10 Interesting Gadgets Below $100 That Look And Feel Expensive — Christmas Gift Ideas For Foodies, Tech Addicts & More

4 December 2023

From innovative wearable devices to home gadgets that will pique the curiosity of your guests, discover the perfect presents for a fun-filled Christmas gifting session. 

As the festive season draws near, the quest for the perfect gift intensifies. For those seeking to surprise their friends, family, or tech enthusiasts with something truly unusual, this guide unveils a selection of unique and interesting tech gadgets and appliances that they never knew they needed in their lives, and they’ll be thanking you for it. You’re welcome.

For those in need of self-care: A sleep mask that doubles up as headphones

MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones, $23.99

We all know a good night’s rest is vital for our mental and physical wellbeing, but anyone with a partner who snores will agree that a good night’s rest is easier said than done. The MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones are both an eye mask and Bluetooth headphones in one. Pair the headphones to their phone and put on some soothing bedtime tunes or even white noise to block out snoring, traffic or any other noises that may be preventing them from getting some serious shut-eye. MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones, $23.99. Buy it here

For the Star Wars fan: Lightsaber chopsticks

Glowing Lightsaber Chopsticks Star Wars Light Up, $50.63

These glowing light sabre chopsticks give a whole new meaning to dining in the dark – mealtimes will now resemble Jedi fighting with their light sabres. These whimsical chopsticks are powered by 3 LR41 batteries and come in a set of four pairs of chopsticks with four different light colours – red, blue, green, and purple — perfect for the next Star Wars gathering. Glowing Lightsaber Chopsticks Star Wars Light Up, $50.63. Buy it here

For practical people: A personal fan that doubles up as a phone charger 

COMLIFE Portable Waist Clip Fan, $47.95

Do you constantly find your friends sweating buckets or complaining about the heat? This battery powered fan with a bladeless fan might be the solution to their heat complaints. It can be mounted in multiple ways, such as clipping it on the belt, pants, or on clothes hems, or wear the lanyard attached so that the fan can be hung from the neck for constant, strong airflow. It can also be used as a charger for your phone and other devices. Talk about getting more bang for your buck. COMLIFE Portable Waist Clip Fan, $47.95. Buy it here

Read more: More portable handheld and neck fans to buy

For the ones who need a tech break: A phone lock box

ySky Portable Smart Auto Phone Timer Lock Box, $52

How do you tell your friends that they’re phone addicts without explicitly saying so? Gifting a phone lock box is a good start, we think. Jokes aside, the ySky Phone Lock Box allows you to keep a phone locked up for a preset amount of time. The cutouts on the transparent lid allow you to check important messages, or swipe to accept or dismiss calls, and nothing more than that. ySky Portable Smart Auto Phone Timer Lock Box, $52. Buy it here

For the outdoorsy types: A solar powered portable power bank

IXNINE Solar Charger 27000mAh Power Bank, $69.91

Have a friend who is constantly outdoors and constantly running out of phone battery? The IXNINE Solar Charger is the perfect gift, with an in-built solar panel that recharges the power bank. It has two USB-A ports that supply power at 15W, and a USB-C port that serves both as an input and output. Advanced safety mechanism in the power bank intelligently monitors the voltage and current to help prevent overcharging or discharging, short circuits, and unusually high temperatures. IXNINE Solar Charger 27000mAh Power Bank, $69.91. Buy it here 

For the non-morning people: A bedside light and alarm clock that simulates sunrise

Sunrise Alarm Clock, $68.28

Don’t we all have that one friend who always struggles to wake up on time in the morning? This Sunrise Alarm Clock might help, especially since it gently wakes you up by simulating the morning sun rays, gradually increasing in brightness as time passes, and uses gentle alarm sounds rather than a sudden harsh alarm that rudely awakens you. But it’s not just useful in the day. At night, it can also function as a reading lamp, or a white noise generator with seven modes to help you fall asleep better. Sunrise Alarm Clock, $68.28. Buy it here

For the movie buff: A palm-sized portable projector

YOTON Mini Projector, $88.82

Is the person you are getting a gift for constantly watching films on his or her phone? With this palm-sized portable projector, bingeing on Squid Game The Challenge is so much better wherever they are — films can easily be beamed onto a wall, and together with the built-in speakers, they make for a more immersive viewing experience. It is easy to operate and small enough to be carried around in a backpack. As the projector connects to your phone via an HDMI cable, they will also need a separate HDMI adapter for their phone. YOTON Mini Projector, $88.82. Buy it here

Read more: Best home projectors to buy — and how to choose the perfect one for your space

For the foodie: A fun, customisable mini waffle maker

DASH Mini Waffle Maker 3-Pack Gift Set, $86.89

You’re getting not one but three appliances in this gift pack— a waffle maker, a heart-shaped waffle maker and a griddle that lets you fry eggs or burgers. Each mini appliance (measuring around 16cm by 12cm each) is a great addition to the kitchen if you’re cooking for one or two. In just a matter of minutes, you can whip up meals and snacks with this small but mighty trio, from grilled eggs and cookies to pancakes and paninis. Comes in a set of three colours, coral, mint, and teal. DASH Mini Waffle Maker 3-Pack Gift Set, $86.89. Buy it here

For the overworked pal: A heated eye massager

RENPHO Eyeris 1 Eye Massager with Heat, $79

Know someone who’s glued to screens all day every day? This eye massager could be a great gift option for deskbound folk as it soothes tired eyes, reducing puffiness and relieving tension by combining gentle heat therapy at 40℃ to 42℃ and massage. Its foldable, portable design allows for use anywhere, offering a spa-like experience in the comfort of home, the office or during travel. It even connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth so you can play soothing and relaxing music while they rest their eyes. RENPHO Eyeris 1 Eye Massager with Heat, $79. Buy it here

For deskbound folks who crave freedom: A mouse jiggler 

STARVIKY Physical Mouse Jiggler, $40.39

This might be a gift that divides opinion. After all, the STARVIKY Physical Mouse Jiggler is a device that keeps optical mice engaged via 2 pads which rotate at either preset or random intervals, preventing the screen from going to sleep. That means a constant ‘Available’ status on messaging platforms like Zoom, Teams, or Slack. As for why anyone would need a feature like that, we’ll leave it to you to find out. STARVIKY Physical Mouse Jiggler, $40.39. Buy it here

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This story was originally published in 8Days.

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