We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A pair of Bluetooth headphones (comparable to AirPods or Beats, except $25 not $150!) that let you jam out to your favorite songs at the gym, in the car, or wherever you may be.
These compact wireless headphones come with a charging case that provides up to 35 hours of uninterrupted listening, while the earbuds themselves will last eight hours on a single charge. They also quickly and easily pair to your phone via Bluetooth to provide quality sound with minimal lagging. Similarly to AirPods, they have smart touch control so you can play, pause, skip, answer calls, adjust the volume, and more by simply touching the earbud without having to worry about finding your phone.
Promising review: "I purchased my wife a set of Apple AirPods Pro ($239) and bought a set of these Tozo 10s for me like two months later. MAN, I wish I would have never bought my wife the Apple earbuds, because these are AMAZING for the price. In my opinion, these are comparable with Apple when it comes to listening to music, I have not attempted to use them for making calls or answering calls. I easily get six hours each earbud and if I only listen to one earbud at a time, 12 hours total each day. Truly the first product I’ve purchased that was much cheaper but no less quality. Definitely recommend." —Jeremie R.
Get them from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six colors).
2. An Amazon Echo so you can blast your favorite music throughout your house without even having to get up from your couch, almost as if you had a personal butler, but until then, this will do. Alexa, play "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani 🎶.
Not only can Alexa play your favorite songs, but she can turn on your lights, set timers, alarms, and reminders, tell you the weather, turn on appliances, and more. The opportunities are truly endless. If you've wanted to have a smart home ever since watching The Jetsons, this is your chance to start moving towards a house of the future.
Promising review: "I love this device! I was skeptical it would be helpful. I got a deal on smart plugs and paired them with Alexa🤣. Now we love playing music, cutting on lights throughout house, televisions, fans. We are old and not techy so this was a stretch for us. It’s SO easy to set up and so useful I don’t know why I waited so long or how I got along without it. You will NOT be sorry you purchased. Buy smart plugs to to add to all your outlets. Cut on lights before you get home. LOVE it!" —Tami
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors).
3. And, since you already have one in your house, an Echo Auto that will bring all the features of the traditional Echo with you wherever you go. No more fumbling with the radio stations or your phone while driving, just ask Alexa, she can do it for you!
Echo Auto was designed for your car. It has eight microphones so your voice can be heard over whatever is playing in your car, the AC, or just road noises.
Promising review: "I have a Mazda Miata convertible with the Bose radio and sound system. I connect this little device to the auxiliary plug on my car radio, connect to my Samsung galaxy S10+ and it works great. Just as I start my car it connects to my phone and car radio. I make and receive phone calls through my radio speakers, use the navigation on my phone and directions are broadcast through my radio. I can ask Alexa for all kinds of information and even connect with my Alexa devices at home no matter where I am. Even when driving with the top down on my convertible it hears my commands and responses and with the Bose system the music is great." —Hugh
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
4. A set of Bluetooth compatible LED lights so you can transform any room in your house into a vibe. These lights also hook up to an app on your phone for easy control, and they have a timer so they can shut off or turn on at a specific time. Aka you can wake up to a rave in your bedroom.
Promising reviews: "Very happy with these lights. They were easy to put up. All colors are very vivid and bright. You can adjust the brightness to what you prefer. Both of kids have them in their rooms. I want to get some more my room now. Lol! Worth every penny." —Ashley
"I used these lights to brighten up my apartment closet and to line the back of my TV. They work great, plus the fact that I can use an app on my phone to control them makes things even better! Will definitely buy these again in the future." —Sue Fox
Get them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six lengths).
5. A wearable activity tracker with 15-day battery life (!!) for anyone who cannot seem to remember to charge their electronics. Plus this band is compatible with Alexa, so you can set reminders, add items to lists, get answers to simple questions, and more, all from your wrist (it's giving Spy Kids)!
Promising review: "I am very impressed with the capabilities this band provides. I average about 10,000 steps per day. The step count is usually within a couple of hundred steps of my phone's Google fit tracker. I love the Alexa integration. I frequently use it for reminders, adding items to my shopping and 'to do' lists and asking simple questions (ex: how many cups are in a gallon). The sleep tracker is very helpful. Every morning I check the weather on the band as well. I also really like getting text and email notifications. Not great but still functional for readying most messages. I just like to see who it's from and the subject. So then I know if it's important. For the price, this can't be beaten." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
6. A custom LED music plaque that is a perfectly unique and sentimental alternative to a traditional photo. Just scan the QR code and it will automatically pull up and start playing whatever song you chose.
Vona Gifts is a California-based small business specializing in personalized gifts and memorabilia.
The QR code aspect of this plaque is optional. If you do want it, you'll have to add a link to your song in the personalization box when you go to check out, that way you'll know for sure it is the right version of your song.
Promising review: "Wow wow wow, I am totally impressed by this order!! It totally exceeded my expectations, the seller is fantastic and delivery was very quick. The product is totally perfect in every way and very high quality. Thank you so so much!! I can’t wait to give this to my girlfriend for her birthday. I will definitely be recommending to all my friends and purchasing other products from this store 😊" —Lucy
Get it from Vona Gifts on Etsy for $32 (available with or without QR code to play the song).
7. A 3-in-1 charger so you can charge all your Apple products in one place without having to worry about those ugly cords taking up your whole side table.
**Note: There is not a watch-charging cable included, but there is a place for the round part of the charger to go and a compartment for you to wrap up the cord to eliminate the extra cables.
Promising review: "If you are looking for a 3-in-1 wireless charger, you don't have to look any further. I've had it for a little over a month now, and haven't had any issues. I keep it on my nightstand and charge my devices overnight. I like that you can turn the charging indicator light on and off as well, so sleep interruption isn't a concern for me. I actually pack this in my travel bag and use it in my hotels as well. One feature I really like is the ability for the charger to charge your phone vertically or horizontally. Sometimes I'll turn the phone horizontally and watch videos while the phone charges. This is a great option to charge your phone overnight since it can take a while longer than a corded charger. Overall, I'm happy I purchased this product." —Todd H.
Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in five colors).
8. Or, an alarm clock with a wireless charging pad on top designed to really clear the clutter off of your night stand. Goodbye tangled mess of cords, you are no longer needed!
Promising review: "We bought the black wooden finish. It is sleek, elegant, classy. Very well done, looks very nice and it can be placed not just in your room but also in an office, the kitchen, a studio, etc. The clock display is excellent, clear and with sharp numbers that are very easy to read at all times - you can change the brightness to suit your preference. And it just takes a couple minutes (if that) to set it up. The practicality of this clock is unbeaten - it not only gives you the time and allows you to set various alarms but also gives you the room's temperature and relative humidity (and its temp and RH readings are very accurate). Add to this the really ingenious idea of just putting your iPhone, even in its case, on top of it and it'll charge it. This is the best alarm clock we've ever owned, will buy a few more because it's like the perfect, practical gift for anybody!" —Jesus M. P.
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four colors).
9. A Roku streaming stick that will turn any TV into a smart one, because (unfortunately) it is not realistic to buy a new TV every time yours becomes slightly out of date. This is also compatible with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant so you can feel extra fancy by talking to control your shows.
Just by adding this little stick, you can start streaming Disney plus, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV plus, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu, no matter how old your TV may be. Plus with compatible TVs, you can stream HD/4K for incredible picture quality.
Promising review: "I love Roku and have been using them for a while but had not yet purchased the 4K streaming stick. Wow! If I had known I would have gotten it sooner. It took and older smart TV who's streaming capabilities was frustrating coupled with an ok picture and turn it into a new TV. Streaming is fast and the picture improved beyond what I thought the TV was capable. Clear bright beautiful pictures. I now own two streaming sticks. The wife likes the fact that I didn't have to buy a new TV." —David Ramos Jr.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
10. A Petcube so you can watch your pets with high quality, wide angle video that also has night vision. Now you can get alerts and see what your doggo is doing while you're out and about.
Petcube is a California-based small business that specializes in interactive HD pet camera products. It can send you instant notifications via its app and sync with Amazon Alexa.
Promising review: "We have had the original Petcube for some time and have loved being able to see our furry friend (cat) when we are away. We had always talked about getting another one so that we could see more of her while we are traveling. Enter the new Petcube...a petite footprint with a wide-angle lens. Easy to set up and easy to use. Absolutely perfect." —NLVG
Get one from Amazon for $39.99+ (also available as a two- or three-pack).
11. A high-tech smart-toothbrush that connects to your phone to track your habits and help you get the most out of toothbrushing. It's like those old kid's toothbrushes that played music so you knew how long to brush, only ~fancier~.
The app that the toothbrush connects to shows you how long you brushed and the amount of coverage you got/what areas could use a little more attention. The brush also has two vibration modes (normal and sensitive) and a timer to let you know when the two minutes is up.
Promising review: "I bought this toothbrush for my son for college. Thought it would be a great way to entice brushing as it has a built in rewards system with the app. What I didn't know was that my son had not been brushing properly. Within a day, the app taught my son how to get all the right angles. Make sure all his teeth were being washed for the right length of time and kept track of progress. I wish I had this when he was 2. I now have purchased one for every member of the family and we get competitive. In a fun way... This product is great. I know it will save me on dental bills in the long run. Love it! —Candice Brenner
Get the starter kit from Amazon for $32.10+ (available in two colors).
12. A reusable smart notebook for anyone who doesn't want to switch to a tablet because they prefer to write with pen on paper. This notebook gives you that satisfaction with the added bonus of uploading whatever you write to your phone or computer PLUS you don't have to worry about adding a bunch of notebooks to your growing collection every year.
Promising review: "I am very happy with my purchase of the Rocketbook. I have it set to the side on my desk for quick scribbles, when I need to make notes. It has eliminated a bunch of messy scrap pieces of paper all over the place. The pen that came with it works great (I am fussy about that); it feels like normal pen to paper. I don't often have to save my notes, but, in the event that I do, the scan feature (I use it with Evernote or email) is awesome! When I'm done, I just spray a bit of water and wipe clean. Great organizational tool and keeps my home office neat and free of extra clutter." —KMS
Get it from Amazon for $22.30+ (available in two sizes and 17 colors).
13. A universal remote attachment so you can stop getting frustrated every time you try to turn the TV on with the volume remote. Simply attach this to your Fire TV remote and now you can control everything with one device 🙌🏼.
Promising review: "Before: three remotes, one for the screen (on/off), a separate one for the sound system (volume) and of course the fire stick remote. After: just the one convenient integrated unit. No more scrambling to find the which remote to do what I want, cause it's all right there in the one unit. I wish I'd have bought one years ago cause the multi-remote tango got old real fast." —Chapman B.
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
14. A smartplug so you can use Alexa to control whatever you want! Lights can turn on and off, your coffee can start brewing before you wake up, you can set up routines — the opportunities are endless! Now you can have the butler you've always dreamed of.
Promising reviews: "I've got about six of them, the automation with Alexa is perfect. Christmas tree, fish tank, lamps around the house, etc. They work fantastically, and I know there will be more coming into my life going forward. I keep coming up with more uses for them, and then need to get another." —Bryce W.
"I love being able to control my lights with this product. Even when I'm not at home, I'm able to use my smartphone to turn my lights off and on without the use of a timer. I feel this ability can possibly give the appearance that I'm at home due to the different intervals of turning the lights on and off." —landscapelady
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
15. An Apple AirTag so you can digitize anything to be able to find the location. Gone are the days of spending 20+ minutes scouring the house to find your keys or wallet.
Promising reviews: "I bought this for my dog: he’s a runner! If he ever gets loose, he takes off and gives us a scare. Now I can track him down with ease using my own phone and seeing him on a map. It’s such a relief to have his location easily on my phone. The attachment to his collar is also for sale on Amazon, and attaches the tag to his collar easily and comfortably. He has no idea it’s there!" —Perrie
"Love my two AirTags, one on my wallet and one on my keys.. Easily go to the 'find my' app on your iPhone and under 'things' track either item. They even make a sound so you can hear and it will guide you down to the half step of whatever you decide to use them for! Perfect!" —Josh & Sav
Get it from Amazon for $27.98.
16. A smart garage control system that will provide you with convenience AND peace of mind for all those times you leave you house just to worry five minutes later about whether or not you actually closed your garage door.
I have lived in my house with this system for about a year now and I honestly never thought about needing one of these since I could just control my garage with a little button, but since I've been using it, it is so helpful. If I ever want to go out without bringing my keys I know I can because I can just easily open the garage with this app. BUT, the real benefit that I would never have considered happened to me a few months ago. My husband and I were both out when we got a notification that our fire alarm was going off, obviously we both panicked and didn't know what to do. He got a call from the security company that the fire department was on the way and we knew they were going to beat us there. I soon realized that in order for them to inspect our house they would have to bust through the door. Somehow even in my absolutely chaotic panicking state, I realized I could use this app to open the garage so the fire department could get in through there. *Thankfully* it was just a false alarm, but we talked to the fire fighters after and they said in situations like these they would break down the door if they saw any credible indications of fire (which luckily we didn't have) but they did say that was incredibly helpful for them to be able to just get in without causing harm or just assuming there was nothing wrong and leaving. I was so grateful to have this device and it honestly provides so much peace of mind knowing I can open (or close) my garage from anywhere in case of an emergency or if I just realize after leaving that the door is still open.
Promising review: "Amazingly simple to setup. The video for instructions helped a lot. Actually overall setup was a breeze. I am glad that I found a cost effective solution. My high school kids sometimes forget to close the garage door and now we can check and remotely close it from the app. Finally, what a relief!" —Art P
Get it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in four variations).
17. A temperature displaying shower head because there is something so ~extra~ (in a good way) about knowing the actual temperature of your shower rather than having to guess where to turn the knob each time you get in.
Promising reviews: "Bought this as a Christmas present for myself and felt just like a kid on Christmas morning. I love this shower head. Especially because the water temperature in my apartment fluctuates rapidly to really high temperatures — it can get to almost scolding hot water. It’s especially helpful for regulating the temperature when I have guests over." —Mary W.
"ABSOLUTELY worth every penny! Super easy to install. Love the digital temp! It was funny for the whole family to see where they liked the temp to be! 100% recommend! GET IT NOW!" —Al-melia D.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.