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Best Secret Santa gifts under $30 in 2021

It's all about Smart Tech for Secret Santa 2021
Last Updated on December 1, 2023
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Secret Santa gifting normally includes a trip to the joke shop or local supermarket for a selection of body washes you’ll never use. Although there may be one can of beer you’ve never heard of that tastes nice, it’s never really worth it is it?

Affordable tech is here in 2021, to the point where you can gift it to even the most unlikeable person in the office and hold your head up high with change in your pocket. Some of the best deals right now are on smart home tech. We’re talking about TV sticks that turn that old TV into a Smart TV or a smart home hub that enabled your other smart home equipment to be voice-activated. Here are the most affordable and best Secret Santa gifts under $30:

Best Secret Santa gifts under $30

Amazon – Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote, Streaming Media Player – Black

A top-of-the-line 4K Fire TV Stick that’s currently under your Secret Santa $30 budget? Yes, please! This bad boy packs in HDR/HDR10+ support alongside Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for the best viewing and audio experience possible. Of course, your giftee will need a 4K HDR-capable TV and sound system capable of Dolby magic. The Alexa remote also fits into an Alexa smart home setup easily thanks to its voice recognition. The Fire TV Remote also syncs up to the host TV to control power and volume, so your gifter can look forward to less controller clutter too.


Lenovo Smart Clock Essential

Google Assistant strikes again under the guise of Lenovo’s Smart Clock. It’s practically a fancy Google Nest mini that shows the time, weather, and temperature. It’s an ideal bit of kit for a bedside table and a brilliant Best Secret Santa gift for under $30. It also displays just the right amount of light during the night to not disturb sleep. it could also be a great option for the kids’ room?

Belkin – BOOST CHARGE 10W Wireless Charging Pad

Most smartphones released within the last couple of years now support QI-wireless charging between 5W and 15W, which means this Belkin BOOST CHARGE would make a great gift for almost anyone. Giving the gift of convenience this holiday is going to be appreciated. It doesn’t look like much of a gift, but just popping a smartphone down on a table and letting it charge will be super appreciated!

Nest Mini (2nd Generation) with Google Assistant

You’d forgive people thinking that Nest Mini isn’t going to pack much of a punch given its size, but those people are also wrong. Granted, you’re not going to get the same values and quality that back up the Google Nest Audio, but you’re getting a brilliant smart speaker for the price. Looking after all of your Google Assistant needs, Nest Mini will hook up to all of your compatible smart home tech and make life that little bit easier.

Apple – AirTag

If your White Elephant victim is also an Apple fan, here’s a great gift. AirTags come in super handy for finding lost items, or simply just keeping track of them. Keys, a wallet, a bag, and more can become trackable. It also has a built-in speaker to play a sound to help you locate it. If you’ve left your AirTagged item further afield, Apple devices registered to the ‘Find My’ network can help track it.

Amazon – Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Smart Speaker with Alexa – Charcoal

Alexa is one of the most popular voice-activated assistants in 2021, with her preferred haunt being Amazon Echo devices. This little Echo Dot won’t take up a lot of counter space yet provides great quality audio for streaming your favorite playlist. It also serves as a smart home hub to hook up your existing smart home tech up to. A brilliant White Christmas gift for Alexa fans.

Thanks for choosing PC Guide to help you with finding the best Secret Santa gifts under $30, make sure to keep an eye on our Gift hub for more ideas all year round!

Christian 'Reggie' Waits' is a contributor to PC Guide, having written a wide array of how to and buying guide content.