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This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
Some people may look down on gift cards as kind of a cop-out when it comes to presents, but I have always been thrilled to get one for Christmas or birthdays. It’s like free money that I don’t have to feel guilty about not putting it towards something responsible. If you found a $25 gift card tucked away in your stocking this year, you could always use it to knock a chunk off a larger purchase. But there are also plenty of nifty gadgets you can pick up in the sub-$25 range, especially considering that there are some great end-of-the-year deals available right now.
Here are some of our favorite picks to help you get the most out of that $25 gift card, with options at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart.
Anker
Anker Magnetic Wireless Charger: $16
Ditch the wires
Most newer phones support wireless charging, so why not start using the new tech with a cheap wireless charger. This Anker model supports all phones with wireless charging, with the added bonus of snapping magnetically to MagSafe-equipped iPhones. It’s definitely worth grabbing for yourself, especially at just $16.
$16 at Amazon
Bandai America
Tamagotchi electronic game
Relive the joy of having an electronic pet
Tamagotchis have been around for close to a quarter of a century, and they’ve never really gone out of style. These electronic pets — which you wash, feed and “train” — are equally good for younger Pokemon fans and nostalgic older folks. There are over 30 different colors and designs available, so grab your favorite or start building your collection now.
$20 at Amazon
Rak
Rak Magnetic Wristband
Give yourself an extra hand at work
Have you ever reached in your pocket while on a ladder only to drop the screw you need all the way down because it slipped out of your hand? If not, you’re lucky, and if so you need this accessory. It holds drill bits, screws, tools and more using its strong magnets and is adjustable to fit wrists of all sizes.
$18 at Amazon
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Express 4K Plus (2021)
Stream all your favorite programs
Named a CNET Editor’s choice, this tiny box can transform any TV with an HDMI input into a smart TV with a simple plug in. It instantly gives you access to all your favorite streaming services, from HBO Max to Disney Plus, in dazzling 4K resolution, along with HDR support for vivid colors and crisp details. The remote not only lets you browse your Roku channels, but controls your TV as well, so you can toggle the power and control the volume without swapping remotes. This advanced Roku streamer typically costs $40, but you can grab it right now for 40% off.
$24 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Express 4K Plus (Black, 2021)
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Google Nest Mini: $25
Run your home with just your voice
Oct 2019
The Nest Mini is Google’s entry level smart speaker, and offers a great chance to start building up your smart home without breaking the bank. Check the weather and news, play music, or control other smart devices like your lights or TV with only the sound of your voice. The new second-gen model also features a learning chip that will track any patterns in your requests and start anticipating them, helping this smart speaker blend seamlessly into your home and routine. Read our Nest Mini (2nd gen) review.
Read our Google Nest Mini review.
$25 at WalmartYou’re receiving price alerts for Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen, Charcoal)
Tile
Tile Mate
Never lose your keys again
Between your phone, wallet, backpack or purse, when you leave the house, there’s a good chance you’re taking a lot more than $25 worth of stuff with you. This bluetooth tracking tag is great way to keep ensure you never have to worry about losing track of your stuff, and is a lot more affordable than having to replace any lost items. If you’re within 250 ft. of your Tile tracker, you can use the app to activate a loud ring to track it down, and if you’re far away, you can check the app for its most recent location on a map. And if someone else finds your lost items, the QR code on the back can link them directly to your contact information so they can get it back to you. Just note that Tile is now a subsidiary of Life 360, which reportedly subsidizes the low prices of its products by selling the resulting tracking data.
$25 at Target
Chefman
Chefman 3.6-quart Air Fryer
Splurge pick
Air fryers have been all the rage this year, and there’s a good reason why. This midsize model can reach temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in minutes, cooking food in a fraction of the time of a conventional oven or deep fryer. And the removable, dishwasher-safe basket and tray make clean up a breeze as well. True, at $30 its a little over the $25 celling, but considering its currently $50 off, it was too good to not include here.
$100 at Best Buy$55 at WalmartGet Price Alerts$55 at AmazonYou’re receiving price alerts for Chefman 3.6-quart Air Fryer
Find The Perfect Gift
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Five S Kneading Massager
$35 at Amazon
Hydro Flask
$35 at Hyrdo Flask
Nintendo eShop Gift Card
$50 at Amazon
Fox in the Forest
$12 at Amazon
SteelSeries Arctis 1
$50 at Amazon
Jacques Torres bonbons
$55 at Jacque Torres
A bouquet of exotic meats
$90 at Man Crates
Sarah Chloe diamond locket
$145 at Sarah Chloe
The Bouqs Co. Pixie bouquet
$99 at The Bouqs Co.
Sweet heart bamboo
$35 at Plants.com
Max Brenner chocolates
$37 at Max Brenner
Ingarden microgreens garden
$100 at Amazon
Shun Sora Japanese petty knife
$70 at Amazon
Wolf Circus Toni gold bracelet
$95 at Wolf Circus
Champagne Gummy Bears
$9 at Sugarfina
MakiMaki sushi roll kit for 2
$125 at MakiMaki
Cote des Roses rosé
$16 at Wine.com
Flavored Truffle Gift Box
$38 at La Maison du Chocolat
Barrel Aged Hot Hive Honey and Reaper Salt Series
$40 at Fuego Box
Carrie Hoffman X studs earrings
$290 at Carrie Hoffman
Wanna Date? sweet date spread
$12 at Uncommon Goods
Italian olivewood serving board
$17 at Sur la table
Three-piece cheese knife set
$20 at CB2
A delivery of fresh pasta
$25 at Goldbelly
Maison Miru heart nap earrings
$75 at Maison
Bokksu Japanese snack box
See at Amazon
State cashmere blanket throw blanket
See at Amazon
HyperChiller
See at Amazon
Nixplay smart digital photo frame
$20 at CB2
Online cooking classes
See at Online Cooking School
Washable Silk Tee & Shorts
See at Quince
Ouai Chill Pill Bath Bombs
See at Ulta
60 Hour Candle
See at TheraBox
Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
See at Dyson
Mint & Lily Mama necklace
See at Mint & Lily
Sephora gift card
See at Sephora
Google Nest Hub
See at Google
Theragun Prime
See at Therabody
Matador NanoDry Towel
See at REI
Mixbook
See at Mixbook
Tiki fire pit
See at Amazon
Mario Badescu face spray set
See at Ulta
Flower delivery from BloomsyBox
See at BloomsyBox
Slip silk pillowcase
See at Amazon
Aarke water carbonator
$230 at Bed Bath & Beyond
Disney Plus Gift Subscription
$80 at Disney
DJI Minin 2 Fly More Combo
$600 at Amazon
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
$69 at Amazon
ThisWorx Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner
$36 at Amazon
Perfect Pot
$165 at Our Place
Letterfolk Customizable Tile Mat
$75 at West Elm
Parks Project Candle
$36 at Parks Project
iPad Mini 2021
$500 at Best Buy
Crown & Paw Pet Canvas
$50 at Crown & Paw
Coravin Wine Preservation System
$150 at Target
Botley 2.0
$47 at Amazon
Arcade1Up Arcade Machine
$600 at Best Buy
Biolite TraveLight 135
$40 at Biolite
Blockaroo Blocks
$40 at Amazon
Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion Board Game
$32 at Amazon
JBL Go 3
$50 at Amazon
Illy Y3.3 Espresso and Coffee Machine
$149 at Amazon
Lenovo Smart Clock
$35 at Best Buy
Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker
$79 at Amazon
Lego Speed Champions Corvette
$30 at Amazon
Madewell Transport Tote
$178 at Madewell
Lunya Silk Sleep Mask
$48 at Lunya
Lite-Brite
$13 at Target
Lodge Cast-Iron Grill Pan
$20 at Amazon
Wyze Cam v3
$36 at Amazon
Apple AirPods 3
$150 at Amazon
EarFun Air Pro 2
$80 at Amazon
Sony WF-1000XM4
$250 at Walmart
Sony PlayStation 5
$499 at Amazon
Roku Express 4K Plus
$39 at Amazon
Apple iPad 2021 (9th generation)
$280 at Amazon
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
$530 at Amazon
MacBook Air M1
$1,000 at Best Buy
Bose SoundLink Flex
$150 at Best Buy
Dell G15
$1,100 at Best Buy
HP Pavilion Aero 13
$1,000 at HP
Lenovo Yoga 7i (2-in-1)
$850 at Best Buy
Mosaic Plant-Based Meal Delivery
$70 at Mosaic
Trade Coffee Subscription
$40 at Trade
Vizio MQ7 65-inch
$1,000 at Amazon
Apple Watch SE
$269 at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 7
$399 at Best Buy
Atlas Tea Club
$199 at Atlas Tea Club
iPhone 11
$499 at Apple
iPhone 13
$799 at Apple
Fitbit Charge 5
$179 at Amazon
Google Pixel 6
$599 at Amazon
iPhone 13 Pro
$999 at Apple
LG C1 OLED 65-inch
$1,797 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
$1,166 at Amazon
TCL Series 4 TV 65-inch
$529 at Amazon
TCL Series 6 TV 65-inch
$999 at Amazon
Theragun Mini
$199 at Amazon
Best of Dylan’s Candy Bar Gift Basket
$100 at Dylan’s Candy Bar
The Mirror
$1,495 at Mirror
Echo Dot with Clock
$60 at Amazon
Croissant Light
$19 at Amazon
Spanish-style Wine Glasses
$20 at Amazon
Nintendo Switch OLED
$350 at Target
Xbox Series X
$499 at Amazon
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