You might not think that $50 would buy you a lot of electronics from Amazon – but you would be very wrong.
From cat entertainment systems to neon toilet lights and “smart eye masks,” the online marketplace is full of weird and wonderful bargains you never knew you needed.
Who actually buys the crazier things here? It’s debatable, but many of these are labeled “gifts,” so maybe the recipients are just grateful they didn’t get socks.
Read on for the 14 best hi-tech gadgets on Amazon for under $50:
Bluetooth ‘Smart’ Eye Mask ($26.99)
Does this really help you fall asleep? (Amazon)
Who wouldn’t want to wear a glowing mask to sleep?
At $26.99, the Zumusen is an absolute steal.
The eye mask can be paired with tablets or smartphones via Bluetooth to listen to podcasts or music playlists late into the night.
It also has a 3D contoured light blocking design.
You can also use white noise and nature sounds to help you fall asleep with eight built-in relaxing sounds.
Buy it here.
Feed and chat with your pet from anywhere ($41.99)
This Wi-Fi enabled KaloKen cat feeder connects to smartphones so you can schedule and monitor meal times while you’re away and talk to your cat.
You can record a 20-second “food call” that plays when the food is served.
Buy it here.
Bluetooth Garden Torch Speaker ($49.99)
Who doesn’t love garden torches? Who doesn’t love BlueTooth speakers? Who wouldn’t want a gadget that’s an elegant combination of the two?
This bluetooth flashlight speaker offers 10W audio and is IP65 waterproof so you can leave it outside.
This WiFi-enabled KaloKen cat feeder connects to smartphones so you can monitor your pet’s food. Another device, a Bluetooth garden torch speaker, blends into your landscape
Too much effort to lift a laser pointer? Amazon has your back. You can also buy lightsaber chopsticks from the site
It’s also a handy flashlight.
It can be hung or planted in the ground over a stake.
Buy it here.
Cat Laser Entertainment System ($16.03)
This cute automatic laser toy makes it easy for you to get your cat to chase a laser pointer.
Fire it up and it will aim the laser across the room for you while your pet chases the dot of light across the floor – endless fun.
It runs on four AA batteries and has a 15 minute timer to ensure your cat doesn’t spend all day chasing the bolt.
Lightsaber Chopsticks ($11.97)
These chopsticks run on camera batteries and glow with red and blue LEDs, so they’re ideal for Jedi and Sith Lords.
Hamburg phones are still all the rage, along with portable planes that have a motor to power themselves
The BPA-free plastic sabers are food safe and turn on at the touch of a button.
Buy them here.
Hamburger Phone ($15.87)
We’re not sure who the target market is for this hamburger-shaped landline phone, but it’s certainly an eye-catcher.
Features are pretty sparse, with a redial button and LED power indicator.
Buy it here.
Motorized Paper Airplane ($19.99)
Have you ever looked at a paper airplane and thought, “I wish there was a motor for it?”
If so, Amazon has your back.
The PowerUp 2.0 uses an electric motor and propeller to provide up to 30 seconds of flight time.
Buy it here.
Lights that light up when you clap ($21.99)
Who Needs Alexa? The Clapper Light System bills itself as the original home automation system – it’s a wall plug that lights up when you clap.
You can clap once for one device, twice for another – or set it to turn on when it hears a noise (like when you’re not home).
Buy it here.
The 7-inch Clapper and Pritom tablets are also under $50
Pritom 7-inch Tablet ($49.99)
You won’t get an iPad for that kind of money, but the Priton Tronpad 7-inch Android offers quite a bit of bang for your buck.
Running Android 11, it offers the Google Play Store for app downloads and has a battery that lasts six hours.
Buy it here.
Toilet Lights ($13.88)
These toilet lights use a motion sensor to LED light your nighttime bathroom visits – with 16 LED color options.
Amazon offers LED toilet bowl lights and Bluetooth earbuds — all for under $50
The creators suggest that you “add some fun and excitement” with a color-changing mode.
The motion sensor offers 160 degree sensitivity and is fully waterproof.
Zingbird Wireless Earbuds ($29.99)
There’s a surprisingly large array of sub-$50 earbuds on offer here – but don’t expect big brand names.
The Zingbirds offer up to 60 hours of playtime (the earbuds last around five hours) – with a battery indicator so you can see how long they have left.
There is both wireless charging and charging via USB-C.
Buy them here.
Floating Photo Frame ($26.99)
What better way to show that you really love someone than to have their photo in your living room – floating and bathed in LED light?
That’s the promise of this photo frame, which uses magnets to levitate a single photo and LED lighting.
Buy it here.
Portable Neck Fan ($22.99)
When you get hot under the collar (left) or a collar that lets you find your furry friend (right).
Feeling a little warm? Amazon can help with this USB chargeable wearable neck fan that is battery operated to provide fan cooling anywhere.
Betting sales fell somewhat during the pandemic (Amazon)
There are three wind speeds and a 2400mAh battery that offers up to 8.5 hours of work between charges.
Cat Tracker Collar ($15.99)
It’s one of life’s great mysteries – what do cats actually do all day? Now you can respond by attaching an AirTag to your cat.
Apple’s AirTag system lets you track your cat’s location via BlueTooth – the collar is designed not to fall off or dangle.
Buy it here.
Beer Can Bluetooth Speaker
It may have been an unfortunate name during the pandemic, but this Corona beer speaker lets you listen to music while supporting the famous drink.
It has Bluetooth and an Aux-In cable so you can connect it to non-Bluetooth devices like your PC.
Buy it here.