to ask what you should do! You can always do some reading online for proper etiquette in various cultures.

But no matter what, as long as the gift you're giving is thoughtful, and you're genuine in the act of giving, the receiver will likely be happy with whatever you do.


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