While expensive tech toys like the Nintendo Switch and PS4 Pro always get lots of attention, there are a ton of awesome tech gifts that won’t bust your budget. We have put together a list of ten of the best gadgets under $100 that will keep your holiday spending to a minimum.

Buy This Gift for Someone That Loves Star Wars

The price on the Sphero BB-8 droid has fallen considerably since the release a few years ago. You can find the version with the Force Band as low at $40. The Force Band connects via Bluetooth and lets you control the Sphero Star Wars BB-8 droid using arm/wrist gestures instead of an app. (Alt. Option: BB-9E in black)

MSRP: $130 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $40

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Buy This Gift for Someone That’s an Amazon Prime Member

The 3rd gen Amazon Echo Dot (our full review) packs quite a punch for smart home voice control as well as multi-room music streaming and a whole-home intercom system. Beyond all that, call out “Alexa” and you can tell it to play music, check the weather, order items on Amazon or a huge number of smart home features assuming you have accompanying hardware.

MSRP: $50 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $24 (You can also find the 2nd gen on sale for $20)

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Buy This Gift for an Old-School, Retro Gamer

While the Switch is a fantastic console for new Nintendo games, you can hop in a time machine to take you back to the late 80’s with the Super NES Classic system. Updated with an HDMI port, the Super NES Classic comes preloaded with 21 games built-into the system. No need for blowing on cartridges anymore! (Alt. Option: PlayStation Classic for $99)

MSRP: $80 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $80

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Buy This Gift for Someone That’s Really into Virtual Reality

While VR headsets like the Oculus can set you back hundreds of dollars, you can get into VR inexpensively with the Samsung Gear VR. Combined with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, this cheap headset lets you play games or watch video content in apps like Netflix and Hulu in complete privacy. 

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $20  (You can also find the 2017 version under $100, refurb for $65)

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Buy This Gift for Someone Who Loves to Watch Netflix & Hulu

Updated for 4K televisions, the Chromecast Ultra is a $69 HDMI dongle that plugs into your HDTV and allows you to stream 4K video content from your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet as well as computers. It’s significantly faster than the basic 1080p model and supports tons of great streaming video services like Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Hulu, Pandora, HBO GO,  Showtime Anytime, Spotify, Plex and Starz Play. (Alternative option: Fire TV 4K stick can be found for $50.)

MSRP: $69 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $49

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Buy This Gift for Someone Who Travels With Family Constantly

But, wait, more dongles! The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is basically a twist on the standard USB storage drive. Specifically, the device doubles as a wireless network drive compatible with Android and iOS devices. In other words, you could stream high definition video content to multiple devices in an area that doesn’t have Wi-Fi. This would be perfect for a family on a flight or an extended car ride, for instance.

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $40 for 128GB version

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Buy This Gift for Someone Who Loves Shooting Smartphone Video

Ideal for anyone that’s trying to get a YouTube channel off the ground, the Ampridge MightyMic S shotgun microphone significantly reduces background noise when shooting in noisy areas. This type of mic is ideal for action shots, basically anything that will require quick movements with the camera. (If you are shooting interviews on the go, consider the Rode smartLav+ Lavalier  microphone.)

MSRP: $99 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $45

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Buy This Gift for Someone Who Loves to Work Out

There’s no reason that you should be physically tethered to your mobile device by a headphone jack in 2018. Resistant to water and sweat, the Skullcandy Ink’d Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds with Mic offer 8 hours of playback on a single charge and include volume / playback controls along the sports band as well as a microphone for voice calls.

MSRP: $50 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $30

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Buy This Gift for Someone That Isn’t Great with Wi-Fi Tech

Taking all the worry out of setting up a Wi-Fi network for the home, the Securifi Almond includes a touchscreen that walks someone through the process of setting up wireless access. Installation only takes a few minutes and all security settings are pre-configured to avoid open network issues. For anyone more familiar with home networks, it also doubles as an excellent Wi-Fi range extender if you are having trouble using Wi-Fi on the opposite side of your home. (Alt Option: TP-Link Router with Touchscreen)

MSRP: $99 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $65

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Buy This Gift for Someone Who Loves to Read

The standard Amazon Kindle got a boost last year and is still a solid choice for a starter e-reader. It continues to receive positive praise due to the ability to read books in sunlight as well as its storage capacity. You can easily load up 1,000+ books on the device and take your entire library with you while on the go.

MSRP: $79 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $50

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2018 Tech Gifts: Best Gadgets Under $100

If you’re considering downsizing from a full satellite or cable TV service to a skinny live TV bundle — a cheaper service with fewer channels that you’ll stream through an Internet connection — you have three offerings available currently, with more on the way. Prices start at $20 to $40 per month, although you can also choose service tiers that will cost $60-plus. But making the switch involves more than just picking a skinny service. You need to understand the skinny bundle TV hardware requirements before you can make the switch.

Each service will work with certain pieces of hardware, and it’ll be incompatible with certain hardware setups. Additionally, there’s the process of understanding how the skinny TV hardware differs from what you need to run a full cable or satellite subscription.

We’ve put together a list of the five key things to understand about the hardware involved and the other differences if you want to downsize from a full cable or satellite pay-TV service to a skinny live TV bundle.

1. You Need Fast Internet & Lots of Data

A subscription to a reduced pay-TV service requires you to stream your programming over an Internet connection. (It’s also called a skinny bundle or an over-the-top service, or OTT.)

So you need a fast Internet service that’s reliable both in terms of speed and connection. If your Internet runs slow sometimes, you’ll be very frustrated with trying to stream video over it. And you’re going to want an Internet connection with a high monthly data cap, 1TB for example.

2. There are no Subscriptions or Contracts

With a skinny bundle, you can sign up and then cancel at any time. There’s no contract to sign as with a full service and no penalties when you quit, in large part because the service provider is not giving you any hardware. You have to provide your own hardware and Internet connection.

3. Local Channels are still Limited

The current skinny TV bundles only offer local channels in a few large cities. More cities are added to the services every few months, so maybe you’ll get lucky and live in an area with local channels. If you aren’t that lucky though, you can use an over-the-air antenna to receive your local channels. Some over-the-air antennas can be set up and used indoors, which is good for those living in an apartment.

4. DVR also has Limitations

As it remains in its infancy stage, the skinny bundle TV services are still trying to figure out how to incorporate support for DVRs. Some are considering providing support through third-party DVRs, such as TiVo. Some skinny services are using or have plans to use a cloud DVR service, but cloud DVRs are extremely slow versus the traditional DVR boxes. (A cloud DVR would store your shows at a third-party location, away from your home. You then will download the programs when you’re ready to watch them.)

Changes are still in the offing in this area. But understand that if you love the DVR you have with your full cable or satellite TV service, skinny TV providers cannot yet duplicate the best parts of this feature.

Skinny bundle services do provide video-on-demand (VOD) services for certain channels, so you can download and watch shows that you may have missed live, similar to a Netflix service or to a full service. But there are limitations as to which channels and programming have VOD available within the skinny bundles.

5. BYOH: Bring Your Own Hardware

Generally, you do have to provide your own hardware at your own expense with the skinny bundle. We’ll discuss the hardware options in more detail, but understand that there are some upfront costs when switching to a skinny TV bundle.

With a full subscription, the service provides a set-top box, a satellite dish, free installation, or whatever else you need to receive and decode the signal. Sometimes you’ll be renting this provided hardware, resulting in a recurring monthly charge, which is another reason why your full service satellite or cable bill can seem so high. So purchasing a bit of skinny TV bundle hardware up front may save you some money in the long run over the monthly rental fees.

When you’re ready to pick a streaming hardware option, just be sure that your skinny TV bundle service supports the hardware you have. Some services only work with certain types of hardware. Here are the options to consider.

Amazon Fire TV Stick: If your skinny TV service will work through an Amazon Fire TV Stick, it’s easy to set up and use. Plug an HDMI cable into your TV’s HDMI port and plug the other end into the Fire Stick. Some versions of these sticks will plug directly into the HDMI port. Switch to the input channel on the TV to match the HDMI port you’re using. Then follow the on screen instructions to connect to the Internet via WiFi and begin streaming. The latest Amazon Fire TV Stick ships with a remote control.

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Apple TV hardware: As with the Fire TV Stick, you’ll connect the Apple TV hardware to the TV’s HDMI port via an HDMI cable and follow a similar setup process. You can connect Apple TV to the Internet via an Ethernet cable or via WiFi.

Other Options: You may be able to incorporate hardware or devices you already own to stream these skinny TV services. Beyond working with the aforementioned Amazon Fire TV stick and Apple TV, Sling TV will work with Amazon Fire TV sticks, Apple TV, Google Chromecast sticks, Roku players, smartphone connections, the Xbox One gaming console, and Windows and Mac computers. As another example, PlayStation Vue runs on the PlayStation gaming console. Some Smart TVs can make use of apps through which your can run the skinny TV service. You’ll just have to check with each skinny TV service provider to see whether it can support the hardware you want to use.

Five Things to Know about Switching from Cable to Skinny TV

The Bluetooth audio receiver has been a little cottage industry in recent years, and I’ve reviewed my share of them (here, here and here). Bluetooth receivers are a cheap way to wirelessly stream music and audio from your smartphone to your existing stereo or powered speakers. On the other end of the spectrum, Sonos—and to a smaller degree, Apple Airplay—offer higher quality but more expensive options to stream music in your home.

Google’s new Chromecast Audio sits somewhere in between those options, but closer in spirit and price point to the ubiquitous Bluetooth receiver. Priced at $35, it’s ironically higher than most Bluetooth receivers, considering that Google’s Chromecast streaming player (also $35) is considered the budget option in its product category.

But let’s be clear: the Chromecast Audio is way better than any and all the Bluetooth receivers out there. I think it will become the standard of wireless home audio, especially when its future support of multi-room audio arrives sometime down the line.  There is one small hitch to world domination that lies outside of Google’s control: Apple Music doesn’t work with the Chromecast Audio.

That’s right. Spotify, Google Music, Pandora and most of the major music streaming apps work with the Chromecast Audio…except Apple Music (and also Amazon Music, but probably most people don’t care about that). But this could change, as we saw back in June when Apple announced cross-platform support (Android, gasp!) for Apple Music. Just don’t hold your breath.

Unboxing and Setup

The Chromecast Audio comes in the same size box as the new Chromecast and also shares the new puck-shaped form factor. It measures about 2 inches in diameter and has narrow circular grooves on the top, resembling an old-school vinyl record. It’s only available in black, unlike the second gen Chromecast which launched with three color options.

In the box, you’ll also find a short yellow 3.5mm cable (just under 6 inches), the USB power cable and small power adapter. Or you can bring your own RCA Y-cable or optical cable (Toslink to 3.5mm mini Toslink).

The exterior of the Chromecast Audio has a small reset button and two ports: the micro USB port and the 3.5mm jack with analog and digital audio output.

Setup takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on your level of technical expertise. But not to worry: it’s easy (and even easier if you’ve already set up a regular Chromecast).

You need to get the free Chromecast app on an Android or iOS phone or tablet. On a Windows PC, you can go to https://www.chromecast.com/setup via the Chrome browser and download the Chromecast app. Windows phones and Macs are currently not supported.

From the Chromecast app, you will be taken through the steps to find your Chromecast Audio via Bluetooth and then test the sound on it. After you’ve verified the test sound, you’ll name your Chromecast Audio and connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and that’s it.

Sound Quality and Play Options

It sounded pretty good right out of the gate. The audio quality immediately reminded me of AirPlay but with less dropouts. Welcome news: Chromecast Audio supports up to 24-bit/96kHz audio (DVD quality).

The Chromecast Audio streams audio over dual-band 802.11ac (2.5GHz/5GHz) Wi-Fi. The bandwidth and range is far superior to Bluetooth and it’s less susceptible to interference.

That said, there can be dropouts when you have heavy network traffic. I tested music streaming while sending files to the cloud, downloading a big file and backing up to a local network, and the audio dropped out for several seconds. It was an extreme test case, but something to keep in mind.

Of course, it’s great for home audio use because, unlike Bluetooth streaming, it won’t interrupt your streaming for phone calls,  text sounds and other system audio.

From the Chromecast app, you have the option of toggling High Dynamic Range for analog connections to hi-fi speakers and audio receivers. If you’re using an optical connection, HDR is the only setting.

The Chromecast app on Android is currently packed with a lot more features compared to the iOS version (although those are “coming soon”). From the Android Chromecast app, you can find content (“What’s On”) and apps (“Get Apps) that will utilize your new Chromecast Audio.  (On iOS you basically see a placeholder for your device.)

Conclusion

For Android and iOS users, the Chromecast Audio is a sleek alternative to Bluetooth receivers that should only get better with more apps (and a better iOS Chromecast app), multi-room audio capabilities and hopefully Apple Music support.

It’s good if you plan to have your devices farther away from the speakers and/or if you need to make use of the guest mode where anyone can easily cast to your Chromecast Audio with no pairing required. With its support for higher quality audio, the Chromecast Audio is a better choice for discerning audiophiles.

And at $35, the Chromecast Audio won’t set you back much more than a typical Bluetooth audio receiver, but it has the potential to do a lot more.

Keep your old Bluetooth audio receiver for the car.

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Google Chromecast Audio Review: A Better Mousetrap

Just yesterday, Google announced the Chromecast HDMI dongle; a compact solution for streaming movies, television shows, YouTube videos, photos and basically anything you are browsing within Google Chrome to the main television screen in your home. While Apple has a similar technology called Airplay, Apple’s closed, proprietary ecosystem limits usage of that technology to people that own a $99 Apple TV as well as an iOS mobile device or Macbook. There have been streaming apps that perform similar functions with other set-top box media players, but nothing as inexpensive and user friendly as the Google Chromecast when it comes to hardware.

Launching at a $35 price point, users can stream video content on Netflix from their mobile device or laptop as well as YouTube videos, Google Play content on Android devices and pretty much anything within a Google Chrome Web browser tab.

It can even stream video from Hulu.com (played within a Chrome tab), assuming you have a solid laptop or desktop with relatively new hardware. For instance, my fiancée’s Samsung Series 9 Intel i5 ultrabook was able to stream Hulu.com video with just a few issues, but my old dual-core laptop created a choppy, unwatchable mess on my laptop screen and the television.

Please Insert Your Dongle

It takes about 10 minutes from unpacking the hardware to streaming video content from your mobile device or laptop. Setup through an iOS device isn’t available at this point (coming soon according to Google), but you can use a Mac or Windows computer as well as Android devices for the initial setup. After your laptop or mobile device finds the Google Chromecast on your home’s network, a code will appear on your television and you simply have to verify it on your device. After that, you need to input the password for your home’s wireless network assuming that layer of security is in use.

The package includes the Chromecast HDMI dongle, a microUSB cord for power and an optional USB power adapter if there aren’t any available USB ports on your television. Google has also included an HDMI extender to help you fit the Chromecast into a tight spot on the input panel of the television. One issue with the USB power adapter; it’s a side-sitting power plug design that can block multiple empty spots on your power strip. It’s not as annoying as the enormous Roku 3 power adapter, but still an issue on a crowded power strip used within a home theater.

Mostly Delicious Streaminess

In comparison to the Roku 3, the Google Chromecast launches video in the same amount of time as it takes to launch content within a Roku 3 application like Netflix. Within the Netflix or YouTube mobile applications, a streaming button appears in the top right corner of the app and allows you to start sending video to the Chromecast.

How quickly does that happen? Check out my timing tests when streaming video from an iPhone 5 over my home’s wireless-G Wi-Fi network:

• YouTube: 13 seconds from launching the Chromecast connection to watching a video stream, 5 additional seconds to improve the video quality of the stream to the highest level and 5 seconds to switch to another video.
• Netflix: 10 seconds from launching the Chromecast connection to watching a video stream, 6 additional seconds to improve the video quality of the stream to the highest level and 4 seconds to switch to another video.

Both the Netflix and YouTube applications are extremely responsive when performing actions such as play, pause or video scrubbing. In addition, video will continue to stream if you close the application and exit to the home screen on the iPhone.

Unfortunately, streaming video through the Chrome extension is less responsive and more problematic. For instance, Hulu.com video can be off by a couple seconds (laptop screen versus HDTV screen), the video isn’t as smooth or clear as the Hulu Plus app on a set-top box and you may hear an occasional cutout in the audio. It’s important to note that the Chrome extension is currently in beta form and could potentially improve over time. It does perform well when simply browsing the Internet.

But Should I Buy It?

The biggest drawback to purchasing the Chromecast right now is the limited application support on mobile devices. While Google has launched a SDK for developers to add streaming functionality to apps, it could be a while before we see Chromecast support in popular applications like Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video.

In addition, Google just yanked the promotion that offered three months of free Netflix Instant to anyone who purchased the Chromecast. Attributing it to overwhelming demand, the value proposition of the Chromecast has gotten worse.

For Netflix Instant subscribers, this purchase was a no-brainer up until today. It was basically $11 plus the standard Netflix Instant subscription rate. However, that promotion isn’t being offered on any purchases beyond 1 p.m. PT today.

Drawbacks aside, the Chromecast is definitely a useful device to have on hand when you want to share a funny YouTube video with the rest of the people in the room. In addition, guests can easily queue up their favorite YouTube videos or Web content on their device assuming they are connected to the home’s Wi-Fi. It could also be handy in extending streaming video functionality to a secondary television in an office or bedroom.

Is the Google Chromecast a clear replacement for set-top boxes like the Roku 3 or Apple TV? Absolutely not. But it can definitely improve how we share interesting media with friends and family. Hopefully over time, third party support will improve as well as the performance of the Chrome extension when it comes to video. Until then, Sad Keanu can only dream.

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Google Chromecast Review: Simply Streaming

Announced today by Google, the Chromecast is an HDMI dongle that plugs into your HDTV and provides streaming access to video and other content over your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Spiritually a successor to the Nexus Q, users will be able to stream video off Netflix, YouTube, Google Play and Chrome. In addition to the Google Chromecast dongle, the user will need Google Chrome on their personal PC or laptop in order to stream video.

Users can additionally stream video from Android smartphones and tablets as well as iOS mobile devices. Also available is a new Chromecast button within mobile applications and Google Chrome that indicates sending a video stream to the television. Google is launching a Google Cast software development kit to allow developers to add Chromecast support to their mobile applications. Beyond the Chromecast, Google likely wants to license the Google Cast streaming technology for third party devices.

While the Nexus Q had a fairly sizable price of $299, the Google Chromecast dongle clocks in at just $35. On top of the low price, Google is partnering with Netflix to offer three free months of Netflix Instant. That deal is available for both new and current subscribers. Since Netflix Instant is $7.99 per month, it’s basically like purchasing the Chromecast dongle for $11 while continuing to pay for Netflix Instant service.

We have put our money where our mouth is and ordered a Google Chromecast. Expect a review on the device in the coming weeks. If you are interested in the Google Chromecast HDMI dongle, they are selling out fast. The first batch sold out within an hour and the current ship date on the new batch is August 7.

Keep an eye on Amazon and Best Buy as well; both stores are expected to carry the Chromecast potentially as early as today. We will post it immediately on Ben’s Bargains once it’s live on either retail site. (In stock on Amazon now! Click Here)

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Check out a video of the Chromecast in action below:

Shut Up and Take My Money: Google Chromecast