Home - Gadgets - The 8 best cheap tech gadgets we found on Amazon Haul
We’re always on the hunt for great Under $25 and Under $50 Scores, but what about gadgets that cost less than a slice of New York City pizza? We found a whole bunch of ‘em on Amazon Haul — the retail giant’s new marketplace where pretty much everything is a few dollars — and tested them out to see if they rise above the level of “cheap junk you bought while taking a break from doomscrolling.”
For this piece, we gave ourselves a spending limit of $50 — which allowed us to grab a whopping 16 items that range from AirTag holders and laptop stands that complement our favorite tech to phone cases that you can use in the shower. The result? You pretty much get what you pay for when you’re buying things like cases, cables and cleaning kits for $3 to $10 a pop, though there were certainly a few surprises that punched above their bargain bin price.
Before we get into the stuff we actually liked, here are a few things to keep in mind before you start your own shopping frenzy. Haul products are as no-frills as it gets; nearly every product we tested shipped without instructions, and many arrived without any form of easily distinguishable packaging. A lot of these gadgets showed up in generic, hard-to-open plastic bags, and one item was even partially open by the time we got to it. In short, you get what you pay for.
Due to their cheap, impulse-buy nature, Amazon Haul products tend to sell out fast. In cases where one of our picks is no longer available, we looked for the closest possible replacement. Spending more on Haul means saving more, with free shipping after you spend at least $25 and a whole bunch of other seemingly random discounts that are designed to keep you impulsively adding things to your cart.
Also note that Amazon Haul is a mobile-only experience found within the Amazon app for iOS or Android, though opening any of the below links on desktop will present a QR code that you can scan on your phone to start shopping there.
With that out of the way, here are a few surprisingly good gadgets that rose to the top of the pile.
Easily my favorite find of our entire Haul order, this rugged AirPods case is much more useful and durable than its $5 sticker price had me expecting. Its built-in locking mechanism keeps your AirPods from flying out should you drop your case (which I have done many, many times), and it comes with its own carabiner so you can easily throw your earbuds onto your keychain. The case leaves space for all of the AirPods Pro 2‘s key ports, and, impressively, doesn’t get in the way of wireless charging when I drop it onto my charging pad. I’ve never been a big AirPods case person, but this one hasn’t left my pocket since I first put it on a few weeks ago. My specific model is currently sold out, but there are plenty of similar ones for sale for a few bucks each. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor
This was one of the biggest surprises of the bunch because I thought I’d already found the cheapest version of this product, and didn’t really stick with it this time. But something about the smaller form factor for this tablet grip you mount to a table actually really works for my situation. I’ve currently got the 10th generation iPad locked into this grip to the left of my desk, and I’m using it to control the music I’m listening to, check my to-do list in Todoist and take notes in the Drafts app. The iPad wobbles slightly more than I’d like when I tap its screen, but aside from that, this is a win. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
If you use your AirPods as often as I do, they’re probably gross. Like, really gross. Fortunately, this affordable cleaning kit made it easy to get my gunk-covered earbuds and case looking close to new. The included cleaning putty got most debris off my AirPods Pro 2 in a matter of minutes, and there’s also an included cleaning pen for when you want to dig deep into some extra-nasty areas. Everyone should have a cleaning kit like this, especially when they’re so cheap. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor
It’s a phone stand that works exactly like you’d need a phone stand to. It feels surprisingly sturdy for something that costs a few bucks. I’d personally splurge for a charging stand if you can, but this is a totally fine accessory. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor
This is a simple Kindle case that’s comfortable enough to use and protects the Kindle. It’s compatible with the latest Kindle Paperwhite and the new Kindle Colorsoft, and it automatically puts the e-reader to sleep and wakes it up when you close and open its cover. There’s not much to say about it, except that it works. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
I had a surprising amount of fun with this lens kit, which allowed me to take silly fisheye lens photos of my dog. You also get wide angle and macro lenses for cool panoramas and up-close details, respectively. If this model’s sold out, you can check out this 2-in-1 kit as an alternative. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor
Able to comfortably store and organize six cables plus other accessories — I’ve got a mouse, a wireless charger and a longer cable in the zippered pouch — this bag is a perfect and affordable way to make sure you always have your cords and such available. Pack it once and keep it in your backpack, and never look back. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
I didn’t really see a use for a wall-mounted phone holder until I set this up near my bedside (where I don’t have a nightstand, because I live dangerously). The adhesive has held up well so far and stores my iPhone 16 Pro just fine when I have it plugged in overnight. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor
Amazon Haul’s electronics section is loaded with just about every type of tech accessory you can imagine, including phone stands, cables, cases, tripods and storage containers. Don’t expect any big-ticket items like phones, tablets or laptops.
Your mileage will vary here. For example, I’ve been testing out a cheap AirPods Pro 2 case that’s been holding up surprisingly well, while other products, like a clamp-on phone stand I tried, feel poorly made. Pay attention to each item’s user reviews, which can often point out major flaws.
CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico and electronics writer Henry T. Casey have a combined two decades doing in-depth product reviews to help you find the tech that’ll actually make your life better. For this piece, they purchased every single item they tested, and used them over the span of several weeks.
