12.10.2018
18 portable tech gadgets you’ll want to use every day
Electronics are getting smaller and smaller, and we all seem to have our own special must-have gadgets that we never leave home without. You probably already have a smartphone with you just about everywhere you go, but if you’re in the market for some new tech, we’ve rounded up a handful of cool palm-sized devices that would make great Christmas gifts.Below are our favorite portable tech deals going right now, from a folding keyboard to a new
smartwatch. We’ve also thrown in a couple cool gadgets that will let you express your geeky side.
A good pair of earbuds are invaluable if you’re frequently on the move and don’t want to be without your music and other entertainment, but they don’t have to be boring. These Pokémon-themed earphones let you enjoy your tunes like a true Pokémon master with their distinct black-and-white color scheme and Pokéball-style carrying bag. The Pokémon noise-isolating headphone earbuds are now available on ThinkGeek for just $15.
Earbuds are great to have on you, but having the cable become a tangled mess in your bag or pocket is no fun to deal with (and it always seems to happen no matter how neatly you tuck them away). The Tophome cord organizer, made of thick genuine leather, ensures you never have to deal with that hassle again. At $7 from Amazon, it’s a no-brainer – and if black leather is more your style, you can
grab that type here for the same price.
Power banks are one of those cool gadgets you want to have with you when you’re out and about, allowing you to give your portable tech a power boost without having to hunt around for the nearest outlet or USB port. The Anker PowerCore+ Mini power bank takes this portability to the next level with its pocket-friendly size and
3,350mAh internal battery. Anker’s PowerIQ technology also automatically detects the proper voltage for your device to deliver faster charging on the go. Although the pocket-sized PowerCore+ Mini power bank won’t fully charge your smart devices multiple times over, the 3,350mAh battery is sufficient for full or near-full charges for most smartphones. This handy portable charger can be had for as cheap as $20 on Amazon.
Need a light? Electric lighters like this one put a whole new spin on old-school designs. Fluid lighters can be messy and can run out of fuel quickly —
the famous Zippo, while an all-American classic, is notorious for this — not to mention that lighter fluid and butane canisters are an extra expense. The Tesla Coil arc lighter, on the other hand, uses an internal rechargeable battery to project a windproof electric arc that is produced instead of a flame. The design is environmentally friendly and delivers up to 300 lights on a single charge. When it needs more juice, simply plug it in and power it up via the included USB charging cable. No wicks, flints, fluid, or gases to fuss around with. You can score this unique tech gadget for just $16 from Amazon.
If you love to take pictures with your phone but find the camera’s capabilities a little bit limiting, then this gadget is for you. The Amir clip-on camera lenses feature sturdy aluminum-and-glass construction. The bundle contains a 180-degree fisheye lens, a 0.4x super wide-angle lens, and a 10x macro zoom lens for detailed close-up shots. The metal housing is also water- and dust-resistant. The universal clip-on design works with most popular brands of Android phones, as well as the latest Apple iPhones. The Amir smartphone camera lenses come in at just $14 on Amazon.
A good RFID wallet provides an extra layer of security for the digital age, keeping your credit and ID cards safe from remote readers. You don’t have to sacrifice style for function, however, thanks to the leather Travelambo wallet. This minimalist wallet is made of genuine leather lined with RFID-blocking material. It has six card slots, an ID window, and a compartment where you can tuck away a few bills. Best of all: It’ll only set you back $15 from Amazon.
It never hurts to have a bit of extra storage (especially when you’re frequently on the move exploring the final frontier), and now you can replace those boring black-and-gray thumb drives with this Star Trek-inspired one from ThinkGeek. This 8GB USB stick resembles an isolinear chip from
Star Trek: The Next Generation and lights up when it’s plugged into your laptop, taking you back to the iconic engine room of the USS Enterprise. The Star Trek isolinear chip USB flash drive can be yours from ThinkGeek for $20.
Many of us have flashlights on our phones, but they aren’t always convenient to use or the best option. This nano torch from Streamlight, one of the best flashlight makers around, is the perfect addition to any keychain. This powerful and compact flashlight is perfect for navigating small, dimly lit spaces or just providing LED light where it’s needed the most. The Streamlight 73001 keychain flashlight is available for $9 on Amazon, and makes the perfect night light when you need it most.
You never know when your going to need a tool to get the job done, but carrying around a tool bag with you everywhere you go is both impractical and unfashionable. That’s why the Freehawk keychain multitool is one of the most useful gadgets on our list. It comes with a built-in LED flashlight, a bottle opener, two screwdrivers, a knife, and can even be one of your most
useful kitchen gadgets. Pick up this must-have 7-in-1 multitool for just $8 on Amazon, and make sure to keep a spare in your car just in case.
These folding keyboards are nothing new, but most of them — even fairly compact models — aren’t very pocket-friendly gear. This folding wireless keyboard from Jelly Comb is the perfect solution, giving you a miniature set of QWERTY keys that folds down to roughly the size of a large smartphone for easy storage. Its metal and polymer construction is both durable and light, weighing in at just over 10 ounces. The Jelly Comb folding wireless keyboard is compatible with any capable iPhone, Windows, or Android phone, and rings in at $28 from Amazon.
The Bellabeat Leaf health tracker is the fitness tracker that she’ll actually want to wear. This fitness accessory can be worn as a necklace or bracelet without looking bulky or obtrusive, and syncs with both iOS and Android to collect activity metrics via the companion app. The Bellabeat tracks steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, stress levels, menstrual cycles, and more. You can pick up this perfect hands-free tech gift for $92 ($38 off) from Amazon, and check out
our review to see why we love this stylish health tracker.
The one major drawback with tiny cool gadgets these days is that they can easily get lost. If you need some help keeping tabs on the small stuff, Tile item finders are just the ticket. The keychain-sized Tile Mate is a diminutive 1.3 inches long and is just 0.2 inches thick: Simply attach a tracker to any item and you can use the Tile companion app to locate it virtually anywhere. Even without the app, you can still find nearby items by remotely making the Tile vibrate, flash, or ring. A single Tile Mate tracker costs $20, but this four-pack is available on Amazon for just $35. You can also take a look at
our other favorite trackers for more options and new gadgets.
If you grew up with a Nintendo Game Boy, your younger self probably would have never believed that one day we’d be carrying around computer phones and iPads capable of playing 3D games. Now, you can level up your gaming even further with this retro compact gamepad from 8BitDo. This keychain-sized SNES-style controller features 12 buttons and a Famicom-inspired color scheme. Simply sync the 8BitDo gamepad with your phone or tablet and get playing. The 8BitDo Mini Zero rings in at just $17 from Amazon, making this cheap gadget tough to pass up.
Mini arcade games — $20 each
If you want to get your game on when you’re out and about, you can always just grab
your 3DS or fire up a
fun mobile game. Sometimes, though, you just gotta relive the golden days of the arcade, and these handheld mini arcade games are just the way to scratch that itch, complete with color LCD displays and original sound effects. You can choose from
Frogger,
Asteroids,
Q’bert, and
Centipede, and each machine rings in at a cheap $20 from ThinkGeek. If you’re looking for new products to put on your desk, or your backpack, these little tech products are an excellent option.
There is an ocean of action camera makers cashing in on this burgeoning market, but GoPro is still the king of the hill, and the excellent Hero Session is one of the best tiny wearable cams that money can buy. This pocket-sized digital camera features the ability to record 1080p Full HD video at 60 frames per second, Wi-Fi and smart connectivity, and an all-terrain waterproof body. It also comes with a few adhesive mounts. GoPros are fairly expensive, so a discount is always welcome: The Hero Session is now available for just $116 on Amazon after a 10-percent price drop, making it the cheapest way to score one of these name-brand action cams. You can also
check out our review for more details.
This tech gadget isn’t one of those tech accessories you put in your pocket – in fact, it’s something you can wear all day. The Aeifond smartwatch is an attractive and affordable entry-level timepiece that syncs with your Android or iOS mobile device and sends notifications and incoming messages right to your wrist, similar to an
Apple Watch. The device’s vibrant smart LED touch display is always on and is easy on the eyes. The Aeifond can also be used with a GSM SIM card to make calls right from the watch with no phone syncing required. If prices on the other top smartwatches give you sticker shock, then you can pick up this affordable smart option for just $24 from Amazon.
If the palm-sized PowerCore+ charger whets your appetite for cool gadgets but you want something with a bit more juice, the Anker PowerCore 10,000 is another excellent pocket-friendly power bank. Its 10,000mAh battery can charge your iPhone multiple times, even though this PowerCore is barely larger in length and width than a credit card. Like its smaller sibling, this unit also boasts Anker’s proprietary PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology, which optimizes charging speed for different devices, ensuring that you’re not waiting around too long for your gadgets to recharge. This very practical charger rings in at just $32 on Amazon.
Wireless speakers are arguably the most popular implementation of
Bluetooth technology today, allowing you to take your music virtually anywhere. Most of these speakers won’t easily fit in your pocket, but this one from Marsboy is an exception. This tiny, cool tech cube packs a 12-hour battery life, delivering great sound from a package that fits in the palm of your hand. It doesn’t have a smart A.I. inside it like the Echo Dot or Google Home speakers, but it’s a pretty darn good unit for its size and low price.Measuring only 1.9 inches on each side, the Marsboy speaker can be your cool pocket party companion for just $14 from Amazon. It may not come with Alexa, like the Amazon Echo hub, but it’s great way to bring your music with you.
