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Ho- ho- hot high-tech stocking stuffers for under $50

00. Scosche’s BoomBUOY
00. Scosche’s BoomBUOY

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and if you’re still on the hunt for great gadget gifts – but budgets are somewhat tighter this year — take comfort in knowing there’s still some cool tech you can buy without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re buying for loved ones or want to treat yourself to something, the following seven suggestions are under $50 apiece.

Sleepy head

What’s the only thing better than having a comfortable and light-preventing sleeping mask on your face while resting on an airplane or at home in bed? When it can also play music, podcasts or audiobooks from your nearby smartphone or tablet, of course. The Furo Bluetooth Sleeping Mask ($39.95) lets you relax in comfort and darkness, while listening to whatever you want thanks to built-in Bluetooth 4.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) technology and full button controls on the side. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 hours.

01. Furo Bluetooth Sleeping Mask
01. Furo Bluetooth Sleeping Mask

Pocket tunes

While it’s only a tad bigger than a pack of matches, the 2GB Apple iPod Shuffle ($49.99) can store more than 500 of your favourite songs. Available in multiple colours, the built-in clip means you can clamp the teeny player onto your shirt, jacket, purse or pocket; press on the touch-sensitive buttons to play, pause, forward or rewind through tracks and choose between ordered play and shuffle mode. Alternatively, press the VoiceOver button and the iPod shuffle speaks the song title, playlist, artist name, or battery status.

02. 2GB Apple iPod Shuffle
02. 2GB Apple iPod Shuffle

Free to be

Is there anything more frustrating than “dead zones” in your home, which prevent you from getting solid Wi-Fi for your favourite devices? If you answered yes, you might consider the D-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender ($49.99). As its name suggests, this small doohickey extends the range of your wireless router. Simply plug it into the wall and press the WPS button, and the same button on the back of your router, to initiate the digital handshake.

03. D-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender
03. D-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Control freak

While Logitech’s Harmony Remotes could set you back as much as $499.99, much of the same functionality is available in the Harmony 350 — for $49.99. Take control over your entertainment with a simple button layout, and easy setup for up to eight of your home theatre components; simply connect the remote to a computer’s USB port and answer a few easy questions to program it. Also offering activity-based “macro” commands, press just one button and the remote automatically turns on multiple, applicable components.

04. Harmony 350
04. Harmony 350

Stick it to me

Practical and fun, FoldIT USB is the thinnest flash drive ever created at only 1.2 millimetres — as thin as a typical credit card or bookmark. As the name suggests, FoldIT can be folded up and kept on a keychain, placed inside of a wallet, or attached to papers like a paperclip. Then, simply plug this rugged drive into a computer’s USB port. FoldIT says these drives are dirt- and dust-proof, shockproof, waterproof, and backed by a lifetime warranty. Sold in multiple colours, capacity options are 8GB ($9.95) or 16GB ($14.95).

05. FoldIT
05. FoldIT

Sound advice

Portable and affordable, Scosche’s BoomBUOY ($49.99) is a compact yet rugged Bluetooth speaker that lets you play your music wherever life takes you. In fact, this up-firing omni-directional 50mm speaker – which sends music in all directions – is not only IP67-rated for being dustproof and waterproof speaker, but it also features a buoyant construction for it to float in water. Under the hood of the aptly-named BoomBUOY is a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that offers up to 7 hours of playtime. Also included: a carbineer to clip the speaker onto a backpack and microUSB charging cable.

06. Scosche’s BoomBUOY
06. Scosche’s BoomBUOY

Fit, just a bit

Usually $69.99 but found new for as low as $39.99 on eBay, Fitbit Zip might just be what you need to shed your, er, “baby fat” in 2017. This tiny wireless activity tracker monitors your daily activity and lets you see your daily progress, such as steps taken, distance traveled, and estimated calories burned. Available in a few colours, the Fitbit Zip clips to your waist, bra, or pocket, and after you go about your day the sweat- and splash-proof gadget then syncs with your phone, tablet or laptop for a deeper data dive.

07. Fitbit Zip
07. Fitbit Zip