25 Fancy Gadgets That Won’t Leave You Broke

There’s having money, and then there’s looking like you do. Those of us who can’t always afford the top-of-the-line have to find ways to cover the essentials and also make rent. Still, with a few key items, you can look a lot fancier than your wallet would otherwise allow. Here are our picks for 19 innovative gadgets that make you look richer than you are.
Tech Hub
Bellroy Tech Kit
For years this writer used an old wash bag to keep his tangle of cables, earbuds, and memory cards if not “organized” exactly, then at least in one place. Bellroy takes tidiness to the extreme with this impressive clamshell organizer that opens fully for easy access, eliminating the need to dig around for your bits. Made from durable ripstop polyester containing 55 percent recycled material, it features a magnetic slip-pocket for a power bank, stretch mesh pockets for small items, and a floating wall with an elastic cable organizer on it.
Best Case
Xiaomi Metal Carry-on Luggage 20
Coming in more than $1,000 cheaper than a Rimowa Original Cabin carry-on, Xiaomi’s aerospace-grade aluminum magnesium alloy wheeled suitcase might be priced like a Spirit Airlines flight, but is impressively light and feature-packed. From the TSA-approved dual locks to the 84-rivet construction and rigid all-metal frame, it’s an undisputed bargain that outclasses countless flexi-plastic alternatives that sell for twice the price.
Rocket Bottle
Hario Cold Brew Bottle
Despite hitting Starbucks' menus way back in 2015, cold brew remains something of an outlier in mainstream coffee circles. This is a shame as cold brewing results in a coffee that's less acidic for smoother drinking, with more of the “notes” of flavor you’ll read on the packet. Cold brew also costs less to make at home and (crucially) contains more caffeine. We’ve yet to find a better cold brew bottle than this Japanese-made design from Hario, which has a 5-cup (750-milliliter) glass chamber, plus a silicone spout and an easy-to-clean coffee filter container.
Upgrade Time
Delugs MoonSwatch Straps
Whichever Mission you plumped for—be it the Sun, Saturn, Venus, or another of the ever-growing MoonSwatch options—Delugs has a color-matched strap upgrade for you. Choose from a simple, one-size elastic loop or an Apple Watch-esque Velcro strap for a quick, sporty change. Or, for something more boardroom than surfboard, there’s a leather design with contrast stitching and a classic buckle. The 2.5-millimeter-thick lined leather of the strap arguably makes your timepiece look and feel just a little more Omega than Swatch.
Raise Your Glasses
Izipizi #F Sunglasses
Izipizi started as a project to provide free reading spectacles in public spaces such as post offices, but this French brand has gone all Warby Parker with a range of desirable sun and reading glasses that offer so much more than just a bargain price. Each frame is made using G850, a biosourced material that’s 45 percent castor oil. The Category 3 lenses offer 100 percent UV protection, and the combination of polycarbonate lens, flexible frames, and robust hinges elevates them well beyond the typical budget pair of sunnies. And if you pick up a pair from the #F collection, you’ll find they concertina like the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Folding Classic—but at just $70, they won’t cause as much pain if you accidentally sit on them.
A Child's Eye
Kodak Memo Shot ERA 2-in-1 Instant Digital Camera and Label Printer and AgfaPhoto Realikids Cam Waterproof
These fantastic kid’s cameras prove that design, value, and usability can be happy bedfellows. The cute Kodak Memo shot ERA 2 looks like a roll of 35-mm film, but is actually a 7.4-ounce digital camera that also spits out 1-inch, fade-resistant 300 dpi thermal prints. The 16-megapixel AgfaPhoto Realikids Cam Waterproof doesn’t print, but its tough, sealed case is good for diving to 32 feet, and comes with a 2.4-inch LCD screen, HD 720p video, and 8-gigabyte micro SD card.
Super Scroller
Logitech Pop Mouse
This modest mouse is available in eight colors, including a predictably bland black and white, but it’s this mint, lilac, and sunshine-yellow combo that has us lusting after it. Gamers looking for IPS precision and DPI sensitivity need not apply, but it offers extras you wouldn’t expect on a bargain-priced peripheral, like support for multiple devices, generous use of postconsumer recycled materials, and a separate top button that can be assigned a task—or a specific emoji if you’re inclined—via the Logi Options+ App. A color-matched wireless keyboard is also available.
Less Discursive Cursive
Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen
A testament to timeless design that, despite the price tag, can happily mix with Montblanc in the boardroom. Nobody will think less of you when you whip out this classic Kaweco fountain pen. Made in Germany since 1911, the Sport—identifiable by its gold accents and octagonal barrel—can be customized with your choice of five nib thicknesses. With a length of just 4.1 inches closed, but 5.1 inches when the cap is posted on the end, it hides easily in a pocket but feels great to grip as you sign that big-money contract.
Port Authority
HyperDrive NET 6-in-2 USB-C Hub
2025 marks the 10th anniversary since Apple removed all the useful ports from its laptops. Whether you celebrate or commiserate, chances are you still find yourself needing an extra input now and then. For that, we have HyperDrive's hugely practical, impressively designed six-in-one USB-C hub that includes a gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, and twin USB-C, plus a pair of USB-A 3.0 ports for hooking up anything a little more old-school. The hub’s aluminum enclosure matches the color of your MacBook’s shell, and its shape makes it feel like a natural extension of the laptop instead of some alien appendage. Check before you buy, as not all current MacBooks are compatible.
Fix-It Fixation
Hoto Precision Screwdriver Pen (Manual)
This alloy aluminum screwdriver from Hoto is outfitted with 24 steel precision bits including Phillips, Torx, Slotted, Hex, Pozidriv, Square, and Security, meaning you can fix your sunglasses and smartphone with one handy gadget. Each bit head has a different shape at each end for maximum practicality. Magnetic fasteners inside the pen barrel keep things tidy. We’ve yet to find a more elegant multi-tool at any price.
Staples Center
Papier Tigre Cobalt Pink Stapler
While we patiently wait for the arrival of the paper-free office, we can use this happy little powder-coated steel stapler to bind up to 20 sheets together in one quick pinch. The beautiful and affordable tool—whose shape is evocative of a smiling cetacean—can hold 150 size-10 staples when fully loaded. It’s also available in an equally jolly blue and green color combination. Papier Tigre has shops in Paris and Tokyo and ships globally.
Economic Ergonomics
Herman Miller Oripura Laptop Stand
Portable, foldable and, given Herman Miller’s exclusive reputation, unfathomably affordable, this stand props your laptop at an angle that reduces strain on your eyes and your back. It folds flat for easy transportation and requires no assembly. With cable slots to keep your workspace tidy, it can manage laptops with screens from 11 to 16 inches. It’s also 100 percent recyclable, with no-slip pads and a choice of pale yellow, mint green, or white matte finish.
Beat Savior
Arturia MiniLab 3
Harlan Howard needed three chords and the truth. Beck insisted on two turntables and a microphone. These days, the potential for musical brilliance requires little more scratch than a nice meal out for two (and, well, some talent). Arturia’s MiniLab 3 is a velocity-sensitive, 25-key, plug-and-play MIDI controller that has 16 RGB-backlit pads, eight rotary encoders, four sliders, and capacitive touch sensors for pitch bend and modulation control. Loaded with software and millions of samples via Analog Lab Intro, Loopcloud, Ableton Live Lite, and more, it’s a one-stop digital audio workstation offering the potential for pro-quality production whatever your experience level.
Head Bangers
Koss Porta Pro On-Ear Headphones
When Koss first launched these perennially cool headphones, Prince, Madonna, Kenny Loggins, and Van Halen were jumping up the charts. And despite all the advances in wireless technology, these old-school wired on-ears still sound great, with dynamic drivers delivering an impressively wide frequency range and solid bass. The slightly open design isn’t great for noisy commutes, but the folding design, adjustable headband, and “Hip to Be Square” ’80s aesthetic can’t be beat at this price.
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