What is the best tech under $100 in 2026?
The Anker 737 power bank is the standout pick: 24,000mAh with 140W output that can top up a laptop, typically priced around $100 to $110 and frequently discounted. For most Android and iPhone users chasing value, the Keychron V1 mechanical keyboard and Apple AirTag 2 are the other two picks worth buying without hesitation.
The one-line verdict
Buy the Anker 737 power bank if you want one workhorse charger under $100. It is the rare budget power bank that can actually revive a laptop, not just a phone. Beyond that, this guide covers the keyboards, mice, webcams, audio gear, and smart home basics that are genuinely worth the money at this price, and calls out the categories (portable SSDs, most no-name earbuds) where $100 no longer buys what it used to in 2026.
Who this is for: anyone replacing a specific piece of gear on a budget, not people looking for a single “best gadget.” Jump to the category you need; each pick includes who should buy it and who should skip it.
This guide is based on published specifications, brand and retailer listings, and reviews from established outlets and long-term owners, not a multi-month in-house test lab we do not have. Prices are current ranges at the time of writing (July 2026) and move constantly with sales, so check the live listing before you buy.
Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend: a product that would earn us a commission but is wrong for you gets a “skip,” not a soft-pedal.
Power & charging
1. Anker 737 Power Bank (24,000mAh, 140W)
- 24,000mAh capacity, rated for up to 140W combined output across its USB-C ports
- Enough headroom to meaningfully recharge a laptop, not just top off a phone
- Built-in digital display shows real remaining capacity instead of vague LED dots
- Typically listed around $100 to $110, frequently discounted closer to $90 as of mid-2026
Anker has since released a newer Laptop Power Bank (A1695), a 25,000mAh model with built-in retractable cables and 165W total system output, and now positions it as the 737’s successor. The 737 still wins on raw per-port wattage (140W on a single USB-C port versus 100W max per port on the newer model), and it remains in stock at a similar price, so it is still a sound buy. If never carrying a separate USB-C cable matters more to you than peak per-port speed, compare the newer model before you buy.
Buy it if you want one power bank that covers a laptop, a phone, and a tablet without carrying three chargers. Skip it if you only ever charge a phone: our full portable charger guide covers smaller, cheaper options built for that. See our full Anker 737 review for more on the tradeoffs against Anker’s newer lineup.
2. A 65W GaN wall charger (Baseus or Anker)
- GaN (gallium nitride) chargers pack 65W of output into a housing roughly the size of a standard phone charger
- A 3-port version can charge a laptop, phone, and tablet from one wall outlet
- Look for one with at least one 45W+ USB-C port if you plan to charge a MacBook or similar laptop
Buy one to replace the pile of individual chargers under your desk. This is a category where several brands (Anker, Baseus, Ugreen) make competent versions, so compare current reviews and pick based on port count rather than brand loyalty.
3. A 10,000mAh pocket power bank with built-in cable
- 10,000mAh is roughly two full phone charges
- Models with a fold-out USB-C cable built in mean one less cable to lose
- Usually under $35
Buy it for the diaper bag, the gym bag, or the car. Skip it if you already own the 737 above and rarely need a backup away from a wall outlet.
4. A 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand (iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch)
- Charges an iPhone, AirPods case, and Apple Watch from one stand
- Folding designs travel better than rigid ones
- Only relevant if you own all three Apple devices; otherwise you are paying for charging spots you will not use
Buy it if your nightstand is a mess of three separate cables. Skip it if you only have an iPhone: a $15 single MagSafe puck does the same job for one device.
Productivity
5. Keychron V1 Mechanical Keyboard
- Hot-swappable switches, so you can try different switch feels without soldering
- QMK/VIA programmable firmware
- Works with both Mac and Windows
- Typically $65 to $85 depending on switch choice and sales; Keychron also sells wireless V1 Max and V1 Ultra variants for more
Buy it if you want your first mechanical keyboard and might want to swap switches later. See our full mechanical keyboards guide if you want a wireless or premium alternative instead.
6. Logitech MX Anywhere 3S
- 8,000 DPI sensor tracks reliably on glass and other hard-to-read surfaces
- Quiet clicks compared to the original MX Anywhere 3
- Multi-device switching between up to three computers
- Compact enough to travel well, unlike a full-size MX Master
Buy it if you want MX Master-level tracking in a smaller travel mouse. If you work at one desk all day, our wireless mouse guide covers the larger MX Master 3S, which is more comfortable for long sessions.
7. Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub
- HDMI output up to 4K at 60Hz, three USB-A ports, SD/microSD slots, and 100W passthrough charging
- Aluminum housing runs cooler than the plastic hubs common at this price
- Lets a single USB-C cable turn a laptop into a desktop setup
Buy it for a single external monitor and a few peripherals. If you run two or more monitors, check our USB-C hubs and docks guide for docks built for that load instead.
8. Logitech C920 Webcam
- 1080p at 30fps with automatic light correction
- Meaningfully better than a built-in laptop webcam in dim rooms
- Has remained a reliable budget pick across multiple product generations
Buy it if your laptop’s built-in camera is the only thing holding back your video calls. Our webcam guide covers when it is worth paying more for 4K or better low-light performance.
9. A USB condenser microphone (Fifine or similar)
- Plug-and-play cardioid USB mics in this price range are a real step up from a laptop or headset mic for calls and casual recording
- Look for a physical mute button and a cardioid (not omnidirectional) pickup pattern to cut down on room noise
Buy it for podcasting, streaming, or remote meetings where audio quality matters. Skip it if you already own a dedicated audio interface and XLR mic; this category is strictly an entry point.
Audio
10. Anker Soundcore Life Q30
- Active noise cancellation with multiple modes (transport, outdoor, indoor)
- Rated battery life around 40 hours with ANC on
- Typically $55 to $80 depending on sales
Buy it as an entry point into ANC headphones without spending flagship money. It will not match the noise cancellation of the current Sony or Bose flagships covered in our noise-cancelling headphones guide, but it gets meaningfully close for a fraction of the price.
11. JLab Go Air Pop
- True wireless earbuds usually priced around $20 to $25
- Roughly 8 hours of battery per charge, more with the case
- IPX4 splash resistance
Buy them as a spare or backup pair, or for a kid. They are a genuine step up from unbranded earbuds at the same price, but do not expect AirPods-level call quality or noise isolation.
12. Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
- MSRP around $50, but it is discounted to $20 to $30 during most sales events and rarely worth paying full price for
- Works as a basic smart home hub and a serviceable Bluetooth speaker
- Amazon’s step-up Echo Dot Max adds noticeably better sound for close to double the price
Buy it during a sale, not at full price. Skip it entirely if you do not already use Alexa or a smart home setup it can control.
Storage
13. SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSD Card
- A2-rated for faster app load speeds on supported devices
- Useful for a Nintendo Switch, action camera, or drone
- Rugged, water- and shock-resistant per SanDisk’s spec sheet
- No longer the bargain it was: the same 2026 memory chip shortage hitting SSDs has pushed 256GB microSD pricing up sharply, with this card trading well above its 2025 price and, depending on the retailer and sale, sometimes close to $100 rather than the $20 to $30 it cost a year earlier
Buy this only if you specifically need microSD storage for a Switch, action camera, or drone, and check the live price before assuming it is still a cheap upgrade. It is still one of the cheaper ways to add storage under this shortage, but “cheap” is relative in 2026.
A note on storage prices in 2026
We are not recommending a 1TB portable SSD in this guide anymore, and we are recommending microSD cards with a caveat, for the same reason: a 2026 NAND flash shortage, driven largely by AI data center demand, has pushed prices across nearly every flash storage format well above where they sat in 2025. Portable SSDs like the Samsung T7 and SanDisk Extreme have in some cases more than doubled, and memory card pricing has moved similarly. If you need a full-size portable SSD, budget more than $100 and see our best portable SSDs guide for current picks and pricing. Analysts do not expect meaningful relief until late 2027, so do not trust any “under $100” storage list, ours included, that still quotes 2025 prices without checking the live listing.
Smart home
14. TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug (4-Pack)
- Usually around $20 to $25 for a 4-pack, roughly $5 to $6 per plug
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant, plus scheduling and energy monitoring in the Kasa app
- No hub required
Buy this to turn lamps, fans, or holiday lights into schedulable smart devices without a full smart home overhaul.
15. Wyze Cam v4
- 2.5K resolution with color night vision and a built-in spotlight, an upgrade over the now-discontinued Wyze Cam v3
- Around $35 to $40
- Free cloud storage tier is limited; a subscription unlocks longer history
Buy it as an affordable indoor security camera. If Wyze’s discontinuation of the v3 makes you nervous about brand longevity, weigh that against the price before buying into the ecosystem.
16. TP-Link Archer AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
- Dual-band WiFi 6, rated up to 1.8 Gbps combined
- Typically $50 to $55
- Fine for apartments and typical household device counts
Buy it if you are still on an old WiFi 5 router. If you are building out a larger home or want to future-proof further, check our WiFi 7 routers guide: entry-level WiFi 7 hardware now sells in a similar price range.
17. An affordable fitness tracker (Xiaomi Smart Band)
- AMOLED display, multi-day battery life, and heart rate/SpO2/sleep tracking, all standard on Xiaomi’s current band lineup
- Typically $40 to $60 depending on the generation in stock
- Does not match an Apple Watch or Garmin on app ecosystem or GPS accuracy, but covers the daily-tracking basics for a fraction of the price
Buy it if you want basic activity and sleep tracking without committing to a full smartwatch ecosystem.
Cables & accessories
18. Anker PowerLine III USB-C Cable (2-Pack)
- Rated for 100W charging, so it works with most USB-C laptops as well as phones
- Anker’s braided PowerLine cables are consistently rated by owners as more durable than stock charging cables
- Usually under $20 for a two-pack
Buy a couple of these to stop replacing frayed stock cables every few months.
19. UGREEN Cable Organizer Kit
- Velcro ties, adhesive clips, and cable sleeves in one kit
- Reusable, unlike single-use zip ties
- Usually around $10 to $15
Buy it if your desk setup has turned into a cable knot. It is a small, unglamorous purchase that makes daily use of a desk noticeably better.
20. Apple AirTag 2
- Apple’s second-generation tracker, launched in January 2026, with roughly 3x the Precision Finding range of the original AirTag, a louder speaker, and a longer-rated battery
- $29 for a single tracker, $99 for a four-pack, the same pricing structure as the original AirTag it replaces
- iPhone only; Android owners should look at Tile or Google’s Find Hub-certified trackers instead
Buy AirTag 2 over the original at this point since Apple prices them the same. See our AirTag 2 review and AirTag vs. Tile comparison for the full breakdown, including whether the original AirTag is worth buying on clearance.
21. Tile Pro (for Android users)
- Longer Bluetooth range (up to 400 feet) and a louder speaker than most Bluetooth trackers
- Now owned and operated by Life360, which charges a subscription for features like location history that some competitors include for free
- Google’s Find Hub network, covering more than a billion Android devices, now has denser real-world coverage than Tile’s own network; certified Find Hub trackers like the Chipolo Pop are worth comparing before you buy
Buy it only after comparing it to a Find Hub-certified tracker. Our item trackers guide covers both ecosystems side by side.
What we are not recommending
- Unbranded wireless earbuds from Amazon marketplace sellers. Consistently the lowest-rated category in owner reviews for sound quality and durability.
- Generic USB-C hubs under $20. Owner reviews and teardown coverage repeatedly flag these for overheating and unreliable video output.
- 1TB portable SSDs marketed as “under $100.” As covered above, current pricing on this class of drive has moved past $100 in 2026; treat any listing still quoting sub-$100 prices with suspicion.
- Large-capacity memory cards bought on autopilot. The same shortage has pushed 256GB+ microSD pricing well above 2025 levels; check the live price before assuming it is still a cheap add-on.
- The discontinued Wyze Cam v3, still listed by some third-party sellers. Buy the v4 instead.
Verdict
Buy the Anker 737 power bank, the Keychron V1, and AirTag 2 without hesitation. They are the three products in this list with the clearest case: verified pricing, a genuine gap over cheaper alternatives, and no newer model that makes them an obviously wrong purchase, though the 737 now has a legitimate newer sibling worth a glance if built-in cables matter to you. For everything else here, match the pick to a real need rather than buying the category just because it is cheap. And treat the storage categories, portable SSDs especially, with caution until 2026’s chip shortage eases: that is the one place a “best under $100” list can actively mislead you right now.
For related budget picks, see our best tech gifts guide.
Tech reviews & buying advice
grimtech is an independent tech-review publication. We test and research gear, cut the hype, and give one clear recommendation you can act on. Our rule is simple: trust is the whole business, so we never let a commission shape a verdict, if the cheaper or older product is the right call, that's what we tell you. We earn affiliate commissions when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you, and that never changes what we recommend.