No one says you have to spend big to save big this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
Every Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s always a ton of hype about the discounts on big-ticket items — you know, the deals on the OLED TVs, game consoles, and tablets of the world. But it never fails that many of the ultra-cheap items make for some of the most clutch deals, namely because spending very little on a small accessory you end up using all the time can be the most gratifying.
This year, we’re once again keeping an eye out for the best tech deals on those little gadgets and gizmos under $25. We’ve also got a roundup for those working with a $100 budget, but the items below are pretty much as cheap as you can get in the tech world without simply buying absolute crap that’s destined to end up as e-waste.
Some of these helpful budget deals include gems like fully compatible MagSafe chargers for the latest iPhones, wired game controllers you can use on either Xbox or PC, Apple’s handy AirTag trackers, and some staff favorites — including the awesome Halo-inspired Nerf MA40 motorized dart blaster. Come on in and peruse these affordable wares.
Apple’s AirTags can help you find your lost items with their ultra-wideband technology. You’ll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app that can detect an AirTag’s location and notify you if one seems to be following you. Read our review.
The Chromecast with Google TV now comes in a version that tops out at 1080p instead of 4K. It’s more affordable as a result, though it retains the same design and feature set aside from UHD content and Dolby Atmos support. Read our review.
The Echo Pop is Amazon’s newest Alexa-enabled smart speaker. It offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.
The fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.
Each Blink Mini includes a ball-and-socket mount, a USB-C cable for powering it, and a power adapter. However, note that you’ll need to opt for the optional Blink subscription plan to take advantage of cloud storage and some features. Read our review.
New and returning subscribers can get three months of the ad-supported Paramount Plus Essential plan for $1.99 per month instead of $5.99, or three months of Paramount Plus with Showtime for $3.99 a month instead of $11.99. To take advantage of either deal, just use promo code BLACKFRIDAY before December 4th.
Until November 28th at 11:59PM PT, you can get a year of ad-supported Hulu for $11.88, which works out to $0.99 a month a savings of $68 compared to buying the $79.99 annual plan. New and returning subscribers (who canceled their Hulu subscription at least a month ago) as well as existing Disney Plus and ESPN Plus standalone subscribers are eligible for the deal.
- Nothing beats a family Nerf war, and the best way to do it is with a six-pack of single-shot Nerf MicroShot blasters, which is going for just $19.99 ($13 off) at Amazon. Each Derringer-style blaster loads and fires one dart, requiring you to pick your shots carefully before having to reload.
- Nerf’s Zombie Strike Hammershot is down to $12.49 ($5 off) at Amazon. It may be small, but it packs a great punch with a spring-powered hammer and rotating, five-dart revolving chamber. It gives off a great gunslinger vibe, especially if you dual-wield a pair of them.
- The Original Tamagotchi, a digital creature you can play with and take care of, is on sale at Amazon starting at $11.49 (about $8 off). This specific deal is for the “Mametchi Comic Book” version, which comes in a colorful and bright Mametchi comic book shell.
- TP-Link’s RE315 Wi-Fi extender is on sale for just $24.99 ($25 off), matching its best price to date. It’s a good option if you’re looking to extend network coverage in your home or add ethernet connectivity to another room.