15 Best Tech Gifts Under $200 (Updated April 2019)

Whether it’s shopping for the holidays, a birthday or just because, people are always looking for the perfect gift in today’s technological world. There are so many cool, unique gifts out there that are affordable, but here’s a look at 15 of the best.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Price: $199.99 (Amazon Link)

The best thing about the Amazon Fire TV Cube is that it can do so many things. Obviously with the word TV in the name, at it’s core it’s a streaming media player. Looking at the added features really makes this something people of all ages can enjoy.

It is the first hands-free streaming media player with Alexa, and the Amazon Fire TV Cube can understand commands to control smart home devices, check the weather, browse the internet and watch all kinds of video content. The sleek looking box can fit into just about any living room decor without issue as well.

The media player market might be becoming a bit oversaturated these days, and chances are, most people already have a device like the Amazon Fire Stick or the Google Chromecast. Since the Amazon Fire TV Cube is capable of so much more, it is a worthy step up.

 


 

Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Machine

Price: $199.99

Just under $200 for a coffee machine? There might be some sticker shock for shoppers at first, but start adding up all those coffee runs throughout the year and it turns into a gift that can actually save people money. This is one of the most useful gifts you can give anyone who can’t go a morning without coffee.

Keurig is one of the most trusted names in coffee, and this machine does it all. Any K-Cup pod works, and the amount of settings makes this one versatile machine. The Keurig K-Cafe Special Edition machine just looks beautiful too, making it easy to convert even the most skeptical coffee drinkers into people willing to make their own at home.

 


 

Jaybird X4 Wireless In-Ear Headphones
Price: $159.99

Athletes love the Jaybird X4 In-Ear Headphones, but they are not just for sports. They are comfortable enough to be worn throughout the day. A six hour battery life per charge might be a bit on the low side these days, but they are very easy to recharge in a short amount of time. 

What makes these really stand out is the durability. No one wants to give a gift to someone that doesn’t last. These are built to be abused, soaked in water/sweat from time to time and stuffed in pockets. It is hard to find a rugged pair of bluetooth headphones this light on the market.

Between the earbuds that just fit and the cord that goes behind the head, these headphones never fall off. Anyone still listening to music with a cord connected to their device needs these in their life as soon as possible.

 


 

Apple AirPods

Price: $159.99

There were rumors swirling that Apple might be thinking about updating their AirPods before the holiday season, but that ended up not being the case. The good news is that, these are one of the highest rated, completely wireless headphones on the market today. Not many tweaks are needed. 

When they first launched, consumers were skeptical. Would the headphones fall out? Do they look weird without wires? With millions of people trying them out, the verdict is in: they stay in and they may look weird to some. However, overall performance and that Apple name make these a perfect gift for anyone needing headphones.

Just make sure that the person you are gifting these Apple AirPods to are in the Apple ecosystem. These are designed to be used with Apple products. There are cheaper and better options for other brands.

 


Sonos One Wireless Speaker

Price: $199.99

A generation ago, a nice boombox was a popular gift. Let’s just say those speakers have shrunk considerably. The Sonos One Wireless Speaker provides perhaps the best sound on the market today for under $200. It supports a ton of apps, making it very versatile instead of being locked into Apple, Amazon or another type of music service.

Powerful sound can instantly fill up a room, an outdoor area and more in a matter of seconds. It can be placed just about anywhere, and it even pairs well with other Sonos speakers to have multi-room listening and a true home sound system. Know someone who already has a Sonos speaker? They definitely won’t be upset with another one.


Asus 24” LED FHD FreeSync Monitor

Price: $181.99

Do you know a gamer or someone who lives on their computer? Make their day and help their eye health out with one of the sharpest monitors for the price on the market today. Asus has turned themselves into a go-to brand for monitors, and it is tough to find a better value than this model.

There are a few things that make the Asus 24” LED FHD FreeSync Monitor stand out from the other options. First, the 24” screen size coupled with a beautiful display is really the best setup one can ask for when gaming or using it as a monitor. Second, a 1 ms video response time is going to make any gamer happy. The last thing any gamer wants is lag, so cutting down the video response time as low as possible is essential. Mounted or using the stand included, this monitor packs a lot of punch for a low price.

 


 

GoPro HERO7 White HD

Price: $199.99

GoPro options can get pretty expensive, but for those on a bit of a budget, the GoPro HERO7 White HD is perfect. What makes these cameras so great is that they can be used just about anywhere, attached to just about anything, dropped numerous times and still work. Not just work, but in this case, provide 10.0 MP photos and full high definition video footage.

The HERO7 White HD might not have all the bells and whistles of some of the higher end models, but there is high quality audio, 2x slow-motion video and easy sharing. This is something that just works, so the easy learning curve is another plus when gifting this to someone. 

Anyone who travels a lot, is outdoors quite a bit or just lives an overall active lifestyle would benefit most from this gift. It is something that can be used in so many different situations that it is quickly becoming a go-to gift in this price range.

 


 

Oculus Go – 32 GB Virtual Reality Headset

Price: $199.99

Virtual reality has been around for a while, but it still seems like only the most tech savvy people in the world own a headset. Introducing someone to new tech with a gift is a great way to really put a smile on someone’s face. The Oculus Go is something that seems a lot more expensive than it is, as for under $200 a new reality can be discovered.

What makes the Oculus Go a great gift is that nothing else is needed to enjoy virtual reality. There are a lot of headsets that require additional devices to truly use it, but this is a stand alone experience. Whenever someone receives an interesting gift, the first they want to do is use it right away. The Oculus Go is great at that, becoming usable in a matter of seconds.

Games, movies, music and virtual reality friend hangouts are just a few things that a person can enjoy on the Oculus Go. The 32 GB of memory isn’t a ton, but it is enough to store some photos, videos clips and games. Just be warned that buying this for someone  might also convince you to buy another Oculus Go for yourself.

 


 

Fitbit Versa

Price: $199.99

Smartwatches have exploded in popularity the last few years, and that trend is not dying any time soon. With more competition comes lower prices, and the Fitbit Versa is probably the best overall smartwatch/fitness tracker under $200 on the market today.

Compatibility with the Fitbit Versa is huge. Instead of worrying about what phone a person uses, this smartwatch is compatible with Apple, Android and Windows. It’s easy to connect, and the notifications that pop up on the watch reduces the amount of times a person has to check their phone throughout the day.

The watch itself looks classy, which is important. They make different colors, bands and customized sizes for people of all ages. As for fitness tracking, Fitbit does this well. That’s how the company started, and now they offer everything from 24/7 hear rate monitoring to sleep tracking. Results and progress can be viewed using the app or directly on the watch.

To top off everything, the Fitbit Versa has a great battery life, meaning a person can go days without the need to recharge. It has one of the longest lasting batteries on the market, meaning more time on the wrist and less plugged into a cord.

 


 

Game of Thrones: Season 1-7

Price: $114.99

Streaming services are all the rage these days, but if there is one television series that seems to be worth the price of owning, it’s Game of Thrones. There are a few factors that go into it. For starts, it’s a show that won’t be making it to a major streaming service any time soon. Second, since the seasons are so far apart, now is the time to catch up on everything or use as a refresher.

Owning the Blu-Ray copies of the episodes is a collector’s item for sure, but let’s be honest: a lot of people are going to want to just watch the digital copy. That’s included for no additional charge. This is not going to be a gift for someone who has not seen the Game of Thrones series, as that’s a lot of money to take a gamble on that they like it. Those people who can’t stop talking about the show, and there are plenty of them out there, will be the ones to truly appreciate this.

 


 

Blue Microphones Yeti

Price: $129.99

A great microphone can make all the difference in the world, and the Blue Microphones Yeti has a to of features for an affordable price. The analog-to-digital converter and triple capsule array features alone make this worth the price, as it handles certain things that usually take multiple microphones to achieve.

The most common use for the Blue Microphones Yeti is for podcasts and videos, but it can be used for music as well. There is a bunch of customization options to mess with in the settings, but just keep in mind that there might be better options for purely music use out there.

The Blue Microphones Yeti is compatible with PC and Mac, and works the same exact way so the person you are gifting this to won’t be limited. Just about every app also is able to use the microphone without issue, so there are no worries in that regard.

 


 

BakerStone Pizza Oven Box Kit

Price: $139.99

Tasty pizza at home, fast. What’s not to love about that? Technology has come a long way, and there are more and more specialization kits for food items. The BakerStone Pizza Oven Box Kit pays for itself if pizzas are made on the regular.

The oven is small and easy to use, but built to last. Even though it has the word pizza in the name, the BakerStone Pizza Oven Box Kit also handles making cookies, bread, meat and more. The dimensions are built for pizza though, and it definitely thrives at providing great quality without the long wait.

As for the pizza, it takes about 2-4 minutes to make a 14” pie. The oven box works with gas and charcoal grills. The only preparation needed is to set the burner to high for about 20 minutes prior. 

 


 

Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System with FreshVac

Price: $199.99

A quality food processor is another item that is a gift that keeps giving the more a person uses it. An individual or family can really benefit from all the different things the Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System with FreshVac is able to accomplish.

Versatility is the selling point with the Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System with FreshVac. In under an hour, a person can slice up a tasty side dish, crush ice to make a quality frozen drink, chop up a salad and make a smoothie. It just works without being too complicated, despite the amount of options.

Ninja offers cheaper and more expensive options, but this one is enough to handle a ton of tasks at once. It’s the best value they offer right now, and it saves time and money. It’s a gift a person won’t truly appreciate until using it a few times and becoming a believer.

 


 

Garwin Dash Cam 45

Price: $149.99

Everyone has been involved in some type of incident while driving, wishing that there was footage to see what happened. The Garwin Dash Cam 45 provides that footage, and also offers so much more for people who are on the road a lot. 

As a gift, this cam is perfect for a lot of different people. A person with a young family might really appreciate the extra sense of security. The frequent driver understands how anything can happen on the road at any time. Elderly drivers can get the most out of the warnings programmed in the device to make driving safer.

Video quality is sharp at all hours in the day. The device is small enough that a lot of people forget it is even mounted on their window. If it helps out with the details of just one crash, it can easily be worth the price and more.

 


 

Petcube Bites Indoor Wi-Fi Pet Camera

Price: $159.99

It can be pretty difficult being away from a pet for hours at a time, but fortunately, you can now remotely interact with technology like the Petcube Bites Indoor Wi-Fi Pet Camera. There are a few similar products on the market right now, but this one provides the best combination of features and value.

Treats can be scheduled or delivered on demand. The free app is easy to set up and use anywhere with an internet connection. A person can be thousands of miles away and still connect with their pet.

With 1080p HD video, night vision and two-way audio, it is about as close as a person can get to actually being their with their pet. It works well with cats and dogs, although dogs seem to respond better to the setup. The peace of mind alone during a long work day can also boost human morale.

Unlike some pet cameras, a major plus with the Petcube Bites Indoor Wi-Fi Pet Camera is that it keeps the last four hours of video automatically without the need of a subscription. A lot of people are against giving gifts that require a subscription, so this is perfect for any pet owner.

News Reporter
Born and raised in Chicago. Former high school teacher who became sick of getting summers off so I took on a 12-month a year job.