Best Holiday Deals Under $50

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).

Why it’s a good deal: Already on the more affordable end, these savings make the JALL an even sunnier option. It’s now just $5 more than the low price we saw for Black Friday.

The Mzoo is affordable, well-designed, and effective at blocking light for most face shapes and head sizes. CR’s team of evaluators had a wide range of preferences and needs, and yet most agreed that the Mzoo mask was a great option.

Why it’s a good deal: This is the standard sale price for a mask that typically retails for $19.99. You can save a little more if you opt for Subscribe and Save, which you can cancel anytime.

The Dash Clear View toaster’s clever see-through side panel makes it easy to surveil your slices, making charred toast a thing of the past. And you won’t have to wait too long for it to pop up—this model does very well in our toasting-time test. One downside: It gets only middling marks in our cleaning test, so you may have to put in a little extra effort to get crumbs out of its nooks and crannies.

Why it’s a good deal: This is almost as low as the lowest price we’ve seen all year.

Digital display? Check. Dishwasher-safe? Check. Preprogrammed settings? Check. The Emerald 1812 4L Digital Air Fryer has all the basics and delivers on those features well. It’s why it earns high marks in all of our testing categories. Its measured capacity of 3.9 quarts makes it an ideal choice for cooks looking for a model that can handle enough food for two to three people. But beware, the 90-day warranty is much shorter than the 1-year warranty typical for most air fryers. 

Why it’s a good deal: This model is already a great budget buy, but now you can get it for $9 off. 

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 a 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.

Why it’s a good deal: It’s on sale for about 30 percent off its list price.

We tried out 11 mandoline slicers at home, and this one by Müeller was the most “extra,” and by that we mean it had the largest variety of attachments. This mandoline can make thick cuts, beautiful thin slices, and fun waffle cuts. The julienne blades are easy to use, too.

Why it’s a good deal: This matches the best price we’ve seen for the green model.

The Aerolatte To-Go is a nifty little handheld frother that’s capable of frothing up a variety of milks both hot and cold, including plant-based ones. Since it’s handheld, it has a bit of a learning curve, but we were able to get the hang of it in just a few minutes. This Aerolatte is also a cinch to clean: You simply run it in a cup of soapy water for a bit, then run it out of the cup to dry.

Why it’s a good deal: The Aerolatte To-Go is currently $8 off, a savings of 27 percent.

This sophisticated-looking cobbler shaker from Viski is nicely weighted, with thick stainless steel craftsmanship. It holds 17 ounces and has a strong seal that could handle both a regular and a dry shake without leakage. At a little over 1 pound, it’s heavier than the other shakers, but the grip is nice and feels very ergonomic. 

Why it’s a good deal: This is a super low price for this shaker, but only on the gold and gold heavyweight versions.

Earning top marks for dry-food sealing and speed, the Geryon E2900-MS is a relatively quiet vacuum sealer. While it lacks storage for plastic rolls, it comes with them for making custom-sized bags. The device’s control buttons are sensitive to the touch, and it features an accessory port and hose for vacuum-sealing containers with special lids. 

Why it’s a good deal: With the on-page coupon. this is the best price we’ve seen in weeks and just $2 more than the lowest it’s ever been.

Noise-canceling true wireless earbuds at a stocking stuffer price? No, that’s neither a joke nor a typo. The 1More ComfoBuds Pro channel Apple’s AirPods in terms of styling, and our testers report that they’re not far off in terms of performance at a small fraction of the price. You might even think about a second pair so you can treat yourself to your favorite holiday tunes.

Why it’s a good deal: With the on-page coupon, the feature-packed ComfoBuds represent the kind of deal that would have been unheard of just a couple of years ago.

There are lots of great choices if you’re looking for budget noise-canceling headphones. One of our top picks is 1More ColorBuds 2, which offer the convenience of true wireless headphones, great sound quality, and superb noise cancellation, all for less than $100. 1More advertises a 6-hour battery life backed by a charging case that holds enough power for two full cycles.

Why it’s a good deal: This is a pretty big discount, especially after seeing these on sale for $49.99 the last few weeks. Make sure to click the coupon on the page to receive $30 off the list price.

These earbuds offer remarkable performance for the price. Above-average sound quality and a decent battery life make them a good budget pick.

Why it’s a good deal: These were already affordable at full price, but this discount puts them below the $20 mark.

If you’re not picky about having the fastest speeds and WiFi 6 compatibility, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K delivers a solid performance at a better price. The 4K stick-style player has a nice array of content and features—including voice control and Dolby Vision HDR. You can control it from Alexa-enabled devices such as the Echo and Dot, and use the included remote to control power and volume on many TVs and sound bar speakers. The player comes with an Alexa remote control with dedicated buttons for Amazon, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix.

Why it’s a good deal: This matches the best price we’ve seen.

This latest stick-style streaming player from Amazon is also the company’s fastest because of a more powerful processor, so apps launch quicker than on earlier models. Also, it includes WiFi 6, the latest WiFi version. This 4K model supports the HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision HDR formats, as well as Dolby Atmos audio.

Why it’s a good deal: This matches the low price we saw during Prime Day.

The TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120 offers great performance at a very affordable price. It earns high scores in our video quality, response time, and data security tests, but its data privacy could be better. It doesn’t offer many features, but you’ll get monitoring zones and voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. With a Kasa Care plan, you’ll get 30 days of video storage.

Why it’s a good deal: The price is back down to the lowest we’ve seen.

The TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor KC420WS offers impeccable video quality, speedy alerts, and strong data security in our tests. Its many features include two-way audio, voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, monitoring zones, person alerts, a built-in siren, color night vision, and local video storage when you insert a microSD card (not included).

Why it’s a good deal: This sale matches the low price we saw during Black Friday.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart KL125 smart bulb offers the best bang for your buck among the 10 smart lightbulbs we evaluated. It retails for $15 per bulb and offers a great array of colors and dimming performance that comes very close to the pricier Philips Hue. The bulb also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings for voice and/or app control.

Why it’s a good deal: This is a solid discount, especially because it’s just $1 more than you’d pay for a single bulb—a four-pack is just $32.

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is the cheapest model in Ring’s lineup. In our tests, this bell received high scores for its video quality and data security, but we found its response time and free feature set a bit lacking. The latter mainly includes monitoring zones and voice control via Amazon Alexa. And while this doorbell needs to be wired for power, it will not ring your home’s existing doorbell chime. However, if you already own an Amazon Echo smart speaker or display, it can act as a chime for the doorbell. Cloud video storage and additional features require a Ring Protect subscription.

Why it’s a good deal: This doorbell is currently 38 percent off at a few retailers.

The Echo Show 5 is Amazon’s smallest smart screen. Our testers report that the sound is subpar for a music-listening device, but there are reasons you should consider this device. It’s a utility machine that works well on a night table or desk. And you get all the Amazon Alexa functionality you have in other Echo devices, including the super-cheap Dot, and some added value, thanks to the small screen and camera.

Why it’s a good deal: This speaker is back to its lowest price right now.

Looking more like a coin purse than a wallet, Herschel’s Charlie slim wallet offers RFID protection in its four pockets, including a larger sleeve in the middle that opens to reveal a signature white-and-red striped lining, similar to a tiny tag on the side. The wallet feels stiff, but not unpleasantly so; it doesn’t flop or fold easily even when it’s empty. The wide array of styles available for the Charlie is impressive. The only ding on this one is that there are three tags inside the middle pocket, one with branding, one listing materials, and another with a serial number. There’s no easy way to remove the tags that our writer could find without damaging the wallet. The tags got in the way when placing cards in this compartment and were distracting to what is otherwise a simple and very stylish design.

Why it’s a good deal: Saving a few bucks on this simple wallet makes it just the right price for a stocking stuffer or other small gift.

Serman Brands’ 1.0 RFID Blocking Wallet wins hands-down in one category: nicest packaging. In fact, the leather wallet’s elaborate box makes it an easy choice as a gift. It’s a very nice-feeling accessory with a suedelike feel. After only a few days of use, however, the material got pretty scuffed up just from inserting and removing cards from an outside slot. The money clip holds cash tight but adds thickness in the fold. 

Why it’s a good deal: If you don’t mind that weathered look, this wallet is $11 off, a big drop for a small wallet.