This story is part of Christmas gift guide 2020, CNET's gift selection with expert advice, reviews, and recommendations for the latest tech gifts for you and your family.
It's officially time to start shopping while on vacation - especially given the online shipping delays that the pandemic worked this year. If you're looking for gift ideas for gift items this holiday season, we're here to help you find affordable gifts that really deliver. This round-up of the Christmas Gift Guide is all about highlighting the best gift items for $ 25 or less. Some are old favorites while others are new finds. As always, if you have a great nomination idea, click the comments!
Black Friday 2020 sales and offers
True wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but sometimes I prefer to keep the cord on, especially during exercise. That way, my earbuds won't fly when I shake them loose, and they can only dangle when I try to take them out.
Mpow's Sports Buds are IPX7 waterproof and can be combined with two different devices. I particularly like the large, raised, separate volume buttons on the top and the large red multifunctional button on the side - two usability gains.
As of this writing, there are approximately eight different colors available, priced between $ 14 and $ 20. At this price, you probably won't find better sports earbuds for a gift.
This is one of my favorite new items for 2020. This gift idea is a retractable table tennis net that can be set up almost anywhere - dining table, picnic table, conference room table and so on. You also get a pair of paddles, some balls, and a string to carry everything. Presto: table tennis to take away.
On a personal note, my father has something to do with dementia, and I recently learned that table tennis has the potential to slow cognitive decline. So I got one of these for him; We played all the time when I was a kid. Long story short: he loves it. Plays almost every day now. It was a huge win.
The button below takes you to a set from Amazon that currently has a 10% discount coupon for a set worth $ 22. If that is no longer available, there are tons of other versions of it in the same price range. For example, in this article one is for $ 20 and one is only for $ 18.
Rick Broida / CNET
The Wyze Band is by no means a perfect activity tracker, but it does a lot, especially given the low price. It has an AMOLED color screen, a full-time heart rate monitor, support for Alexa voice commands and a battery for up to 14 days.
It's a clock too, of course, and this affordable gift can hurl notifications from your phone. Read our Wyze Volume first to find out more.
Incidentally, the Wyze price does not include shipping, which is around $ 5. You can also order the band on Amazon for $ 30, including shipping.
No, there is still no Apple Wireless Tracker that you can actually buy. In the meantime - and for the millions who have Android phones too - the Tile Mate tracker makes a great gift to get your job done well. For only US $ 25, this little guy can attach a keychain, handbag, backpack or something similar. Then just pair it with your phone.
Can't find your phone? Press the tile button twice to make it ring. Can't find the token (and whatever it's attached to)? Use your phone to find it. You will soon see why this little gift is such a useful gift for stockings.
This guide has been updated with new information for 2020.Subscribe to our daily spotlight on the best tech deals on the internet - from phones to gadgets and more.
