Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Tech stocking stuffers that’ll knock their socks off for under $100

Most people treat stocking stuffers as a sideshow to the main event of Christmas gift-giving, but as far as we’re concerned, they’re the perfect opportunity to surprise your giftees with some pint-sized presents that punch above their weight class. The key is finding stuff that’s nice to have but that your giftee wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up 10 gadgets that hit the sweet spot. You’re welcome.

Anker ultrafast charger

Anker GaN charger
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Practically everybody has a few charger bricks scattered around their house, but the cheap ones that come bundled with your electronics are garbage compared to the Anker Nano II. This pint-sized powerhouse is made with the latest gallium nitride charging tech and can juice your electronics up to three times faster than the average brick.

Apple AirTags

Apple Airtag in different polyurethane and leather key rings and loops
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your giftee is an iPhone user, Apple’s new AirTags are a sure-fire hit. They essentially allow you to track any device — your keys, your wallet, or even your dog — but without having to recharge a GPS module or pay a monthly fee for a tracking service. They’re practically magic.

JBL Go 3

JBL Go 3 portable speaker
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Portable Bluetooth speakers are as common as pigeons these days, and there’s a good chance whoever you’re buying for already has one — but even if they do, the JBL Go 3 will almost certainly be an upgrade. You won’t find a better sound in such a small package.

Wearable charging cord

wearable charging cable
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ever find yourself in a situation where you need a charger cable, but nobody has one handy? These bracelets exist to make sure that never happens again. By wearing them on your wrist, you’ll always have one there when you need it. I got one a couple of years ago and can’t even count the number of times that it has saved the day.

Buy from Nouon

Roku Streaming Stick+

Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Even if your giftee already has a streaming media setup, Roku’s new Streaming Stick+ is worth considering. It’s the best one Roku has made yet, and it supports Dolby Vision. It’s a killer upgrade if your giftee already has a Roku stick, and it’s an absolute game-changer if they don’t.

Bondic repair kit

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bondic is the best-kept secret in tech. It’s a little pen that allows you to repair things with light-sensitive glue that won’t harden until you shine UV light on it. It’s infinitely more user-friendly than superglue and is ideal for fixing broken glasses, frayed charger cables, and damn near everything in between.

Electronic hand warmer

hand warmer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you know someone who still uses those disposable HotHands packets, do them a favor and buy them a proper 21st-century upgrade. In addition to offering multiple hours of on-demand warming, this gizmo can also juice up your smartphone if you start to run low.

Amazon Smart Plug

Amazon

Buying for someone who would enjoy the convenience of a modern smart home but isn’t tech-savvy? This smart plug is practically guaranteed to be a hit. It basically allows you to control any outlet — activate and deactivate whatever’s plugged into it — via voice commands.

Redkey USB

redkey data wipe tool
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you know somebody is getting a new computer for Christmas and might retire their old one, you should definitely stuff one of these in their stocking. It’s a little USB stick that makes it super easy to securely wipe a hard drive and ensure nobody can recover the data on it.

Rechargeable candle lighter

arc lighter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your giftee hasn’t already upgraded to rechargeable electronic lighters, do them a favor and get them one of these. They’re far more convenient and environmentally friendly than ripping through disposable butane lighters.

Editors' Recommendations

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
How to use external storage with an iPhone or iPad
External Devices with iOS

While cloud storage has made things a bit less troublesome, most people will eventually max out the available space on their iPad or iPhone. From games and apps to music and more, there are thousands of files vying for your SSD — and even if you pick up a model with a 1TB SSD, there's a good chance that years of use will consume every last byte of space you had available.

Read more
PS4 vs. PS5: which console should you buy in 2024?
PlayStation 5 controller and PS5.

PlayStation 5 has been available for several years now, and it's easier than ever to find it in stock at retailers. The new-gen hardware makes big upgrades over its predecessor, letting gamers enjoy better graphics, shorter loading times, and support for the fancy DualSense controller. It's also much more expensive than PS4, so while PS5 is better than PS4 in most regards, it might not be ideal for frugal shoppers.

But is PS4 or PS5 the better choice in 2024? Does the aging PS4 really make sense to purchase right now, or should you opt for the PS5? From pricing and available games to storage and resolution, here's a closer look at these two popular consoles.
PS5 vs. PS4 vs. PS4 Pro specs
Even a cursory glance at the specs of the PS5 shows that it’s in a different league than the PS4 (and even the PS4 Pro). Sony has improved the capabilities of its platform in every way, adding more efficient storage, faster compute parts, support for larger capacity disks, and support for higher resolutions. We know there are two versions of the PS5 -- the Standard Edition and Digital Edition -- both of which will offer the same specs (with the exception of the omission of a disc drive with the Digital Edition).

Read more
The best PC fans
Corsair ML120 Fans

Although often overlooked, cooling is one of the most important aspects of building a computer. You want a beefy CPU cooler — or an all-in-one liquid cooler — but you should pay attention to the general airflow in your case, too. To make sure everything moves along as smoothly as possible, we've rounded up the best PC fans for your build. 

Here are our favorite PC fans for 2024.

Read more