Top Gifts Under $50
These well-rated products from CR's tests will brighten anyone's holiday
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At Consumer Reports, we take our stocking stuffers seriously—because we know that a well-priced, useful product can bring much joy. Browse our specially curated roundup of top-rated product picks for great gift ideas under $50.
Go to Consumer Reports’ Holiday Gift Guide for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider tips on shopping, and much more.
Cozy Beverage Time
Fellow Joey Joey Double Wall Ceramic Coffee Mug
Give the java enthusiast a better vessel for their brew. According to Bernie Deitrick, a CR test engineer, compact mugs with multiple small servings (rather than one big pour) can optimize the flavor and retain the heat of coffee. These Fellow Joey mugs are up to the task.
For more options: Best Coffee Mugs for Keeping a Brew Warm
Ello Campy Insulated Mug
Impressive performance coupled with an enamel splatterware-inspired design make for an insulated mug that’s functional and good-looking to boot. In our labs, the Ello Campy mug kept water hot for 5 hours in a temperature-retention test, earning a Very Good rating. It also has a top that’s exceptionally easy to clean, with few crevices. The mug has two gaskets, both of which are easy to remove and replace. The spring-loaded sipping mechanism is easy to slide open with a single hand. It’s on sale at Amazon in a bunch of fun colors right now as well.
For more options: Best Insulated Mugs
Instant Milk Frother
When you think of the brand Instant Pot, its line of multi-cookers usually comes to mind, but the company has branched out into coffee makers and frothers. Its affordable Instant Milk Frother was one of the best models in our at-home review, offering performance almost on par with the Nespresso Aeroccino4 milk frother, which costs more than twice as much. The only downside is that the Instant Milk Frother isn’t dishwasher-safe, because its controls are built into the side of the carafe. Cleaning is still a breeze, though—you just need to hand-wash it with a wet cloth.
For more options: Best Milk Frothers
The unassuming, inexpensive Hamilton Beach 12-cup Programmable 49465R might be easy to miss, but it can brew a mean cup of joe at a fantastic price. In a basic black plastic finish, it has the essentials. It’s programmable, as its name says, and has auto-shutoff—and it offers solid brewing performance, making a fresh pot in just 10 minutes. One of the lowest-priced drip makers near the top of our ratings, this simple model will get the job done.
For more options: Best Drip Coffee Makers
The Primula Burke Cold Brew Coffee Maker PBPBK-5101 is the most inexpensive cold-brew coffee maker in our ratings—and it’s one of the best. It receives an Excellent rating for convenience. This Primula comes with a glass carafe, and most of its parts are dishwasher-safe. It’s the only model that calls for a full 24-hour brew time, but you might find the results to be worth the wait.
For more options: Best Cold-Brew Coffee Makers
This AmazonBasics kettle is made of stainless steel, and it’s one of the least expensive kettles in our tests. It’s small, though, holding just 4 cups of water—the least of the kettles we tested. It’s among the fastest to bring our testing standard of 4 cups of water to a boil, clocking in at just under 4 minutes and earning a Very Good rating in our time-to-boil tests. This kettle is a little harder to clean than some of the other models we tested. The warranty lasts one year.
For more options: Best Electric Kettles
Kitchen Tools & Cookware
We liked the Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized pan for its even cooking. Pancakes brown nicely, and eggs slide out without leaving any traces behind. It stands up in our durability test, in which we punish the pan with 2,000 swipes of steel wool. The handle is sturdy and stays cool to the touch, a plus as you make breakfast or any other meal.
For more options: Best Nonstick Frying Pans
Lodge has been making cast-iron frying pans in its Tennessee foundry since 1896. It's one of the few surviving iconic American brands. This 12-inch Lodge cast-iron pan is top-notch at browning scallops and earns an Excellent rating for searing a steak. Baking is only so-so, though. Heating evenness is also mediocre. It weighs 7.8 pounds, which is about average.
For more options: Best Cast-Iron Frying Pans
The Chefman is the only waffle maker we tested to snag a CR Best Buy designation. For far less money than most of the competition, this machine churns out evenly browned round waffles. It garners a Very Good rating for its color-range settings, meaning there’s a remarkable difference between waffles made on the darkest setting (brown and crispy) and lightest setting (light and fluffy). It has an indicator light to let you know when the waffles are ready, the option to store it vertically to save space, and a batter cup for precise portioning. However, the handle and latch get uncomfortably warm during cooking, despite the “cool touch” claims, so you may want to use an oven mitt when opening and closing the lid.
For more options: Best Waffle Makers
The Dash Express Tasti Crisp is jquiet while cooking and easy to clean. However, it lacks digital controls, so it’s not quite as easy to use as the Dash Digital. Like its sibling, this model’s capacity is 1.9 quarts, less than the claimed capacity of 2.6 quarts. It comes with a 2-year warranty, longer than most of the models we test.
For more options: Best Air Fryers
The Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus DLC-2A is a 3-cup chopper that combines great value with solid performance. In our tests, it was particularly adept at chopping almonds and onions, and grating Parmesan cheese, though other choppers were better at puréeing. This model is ideal if you have limited counter space—it takes up as much counter space as a postcard.
For more options: Best Food Processors and Choppers
Bed & Bath
JALL Sunrise Alarm Clock
The JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock is at least half the price of other clocks we tested, but from an ease-of-use standpoint, this model comes out on top. It has two independent alarms (so you can set them for different times depending on your routine), seven alarm tones (including “wind bells” and birds chirping), an FM radio, and a fall-asleep mode that simulates a sunset (though no white-noise option). Check the on-page coupon to save 5 percent.
For more options: Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks
Slip Sleep Mask
There’s no doubt about it: This popular mask is gorgeous. It’s made with stunning silk fabric, and colors include a lush navy, a graceful ballet pink, and opulent gold. It has a scrunchy backstrap that stretches rather than adjusts, which allows for a more seamless look (but perhaps an imperfect fit). To that end, some CR evaluators found that the mask was true to its name and slipped during the night. Overall, the Slip makes a great gift for that stylish someone in your life. Just make sure to get a gift receipt in case it well, slips.
For more options: Best Sleep Masks
Crocs Lined Clogs
In our recent review of popular slippers, 3 out of 4 CR evaluators found themselves head over heels for the Lined Crocs. “I am pleasantly surprised that these are extremely comfortable,” said Ginger Cowles, a managing editor and member of the slippers evaluation team. These clogs, as Crocs calls them, feel stable and secure, with a thick, textured sole that doesn’t slip and provides ample distance and insulation from frigid floors in the winter. They’re also machine washable (in cold water only), though we haven’t tried that ourselves. A foam strap can either be pulled over the front of the shoe, transforming the Crocs into a slide, or over the back, making the shoe more secure on your foot.
For more options: We Tried Ugg Fluff Yeahs and 7 Other Popular Slippers
YNM Weighted Blanket
It’s snuggle season! The YnM blanket has a cotton cover and does not come with a duvet cover, though YnM sells covers separately. The beads are glass. YnM says you can wash and dry it by machine on the gentle cycles but strongly recommends washing the duvet cover rather than the inner blanket. Color options depend on the size and weight you choose. Make sure you click the on-page coupon to get the lowest price at Amazon.
For more options: For more options: The Lowdown on 5 Weighted Blankets, According to Consumer Reports’ Tests
Give the gift of cool, sweet dreams: The Beckham Luxury Linens Hotel Collection pillow has a 100 percent cotton cover and a filling of 100 percent polyester gel-fiber. The manufacturer claims that the materials in the Beckham pillow keep it cool. To that end, it did ace our test for breathability, and also scored top marks when it comes to resiliency—which means it will hold its shape well over time.
For more options: Best Pillows
If your loved one has yet to go electric on his dental game, now’s as good of a time as any. The Brightline 86700 toothbrush is a great value (it comes in at under $30!) and excellent for cleaning performance. Its built-in timer ensures that users get the dentist-recommended 2-minute cleaning time, while a rechargeable battery means you can hang on to it for years to come—simply swap the toothbrush head when needed.
For more options: Best Electric Toothbrushes
Luxe Bidet Neo 120
According to a recent user study that CR conducted, having a bidet has been a huge relief for some people these days. For those looking for an inexpensive bidet solution, the Luxe Neo 120 bidet attachment is your best bet. It’s a bare-bones sprayer with two dials—one to turn on the water, the another to adjust water pressure.
For more options: Bidet Review: ’I Have Less Toilet Paper Anxiety’
It’s not all about looks with this whimsical Crane Owl humidifier. On just about every measure, including moisture output and noise, it earns an Excellent rating. It’s convenient to use, though not being able to get a hand into the tank for cleaning is a drawback. The 250-square-foot claimed coverage area is on the high end for a small-room model.
For more options: Best Humidifiers Under $50
Electronics
This over-ear wireless model is usually available for around $50, a steal given the superb noise-canceling performance and above-average sound quality. The BT-300ANC features integrated controls for calls, volume, and playback, and the ear cups fold in for easy storage and transport. According to Monoprice, the battery will run for 8 hours between charges with both Bluetooth and noise-canceling turned on. (CR doesn't test battery life in headphones.) You can keep the music going even longer by switching off Bluetooth and using the detachable audio cable, which is included.
For more options: Noise-Canceling Headphones on a Budget
For the price, these earphones deliver impressive sound quality, beating some competitors that cost more than three times as much. The JBuds Air have an advertised 3.5-hour battery life and come with a carrying case that will recharge the earphones for an additional two cycles. Other features include support for various digital assistants, three switchable EQ modes to change the tonal balance of the sound, and, according to JLab, water resistance. (We don’t test that feature.)
For more options: Best True Wireless Earphones
Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset
This is a wired model with cables that descend from both ear cups, as one user in a CR study noted, which can be a nuisance. Inline controls let you adjust the volume and mute the mic. The mic can also be removed if you wish to use the headphones to listen to music and movie soundtracks. The included PC splitter cable provides access to headphone and mic jacks on computers. The headset is compatible with Mac and PC, PS5 and PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, and mobile devices that accept a 3.5mm audio plug, but you have to choose the correct model for your computer or console.
For more options: How to Choose a Great Gaming Headset
The latest version of the Echo Dot features radically revamped styling—a spherical look that’s a shrunken version of the larger and more expensive Echo, which is also all-new. In terms of smart speaker performance, the Dot hasn’t changed much from its hockey-puck-like predecessor, and still works about as well as the company’s more expensive models. That’s because most of Alexa’s heavy-duty artificial intelligence work is done on Amazon’s cloud servers, which makes the Dot a good value in that regard. Our testers find the newest Dot to sound somewhat better than the last generation, with slightly clearer highs and a bit more bass. However, the Dot is still best for listening close-by to a podcast rather than filling a room with music. It’s worth noting that if you have young ones on your list, it comes in a $60 Kids Edition as well, which features Panda and Tiger graphics and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.
For more options: Best Smart Speakers