The best Prime Day tech deals under $25

3 months ago

Everyone loves cheap stuff that’s actually good to use or invaluably helpful in your day-to-day. While Amazon Prime Day offers a deluge of deals on no-name tchotchkes and sketchy knockoffs (many of which have inflated, bot-fueled review scores) it does have its fair share of inexpensive hidden gems that are actually worth your money.

We know not everyone is shopping for big, multi-hundred or thousand dollar tech every time a deal comes around, so we’re always on the lookout for sales that fit into more modest budgets like sub-$100 and sub-$50.

Here, we’re rounding up our top picks for Prime Day that are just 25 bucks or less. Some of them may be ho-hum essentials like a USB-C charging cable, but you may be surprised what kind of tech you can get for such little scratch — like some of Amazon’s Echo smart speakers (because Amazon is always thirsty to get its Alexa assistant into your home).

Even though the below prices are very low, you can rest assured they’re all deals we vouch for on products we’ve reviewed, hands-on tested, or own personally and swear by.

Smart home tech deals under $25

The Echo Pop is Amazon’s newest Alexa-enabled smart speaker. It offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.

The fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.

The 1080p Blink Mini 2 adds weather resistance to the affordable security camera, so you can use it both indoors and out while continuing to offer a ball-and-socket mount for easy mounting to a wall. It has the option of local storage with a Sync Module or it’s $3 a month for cloud storage and features like person detection. Read our review.

TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switches don’t require a hub and work with Matter, offering interoperability with the major smart home ecosystems. Amazon has the standard models for $19.99 ($8 off) for a two-pack or a two-pack of dimmers for $24.99 ($9 off).
Tapo’s mini Matter-compatible smart plug (Wi-Fi) is just $7.99 ($12 off) for one plug, or $20.99 ($28 off) for a three-pack. They lack energy monitoring, but if that’s not a deal breaker for you it’s hard to beat about $7 each for a smart plug with Matter.
For a similar smart plug that can brave the outdoors, TP-Link’s Tapo Matter Outdoor smart plug (Wi-Fi) is $17.99 ($7 off) at Amazon. It’s got two outlets that can brave the elements.

Amazon’s apt-titled Smart Plug doesn’t require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, allowing you to control a range of devices with just your voice.

Kasa’s apt-titled smart plugs are a solid, inexpensive option that can monitor your energy usage and are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Tech basics and essentials under $25

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe supports 15W fast wireless charging with MagSafe-compatible iPhones and has a lengthy 6.6-foot built-in cable. Its 15W charging speeds and little kickstand make the BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe the best all-purpose magnetic charging puck.

The JLab Go Air Pop are an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug so you’re never without a charging cable.

Apple’s basic USB-C EarPods are on sale at Amazon for $17 ($2 off), which is as cheap as they get. They’re nothing fancy, but now that the current iPhones use USB-C you can easily take them from iPhone to iPad to MacBook with no fuss. And before you tell me that’s what Apple’s Handoff feature is for on its wireless AirPods, let me remind you that the mics on Bluetooth earbuds suck. Also, sometimes wired accessories are nice since you don’t have to worry about charging them.

These cables from Ugreen are six feet each, and they support charging speeds of up to 100W, making them a suitable fit for tablets, some laptops, phones, and other portable gear.

If you don’t need 100W of charging potential like the Ugreen cables above, Anker’s two-pack of 3.3-foot USB-C cables can do 60W and get about as cheap as you’re gonna come by for $7.99 ($6 off) at Amazon.

Ugreen’s 6-in-1 USB-C hub supports three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out, and a combo SD / microSD reader.

Sometimes you just need a good quality extension cord with a low profile, three outlets, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. This 5-foot cord from Tessan does all that is currently just $15.19 (nearly $8 off) at Amazon. While its not the most powerful extension cord its handy for roadtrips and bridging the gap in rooms where you don’t have enough outlets.
If you need a basic, no-frills way to elevate your laptop to eye level, then this Nulaxy Laptop Stand is likely to get the job done. It’s on sale for just $15.86 ($6 off) when you click the on-page coupon at Amazon.

Apple’s AirTags can help you find your lost items with its UWB technology. You’ll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app to detect an AirTag’s location if one seems to be following you. Read our review.

An under-desk dual headphone hanger that uses 3M adhesive for mounting and an included Velcro strap to anchor a headphone cable.

An adjustable stand that elevates a laptop to eye level. It’s rated to support up to 13 pounds and is available in multiple colors.

Nomad is running its anniversary sale up against Prime Day, dropping its Sport Case for the iPhone 15 Pro down to $25 ($25 off) as well as the Modern Leather Case for AirPods Pro to $24 ($6 off).

Games and gaming accessory deals under $25

8Bitdo’s budget version of its Ultimate wireless controller works on PC, Steam Deck, and Android and comes in fun pastel colors. Compared to the pricier model, it omits custom profiles and software tweaking.

The Nintendo Switch version of 8Bitdo’s Ultimate C controller with Bluetooth is $23.99 ($6 off) in a few fun pastel color options at Amazon, exclusively for Prime members.

The Jsaux Transparent Back Plate lets you see some of your Steam Deck’s insides — and keeps your fan from working as hard thanks to a built-in passive cooling plate. It now comes in a variety of frosted colors, including atomic purple.

Inspired by the animated cartoons of the 1930s, Cuphead is a platformer and bullet-hell game with a stylish nod to old cartoons. It’s also an unforgiving platformer with a high skill ceiling and little room for error. The Nintendo Switch cartridge version includes the Delicious Last Course DLC expansion, adding Ms. Chalice as a playable character.

Love Letter, a tabletop card game that’s a mainstay in our gift guides, is on sale for just $10.99 ($4 off) at Amazon. This game is the perfect ice breaker at parties, as it’s simple to pick up and play and it gets people casually competing with a fun card-counting mechanic.
Pandemic: Fall of Rome is down to $22.99 ($6 off) at Amazon. The four-player co-op board game has you working together to stave off the fall of the Roman empire, and just like the original Pandemic, which was about a worldwide biological outbreak, even losing can be a whole lot of fun.

A strategy card game in which players compete to build Renaissance Europe’s most lucrative and prestigious jewelry business.

Stray on PlayStation 5 is $21.80 (about $8 off) at Amazon. You play as an adorable cat in a dark, dystopian future inhabited by robots, and there is a button to meow. Need I say more? Read our review.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge for the Nintendo Switch is $24.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, its second-best price of all time. The classic-style beat-em-up supports up to six-players in local or online, which is just beautiful chaos. Read our review.
The PlayStation 5 remaster of PSP classic Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. It’s a prequel to Final Fantasy VII, starring Zach as the main protagonist, and it makes for great extra lore background if you played or intend on playing Remake and Rebirth.

The beloved blue hedgehog returns to classic form in Sonic Superstars. It takes after the side-scrolling platformers of old with modern graphics to enjoy as you guide the speedster and his friends to the finish line using a host of new abilities and powers.

A four-pack of SCUF Elite Series 2 paddles for the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is $14.99 ($5 off) at Amazon. These are a little shorter than the stock ones from Microsoft, so some may feel they’re a little better balanced for being accessible while not getting in the way. Also, for owners of the Core version of the Elite 2 that did not come with rear paddles at all, this is a cheaper way to add them on.

A remastered collection of Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and the two original Metal Gear titles from the MSX2. The love letter to these classic “tactical espionage action” games is also coupled with extra spin-offs like Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions. Read our review.

Miscellaneous and Verge favorites under $25

The ChomChom is a reusable cat and dog hair remover that works great for furniture.

The Glocusent book light is a favorite among resident Verge bookworms, and it’s selling for $17.99 ($15 off) at Amazon. The neck-worn light easily illuminates what you’re reading without having to clamp anything to your book.

LifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.

The 14-ounce Yeti Rambler can keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold for hours on end, and it’s currently just $19.50 ($10.50 off) at Amazon. It’s the humble, logical alternative to those pricey Ember mugs many of us love so much.

A 46-piece screwdriver kit that can help you repair practically any tech device out there.

The Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker is just a simple curved piece of metal with holes in it, but it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to mince / crush garlic.

A cutting tool with a ceramic blade that’s quick, easy, and safe.