GoKawiilFrom fancy OLED TVs to robot vacuums with arms, we tend to cover a lot of cool stuff here at The Verge that, unfortunately, often costs as much as a month’s rent (or more). But with the ongoing tariff situation in the US and a global memory shortage pushing up the cost of, well, everything, we’re well aware that not everyone can spend that kind of money right now.
If you’re curious, you can check out our favorites below.
This keychain thingy costs less than seven bucks, is about the size of an actual key, and clips onto your keyring with a built-in carabiner latch. It’s perfectly suited for opening boxes, popping bottlecaps, or tightening a screw or a bolt in a pinch. While it’s not as good as a dedicated tool — or even a larger multitool like a Leatherman — at any of those things, I’m also way more likely to have it on me when I need it. — Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor
When it comes to earbuds, my daily drivers are a pair of AirPods Pro 3. However, given how often I find myself sitting in my car due to my extracurriculars (I volunteer with search and rescue), I decided to pick up a pair of Nothing’s CMF Buds 2A as a backup for my bag. The budget earbuds are often on sale for a tenth of what the Pro 3 cost, and while they certainly can’t compete with Apple’s high-end earbuds, their pack-in features and overall performance make them a terrific value.
For $49, you get decent sound and customizable touch controls, along with up to eight hours of playback on a single charge (or up to 35.5 hours with the included USB-C charging case). They also support Google’s Fast Pair feature, carry an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance, and offer a touch of active noise cancellation. They’re not going to drown out sharper sounds or all subway chatter — you only get about 42 decibels of noise reduction — but it’s a hell of a lot better than going it alone. — Brandon Widder, senior commerce editor
Want a more secure grip on your phone? You can find countless rings that magnetically snap onto your phone, then physically slip onto your finger. But the Syncwire AirGrip is better than that — it’s got magnets on both sides of the ring, so it can snap your device to any ferrous metal surface: your car mount, your fridge, your filing cabinet, you name it. Depending on which design you buy, I’ve found it has the right amount of magnet strength for these tasks, and while you can’t wirelessly charge through it like its OhSnap competition, it also costs much less. The best part might be the built-in ratchet, though: you can securely spin the inner ring 360 degrees while it makes an incredibly satisfying clicking sound. — Sean Hollister, senior editor
Before I moved closer to the coast, I relied on Vornado fans to survive inland Southern Californian summers, where temperatures regularly push past 100 degrees for much of the summer and early fall. I’ve used them through intense heat waves, buying multiple when my AC stopped working entirely for a week, and they’ve never let me down. The Vornado 133 is one of the smaller models I own, but it’s still impressively powerful. It’s ideal for placing on a desk or a nightstand when you need a strong, focused blast of cool air during those ridiculously hot days when a fan across the room just isn’t enough. — Sheena Vasani, commerce writer
If you’re searching for a thin, magnetic wireless power bank that’s among the fastest out there (both in terms of wireless and wired output), Iniu’s P781 Magnetic Portable Charger is worth $49.99. It can deliver up to 25W wireless charging to iPhone 16 and newer phones, as well as the Pixel 10 Pro XL. What’s more, its braided USB-C cable — which doubles as a lanyard — supports up to 45W, and it can simultaneously charge devices both wired and wirelessly with the press of a button. There are a number of similar wireless power banks out there, but this one delivers good specs at a more digestible price point. — Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor
There are many better-sounding Bluetooth speakers on the market that also offer upgraded features, from dedicated woofers and tweeters to waterproofing, stereo pairing, and even solar-powered charging. What Ikea’s wireless Kallsup speaker has going for it is a simple design, bright colors, and a $10 price tag. The Verge’s John Higgins preferred the sound from the Kallsup over the “thin-sounding built-in speakers” in his MacBook Air, and if you need to crank the volume, you can pair up to 100 of them together to better fill a room with sound. — Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter
The beauty of a cheap knife is that I never fear using it for dirty jobs — like cutting through the endless strips of box tape and cardboard boxes that wind their way to my door. But my favorite knives are lightweight and effortless to open and close one-handed, and cheap utility knives usually aren’t!
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