Cheap stuff that doesn’t suck, take 3

Summary: From fancy OLED TVs to robot vacuums with arms, we tend to cover a lot of cool stuff here at The Verge that, unfortunately, often costs as much as a month’s rent (or more).

Background

But with the ongoing tariff situation in the US and a global memory shortage pushing up the cost of, well, everything, we’re well aware that not everyone can spend that kind of money right now.

So, as we did last year, we asked The Verge staff to share some of their favorite gadgets under $50.

These are the gizmos that don’t fall apart after a few weeks, as cheap stuff often does, and quietly improve our lives.

Some are practical purchases, like portable power banks and backup bulbs, while the rest are useful in other ways.

After all, who doesn’t want a dirt-cheap Bluetooth speaker, a feature-packed pair of earbuds, or a fitness tracker that punches well above its weight?

Further details

If you’re curious, you can check out our favorites below.

Nite Ize DoohicKey Plus Key Tool Nite Ize DoohicKey Plus Key Tool Where to Buy: $6.99 $6.49 at Amazon $6.99 at Nite Ize $7 $6.5 at REI This keychain thingy costs less than seven bucks, is about the size of an actual key, and clips onto your keyring with a built-in carabiner latch.

It’s perfectly suited for opening boxes, popping bottlecaps, or tightening a screw or a bolt in a pinch.

While it’s not as good as a dedicated tool — or even a larger multitool like a Leatherman — at any of those things, I’m also way more likely to have it on me when I need it.

— Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor CMF Buds 2A CMF Buds 2A Where to Buy: $49 $19.99 at Amazon (black) $49 $19.99 at Amazon (orange) $49 $19.99 at Amazon (light gray) When it comes to earbuds, my daily drivers are a pair of AirPods Pro 3.

However, given how often I find myself sitting in my car due to my extracurriculars (I volunteer with search and rescue), I decided to pick up a pair of Nothing’s CMF Buds 2A as a backup for my bag.

The budget earbuds are often on sale for a tenth of what the Pro 3 cost, and while they certainly can’t compete with Apple’s high-end earbuds, their pack-in features and overall performance make them a terrific value.

For $49, you get decent sound and customizable touch controls, along with up to eight hours of playback on a single charge (or up to 35.5 hours with the included USB-C charging case).

Context

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