We found Black Friday deals on our favorite tech, and most are under $50

About once a month or so, we here at The Verge like to write about our favorite stuff: pet gear, backpacks, and weird toys, among others. Now that the Black Friday sales are all popping up, we’ve checked out some of the items that we’ve written about in the past — things that we have bought for ourselves and that we really like — to see which are on sale.

So far, we’ve found a lot of low-cost gadgets that are available for under $50, along with some fashionable and very useful bags. Take a look.

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Useful Tech

For years, I’ve been procrastinating getting a proper phone holder for my car so I can easily glance at GPS directions. I finally got fed up with having an Android Auto-less car enough to finally purchase a wireless phone charger and holder from Amazon. Sure, it’s not a name-brand device, but I was able to easily mount it on my dashboard with the suction cup, and it’s stayed in place since. It also has a neat auto-clamping feature that ensures your phone stays snug inside the holder, and it provides a way better charge than the measly USB cable I had plugged into my car before. — Emma Roth, news writer

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I travel abroad a lot, so a reliable charging brick that I can use both at home and while traveling in Europe and the UK (which are all different plugs) is an essential item for me. Minix’s compact 66W 3-Port GaN wall charger is my favorite one — it’s small but mighty. It features two USB-C fast-charging ports and one USB-A port, so I can charge my laptop, phone, and other devices simultaneously in my hotel room (I’m still waiting for hotels to figure out that USB-C is a thing now). But the best part is that it comes with a European and UK wall plug adaptor that I can easily snap on depending on which country I’m in. — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, senior reviewer

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I have a tendency to hold on to my phones as long as they work reasonably well, but even the best devices will eventually start to lose battery life — and after over three years of use, it’s not unexpected that my Pixel 6 will sometimes hit the 20 percent mark toward the end of the day. So I recently realized that I’m going to have to start carrying around a portable charger. Eventually, I settled on the not-so-powerful but lightweight Anker Nano Power Bank, which plugs into my phone’s USB-C slot like a small add-on peripheral. The Nano weighs only 3.5 ounces and supplies 5,000mAh of battery power — enough to keep me going to the end of the day. And it comes in several pale colors (I chose Ice Lake Blue), which means I can see it more easily in the dark reaches of my bag. — Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

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My ToAuto soldering station spent a few years gathering dust, but I finally pulled it out of the closet when I started experimenting with game console repairs. It may not be a Hakko or a Weller, but it gets the job done. The station is perfect for a beginner like me, as it heats up to 842 degrees Fahrenheit, comes with numerous interchangeable soldering tips, has steel wool for cleaning, and features a handy rack to hold a spool of solder. So far, it’s helped me do things like solder an HDMI port onto a PlayStation 4 and install new batteries on old Game Boy games. I expect it’s going to come in handy for many future repairs, too. — Emma Roth, news writer

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My partner and I were coming back from dinner with a friend the other night, and as the bus roared away, he suddenly realized his wallet was no longer in his back pocket. We called the MTA the next day, and were able to drive over to the local bus depot and pick it up — and the next day, I ordered a Tile Slim for him. I’ve actually been using Tile trackers for my own keys and wallet for a couple of years now, and so as nice as the folks at the MTA were, hopefully, my partner’s new Tile Slim will ensure it’s our last visit there. — Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

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I can’t help but laugh every time I hear “Royal Kludge,” but this is truly the best folding Bluetooth keyboard I’ve used yet — because it’s the only multi-device keyboard I’ve tried that doesn’t fall off my lap! It’s also a mechanical keyboard with swappable keycaps, but that’s just the cherry on top. For me, the important bits are that it’s easy to type on, I can swap between multiple Bluetooth devices instead of re-pairing, I can plug it in with USB-C whenever Bluetooth won’t work, and it spans both my legs while folding vertically rather than horizontally, so it doesn’t just fall into the gap between my legs like so of many rivals do. There really aren’t a lot of multi-device wired/wireless hybrid keyboards out there with USB-C ports. This one’s chunkier than the competition, but it’s a great deal. — Sean Hollister, senior editor

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I picked up Hoto’s electric screwdriver because my former boss at The Verge, Dan Seifert, would often pitch it around gift guide season. I’m glad I did, though, because it now sits alongside a handful of tools I use on an almost weekly basis. I wouldn’t suggest using it for real household projects that require some serious torque, but it’s incredibly handy for tightening the legs on my desk, assembling furniture, and making sure my bike seat isn’t going to come off mid-ride. It’s also equipped with a USB-C port for charging, a nifty LED light that lets you ditch the headlamp, and a case for housing the 25 steel bits. Oh, and it really does make for a great little gift. I guess Dan was right. — Brandon Widder, senior commerce editor

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Older buildings especially suffer from what I can only describe as loose socket syndrome, where those very convenient modern boxy socket extenders with five different USB and USB-C charging ports simply cannot stay in place and fall right out of the wall because they’re too heavy. After one vacation where I had to charge my phone, watch, AirPods, and laptop in a weird corner of my room with the plug-in charging hub propped up on a strategically balanced mountain of books and sham pillows, I bought this Anker combination extension cord / power strip. It’s not a full power strip — just a cube with a few sockets along with USB and USB-C charging ports at the end of a five-foot cable. I’ve brought it on a few trips since then. It takes up extra space in my suitcase but each time has left me feeling vindicated about the purchase. — Sarah Jeong, features editor

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Basically, this is six plug adaptors in one. Depending on which one you get, it might come with USB ports so you can charge multiple devices in one outlet. Granted, it’s bulkier than buying one or two specialized adaptor plugs, but if you’ve got a multi-continent itinerary, it’s a game-changer. What I like about this one from Epicka is that it comes with a spare fuse in case things go sideways with voltage. The only caveat is that, although it says “universal,” it’s technically only the four most common types of plugs. That’ll get you by in most countries, but it’s not a guarantee in places like Brazil, South Africa, or India. Even so, I’ll take this over price gouging at airport electronics shops or having to take time out of my schedule to visit a local hardware store. — Victoria Song, senior reviewer

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Bags and Backpacks

NANANANANANANANA BAT BAG!!

Childish whimsy aside, Killstar has a decent selection of bags and purses to suit those with alternative fashion tastes, and this Vamped Up backpack is one of my favorites. It can’t fit devices like laptops or larger tablets through the zipper, but it’s plenty roomy enough for phones, wallets, e-readers, and a good handful of pocket-sized essentials. That back-facing zipper placement makes it tricky to steal from, and I find the rubber-like bat design on the front is pretty effective at keeping all the contents dry when rain hits. I’ve linked to the black version, but I own it in a striking red color that gets me hounded with cheerful compliments every time I wear it. — Jess Weatherbed, news writer

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For the past year, I haven’t left the house without Alpaka’s 2L Flight Sling bag, which is spacious enough to hold a couple of phones, earbuds, keys, and other everyday carry items I don’t want weighing down my pockets. But for a recent trip to British Columbia, I wanted something similarly sized that could also hold a water bottle, so I opted for Alpaka’s 2L Flow Satchel. It has a similar internal capacity as the Flight Sling but with an extra zippered pocket on the back that ended up being useful for safely stashing my passport, and an expandable sleeve on the side that was large enough to hold the Owala water bottle I was traveling with. The sling is also water-resistant with sealed zippers, which was particularly appreciated during an early morning whale-watching trip, as the morning fog left the outside of the bag soaked but the inside completely dry. — Andrew Liszewski, senior reporter

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When I got into cycling last year, I saw a bunch of people with fancy pannier bags and thought, “I want in on that action.” I was riding with a garden-variety backpack on my back, which is a nice way to ensure you arrive at your destination with your back covered in sweat. But I also wanted to be able to carry my bag on my back once I was off the bike. Turns out a company called Two Wheel Gear gets it. It makes a convertible bag with backpack straps you can stash in a pocket for pannier mode. Once you’re off the bike, you snap the straps back together and wear it like a backpack. There’s a laptop sleeve, plenty of pockets, and even a rain cover in its own compartment. Brilliant! — Allison Johnson, senior reviewer

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I only have room for one drink holder on my bike, so I’ve found that it’s just far more convenient to carry water on my back with the aptly named CamelBak Hydrobak hydration pack. It’s a lightweight backpack that holds up to 1.5 liters of water, which it says is enough for a two-hour bike ride. The backpack also comes with a handy straw that you just lift up and drink from, and keeps your water relatively cool even when the sun is beating down on your back. Aside from storing water, there’s a zipper pocket for car keys, your ID, and other small items. — Emma Roth, news writer

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Food Prep

I love a humble piece of bread and butter, but I hate spreading cold, hard butter on bread. Luckily, I haven’t had to since June 2023, when I finally got an airtight ceramic butter dish to store room temperature butter indefinitely. Am I recommending you do the same? No — I’m not prepared to debate anyone on the science behind keeping butter from spoiling. (The FDA says it can be left at room temperature for only one to two days.) All I will say is that the combination of salted butter, an airtight container, and a pair of kids who help me go through it one well-buttered grilled cheese sandwich at a time, has been more than enough to address my own fears.  — Sean Hollister, senior editor

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I never realized how much joy I could get from a grater until my partner and I picked up a Microplane last year. Whether I’m zesting lemons or creating big, pillowy clouds of grated parmesan for my pasta, the Microplane is an absolute pleasure to use. We still keep a big, blunt box grater around for the occasional vegetable, but the Microplane’s sharper blades are better for absolutely everything else. — Dominic Preston, news editor

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One of the first things I did when I got my own place was purchase a food chopper. Perhaps puritan chefs will disagree with my methods, but this saves me so much time. I like to make tikka masala, which requires dicing ginger. If you’ve ever tried to dice ginger, you know that a food chopper would come in handy. This one broke recently, so I’ll probably replace it with a fancier one. — Kylie Robison, former reporter

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My wife and I bought this small blender to make ourselves smoothies and protein shakes. It’s now used to make purees for our baby. C’est la vie. — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, reviewer

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For the past few years, the Instant Pot has been a staple in my kitchen. From making rice to slow-cooking stews and even frying up chicken, it can do just about anything. The best part is that the Instant Pot can cook most recipes in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven or on the stove. Rice, for example, takes just six minutes to cook (not counting the amount of time it takes to build pressure), and there’s no fussing with covering the pot or adjusting the heat. Sometimes, it’s just easier — and much less stressful — to let the Instant Pot take the wheel. — Emma Roth, news writer

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Personal items

When I left home for a couple of weeks earlier this year, I was nervous about how I would care for my fish. After waffling between hiring a fish-sitter, plunking in a slow-release feeding tablet, or somehow taking them on the plane with me, I stumbled upon this handy gadget: the Petbank Automatic Fish Feeder. The device clamps right onto your tank and comes with 15 individual compartments where you can store each day’s food, along with a timer that controls how frequently it feeds your fish. Once it’s feeding time, a hatch beneath the feeding compartment opens, releasing that day’s food into your tank. It also comes equipped with a USB-C charging port and promises one to two months of battery life. I had the dispenser feed my fish every other day while I was gone, and it did just that, without even losing a chunk of its battery life. —Emma Roth, news writer

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The item that I simply must not forget if I’m leaving home for any sort of multiday visit or vacation is my Tushy portable bidet. There’s a lot that you can’t control during your travels, and that includes the kind of toilet paper you’ll have access to (if any). I don’t need to get specific; using this convenient bidet-in-a-bottle lets me freshen up. The collapsible bottle is easy to clean, it doesn’t leak, and it’s easy to store in its included (and discreet) carrying bag for whenever I might need it next. — Cameron Faulkner, commerce editor

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It’s hard to be happy if your feet aren’t happy. When I came back from a week in Scotland, where it can rain at any time, I spent the entire week in either Balega blister resist socks or Darn Tough wool ones. The Balegas are my running socks, and true to their name, I’ve logged hundreds of miles in them with nary a blister. (Did I run during my vacation? No, but I walked a lot.) Wool socks breathe well, don’t stink, and insulate even when wet — essential for rainy conditions or sweaty feet, both of which were in play. Crucially for me, both brands offer extra-large sizes. You’d be amazed at how many brands stop at size 12. — Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor

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The Sound Pocket certainly isn’t the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever owned, but it’s currently the one I reach for first. The reason for that is pretty simple: it’s just so small. This is truly a pocket-sized speaker, compact enough to carry in my jeans or tuck into the smallest pouch of my backpack, with a silicon loop on one end for strapping it to the outside in a pinch. It hardly delivers booming bass, but it sounds better than my phone, and is small and light enough that I can always justify packing it. It’s just about the only thing I’m guaranteed to bring no matter where I travel. — Dominic Preston, news editor

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There are obviously lots of good Bluetooth speakers out there, but for me, the UE Wonderboom 4 is the perfect one. It’s only $100 (less when it’s on sale), it’s small but loud enough to work just about anywhere, its battery lasts all day and then some, it’s waterproof, and it floats. (All the colors look nice, by the way, but… get the blue one.) There are fancier speakers with more features, but I keep a Wonderboom in my trunk, and it has made me the party hero more times than I can count. — David Pierce, editor-at-large