10 Cheap Tech Accessories You Can Never Have Enough Of

While we’re in favor of curbing over-consumption, having a few spare frequently-used accessories on hand is never a bad thing. They’re cheap enough to give away if you don’t find a use for them, and they can save you a trip to the store when you’re trying to get a project done.

Here are ten things you should consider adding to your cart the next time you’re checking out.

10

USB-C Converters

USB-C converters take a Type-A USB connector and convert it into a modern Type-C connector. They’re perfect if you have a MacBook or similar laptop that’s dropped support for the old Type-A standard but still want to connect old hard drives and peripherals like optical drives or MIDI controllers. They also let you get more life out of old charging cables, keeping them out of landfill for a few years.

The problem is that these converters are tiny, and they have a habit of going missing. Whether you leave them on an old hard drive that you never plug in or they’ve fallen to the bottom of the drawer, it’s often worth adding a pack to an existing order when you’re checking out. Just make sure that you pay attention to the speed rating, ideally you want USB 3.0 USB-C converters if you’re using them to transfer data.

9

Flash Storage

When was the last time you plugged a USB flash drive into your computer? Despite the whole world going cloud storage mad, USB drives still have a place. I use them every time I need to print something at my local office supply store, since emailing documents to the store often fails completely (and I don’t own a printer). You can pick them up relatively cheaply, and many even come with USB-C connectors (or both) for maximum compatibility.

On top of this, it never hurts to have a few memory cards around, too. I have a small collection of SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards to choose from if ever I need to hack a Nintendo Wii or use an old digital camera.

These are just spares, since you should always match specific devices with appropriate memory for long-term storage. For example, I put a 1TB microSD card into my Steam Deck for emulation purposes, and that thing’s never coming out. At the same time, the Nintendo Switch 2 requires a faster microSD Express card.

8

Cable Organizers

If it feels like cables are the bane of your life, you have my sympathy. They’re a necessary evil, and it’s not likely that they’re going away any time soon. The best you can do is manage the problem, and luckily we’ve got two full guides about managing messy cables around the home and organizing the cables that live on your desk.

Spiral cable wraps are perfect for binding cables together into a single cluster, as a long-term solution. If you find yourself often adding devices and looking for a way to keep unwrapped cables tidy, you might want to invest in some adhesive cable clips or alternatively some of LTTStore’s magnetic cable management arches. For a permanent run, try cable staples instead.

Failing this, never underestimate the power of zip ties. You should already have some around the house, but it never hurts to keep a pack in the garage, your car, and the home office, too.

7

Extension Leads and Power Boards

I’ve made peace with the fact that I can never find a spare power board or extension lead when I need it. My existing boards are full of plugs, and my leads are absurdly long for the small run I require. I’m making an effort to change that by stocking up on decent power banks and a few smaller extensions.

Having a power board that’s too small means sacrificing devices when it’s time to add something else. Sure, I’m probably not going to use my original Nintendo Switch a lot now that I have a Switch 2, but it would be nice to keep the dock powered up just in case.

One overlooked factor when it comes to power banks is color. White power boards and cables can stick out like a sore thumb if you have wood floors or dark furniture, so I’m only buying black ones from now on. I’m also never buying a power board that doesn’t include surge protection. If you really fancy an upgrade, consider a smart power board like the Kasa HS300, which offers six outlets that can be individually controlled.

6

Portable Power Banks

I have two 10,000mAh rugged power banks that I picked up more than half a decade ago, and though that capacity has probably greatly diminished by now, they’ve been incredibly useful. The only problem is that they’re big and heavy, which makes them fine for packing in a hiking backpack and terrible for carrying in your pocket.

On top of this, I don’t have any form of reliable backup power that could keep my internet connection alive during an outage or run a fridge, like something from the Anker SOLIX range. If the city I live in floods (and it does, regularly), I could be without power for up to a week while the transformers are replaced. I should probably have a plan for that.

Not having a clip-on MagSafe charger like the Anker 633 MagGo ($60) for my iPhone seems like a missed opportunity. This is one of the easiest ways to expand your device’s battery life, and they can be peeled off to shed the weight when you no longer need them.

5

Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths are very good at cleaning because they have lots of small fibers that can capture and dislodge dust and debris. They’re lint-free, which means they won’t leave things behind, and they’re great at lifting oily residue like fingerprint grease. You can wash them and reuse them, but eventually you’ll want to replace them as you would any other.

In fact, they’re so good at sucking up particles that it can be hard to get them clean again once you’ve used them. For that reason, you should always have a few new ones to hand for especially tough cleaning jobs.

Thankfully, they’re cheap and have way more uses beyond cleaning gadgets like smartphones or your laptop’s screen. For sensitive surfaces like displays, it’s a good idea not to use microfiber cloths with deep grooves since debris can become lodged within them and cause scratches. Instead, use a shallower polishing cloth like the ones you’d get with a pair of glasses.

AirTags might not immediately fit the description of “cheap” considering Apple is asking $30 apiece, but this drops to just under $25 when you buy a $99 four-pack. On top of this, these item finders are routinely sold for even less at other retailers, with Amazon listing them at $23 each or $70 for a four-pack at the time of writing.

Though AirTags aren’t your only choice, they’re arguably the best of the bunch, especially if you have an iPhone. They integrate with your device’s Find My app and support precision finding, which can turn locating your missing items into a simple game or “hot or cold.”

We have four AirTags in our house, one per cat and another for each main set of keys. This is not enough. I need more to make sure that frequently-used bags, cases for glasses, portable consoles like the Steam Deck, luggage, and even the car can be tracked if the worst happens. While each tag costs around the $25 mark, replacing a console or a pair of prescription glasses would cost way more.

3

HDMI Cables

Even though everything that needs one still comes with an HDMI cable, I somehow never seem to have enough. This is especially true given the advent of HDMI 2.1, which requires cables that can handle the higher 48Gbps throughput necessary for a 4K HDR signal at 120Hz. They’re great for traveling too, especially if you have a laptop with you and want to stream your own content or play games on the hotel’s TV.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend very much money at all on an HDMI cable. The best HDMI cables are cheap, from budget brands like Cable Matters ($10). If you do decide to spend a bit more, make sure it’s on a durable cable with braiding and other features that warrant the added expense, like the Zeskit Maya Certified HDMI 2.1 cable ($15).

2

Isopropyl Alcohol (Wipes)

Isopropyl alcohol isn’t just a great thing to keep in your first aid box; it’s a solid all-around cleaning solution. It’s great for sanitizing your devices without causing damage, and can even dislodge residue left by stickers or clean up sugary spills from inside gaming controllers. It’s actually one of the first things you should try to fix analog stick drift if your controller starts acting up.

The best thing about isopropyl alcohol is that it evaporates quickly, so you don’t need to worry about cleaning it up. The higher the percentage of alcohol, the faster it will evaporate, so aim for 90% or better when cleaning sensitive electronics like circuit boards and 70% for more general usage and disinfecting surfaces.

While I prefer isopropyl alcohol spray since you can apply it to cloths or cotton swaps as necessary, you might want to keep some wipes handy too. Avoid anything designed for first aid since they can sometimes use lower concentrations of alcohol and include other contaminants like moisturizers.

1

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs are cheap enough that you can stock up on them and keep a few handy whenever you find a use for them. They’re a great way to turn existing “dumb” electronics like lights and dehumidifiers into smart devices, and they’re probably the most cost-effective smart home upgrade you can make.

There are plenty of cheap models out there to choose from, like the IKEA Tretakt ($10), or you can splurge on a fancier model like the Kasa Smart Plug HD103P2 which includes energy monitoring. Pair your smart plugs with an inexpensive Home Assistant setup so that you can run all sorts of automations, like turning lights on at the right time of day or getting an alert when your washing machine stops using power (to indicate your washing is done).

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The next time you’re putting an order through at an online retailer or picking up some kitchen utensils at IKEA, keep these items in mind.