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Christmas is nearly here. If you’re shopping late — like now late — Godspeed. Scrounging up some last minute gift ideas or stocking stuffers can be tough, but you don’t have to be too elaborate. You can do the exact opposite and keep things simple, especially if you’re gifting to someone who loves tech and gadgets. What’s the secret? Nab a relatively inexpensive but super handy USB gadget that will enrich the recipient’s life.
Obvious examples include a power bank, wireless headphones with USB charging, a tactical flashlight, or something along those lines. You’ll find most of these, and more, in some of our previous guides, like cheap USB gadgets reviewers and users swear by.
But if you want something unique, well, there are some truly perfect Amazon USB gadgets that you can turn to, even if you’re playing a big office game of White Elephant. If you want something a little more fun, there are USB gadgets you can buy on Amazon for under $20. Or, you can stick with this zany list that gets real wild.
Skybasic Wireless Digital Microscope
If you know someone that loves science, or just likes to examine things really closely, the Skybasic wireless digital microscope is exactly what you should be giving them. Plus, it’s small enough to slip into a stocking or to hide behind some bigger gifts if you need a quick counterbalance. You might be asking, how is it “wireless and USB” at the same time? It works with Wi-Fi and mobile devices, wirelessly, but it’s also compatible with Windows and Mac via USB. It charges the battery via USB as well.
Specs include 50x to 1000x magnification with an optical focal length of 3mm to 60mm, 8 adjustable LEDs for enhanced visibility, photo and video capture modes, 2MP quality images, a built in 900mAh rechargeable battery, and a downright neat design. You can use it to examine skin, insects, plants, fabrics, PCBs or circuit boards, coins, and much more. It’s only $40 at full price, and just $28 on sale at the time of writing. There are over 9,200 global reviews from Amazon users and it has a 4.2 out of 5 star rating.
Flora Pod AI-Powered Smart Plant Monitor
Plant parents get real crazy about their lush babies. From succulents to bigger, tree-size plants — inside and outside the home — they love to obsess over the health of said plants. For those with a green thumb in your life, Flora Pod is an AI-powered smart plant monitor that charges via USB.
It’s water and weather resistant, so you can use it outdoors for veggies and gardens, or indoors for flowers and other lovable greens. It syncs with a mobile app, which gives you all the information you need about your most beloved plants. The battery lasts for up to three months on a single charge, so it’s a set it and forget it sort accessory that you won’t need to fiddle with often.
But here’s the best part: at full price, it’s $55, which is pretty reasonable, considering the app is free. That said, it’s currently marked down to $49. It also makes for a fantastic gift and a wonderful stocking stuffer, and it’s unique enough that most people won’t have one. There are over 50 reviews on Amazon currently and it has a 4 out of 5 star rating.
Glocusent Ergonomic Reading Light
Before you turn away, scoffing about how “it’s just a light,” take a moment to consider just how versatile the Glocusent Ergonomic Reading Light truly is. It’s $25 at full price (currently $20 on sale), and it wraps around your neck offering two adjustable beams. Yes, it’s primarily meant for reading, but you could use it during power outages, while working in a car engine, in dark or tight spaces, while traveling, and even while camping. With over 1,100 reviews and a 4.6 out of 5 star score, people love it.
It has a 1600mAh rechargeable battery which lasts for up to 100 hours per charge, and it’s charged via USB. Moreover, there are three colors and five brightness modes to choose from, so you can fine-tune your illumination. You can control the arms independently too, so you effectively have two lights rather than just a single bulb or stream. It’s a fantastic idea for a stocking stuffer, for anyone from book lovers to DIY enthusiasts and tinkerers. It would be nice to have one of these while working around small electronics, to be honest.
HOTO Laser Measuring Tool
Once you own a tape measure, that’s it, you’ll be using it to measure everything and anything, when you can find the darn thing. The HOTO Laser Measuring Tool is a fascinating and modern alternative that also serves as a delightful stocking stuffer. It charges via USB-C, as you might expect, but it offers an energy-saving OLED display that helps it last for up to 500 measurements per charge. It’s not expensive at all, either, with a price of $46 at full price (and just $30 as we write this), and it does regularly go on sale.
What is it, you ask? Why, it’s simple: it’s a digital, laser-based measurement tool, like a physical measuring tape, that accurately measures distances. You can use it for home renovations, hanging pictures, DIY projects, furniture adjustments, construction, and much, much more. It’s a handy little gadget and it has over 1,600 reviews on Amazon with a 4.1 out of 5 star score. It’s portable, easy to use, and would slip right into a small box, stocking, or somewhere compact. It beats the heck out of the popular USB gadgets that are a waste of your money, that’s for sure.
How we chose these products
All of the potential stocking stuffers we’ve chosen here have at least a 4-star rating on Amazon. We want to make sure that no matter what you get your friends, coworkers, or loved ones, it’s a proven commodity that reviewers have good things to say about. Of course, whether or not the gift receiver actually wants the gift — well, that’s why you’re the one giving it!
