Work From Home Tech Under $20
This is cool tech under $20, the “Work From Home” edition! All the products below I have used myself and would recommend to others!
Anker Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
As a software engineer, I spend a lot of time at my computer. When I first began my career, I experienced tons of pain in my wrist from resting my arm on the desk. Enter the Anker Vertical Mouse. I’ve used this mouse for about 2 years and had absolutely no issues tracking or otherwise. It won’t set any records for the best mouse performance, but if you experience any pain in your wrist or forearm, this might be something to try out. I have since upgraded to a Logitech Master Mouse 3 (not under $20), which is somewhere between a flat mouse and this vertical, and it is amazing!
Amazon Affiliate Links
Anker Vertical Mouse: https://amzn.to/3bOFBZA Logitech Master Mouse 3: https://amzn.to/2ObM4Wh
USB Speaker
Why this USB speaker over some of the others? The simple answer is 1 cable… As you may have seen with other PC speakers, many require an AC adapter plugged into the wall, a USB into the PC, and some require a 3.5mm headphone jack plugged into your PC. Obviously, only being powered by USB it’s not going to blow you away performance-wise, but it gets the job done!
Amazon Affiliate Link
USB Speaker: https://amzn.to/37Sgx2R
USB Headset Adapter
The swiss army knife of audio! This little USB sound card gives you the option to mute the mic, mute the audio out, adjust volume, and with the ability to connect with either a 4 pole headset or a mic headphone split, it should work with any 3.5mm headphones. One thing to note is that the volume control does not adjust the volume in the operating system, so typically what I do is set the volume in Windows to 75-100% and then adjust the dial on the adapter to the correct volume. I’ve recently upgraded to an ASUS Ai Noise-Canceling Mic Adapter, but over $20.
Amazon Affiliate Link
USB Sound Card: https://amzn.to/3aZNCMh ASUS Ai Noise-Canceling Mic Adapter: https://amzn.to/2NOtxj0
Apple EarPods
I know, it’s just Apple EarPods, but I still get into a lot of meetings where the laptop sound and mic are still being used, causing all kinds of echo. The inline mic outperforms any Bluetooth options and definitely sounds better than most laptop microphones. I have spent more money than I would like to admit on microphones, but when it comes to jumping on a quick call, these are still the best bang for your buck convenient option! (I actually cut off the left earbud, so there is a single cable coming from the ASUS Ai Noise-Canceling Mic Adapter, and no tangling). Not everyone likes the fit of these over something like the rubber dome tips you see on most earbuds. If you prefer that style, maybe take a look at the option from Turtle Beach listed below. The microphone clarity is amazing, but I found them uncomfortable as I’m not too fond of the rubber domes.
Amazon Affiliate Links
Apple EarPods: https://amzn.to/2O4OAOn ASUS Ai Noise-Canceling Mic Adapter: https://amzn.to/2NOtxj0 Turtle Beach: https://amzn.to/3kweaaQ
USB 90 Degree Angle
These are a cheap way to clean up your desk cables! The product page advertises them being used with laptops, but I have a USB Hub on my desk that can sometimes get cluttered with cables bending and pulling the hub off my desk; these will angle the cables nicely and add some stability to the hub.
Amazon Affiliate Link
USB 90 Degree Angle: https://amzn.to/3bIxOws
Short USB Type C to A Cable
Continuing with cable management here, these pair very nicely with the 90-degree angles keeping everything nice and tidy! (Nothing special about the brand, but they have worked fine for my mechanical keyboard and iPad Pro)
Amazon Affiliate Link
USB C to A Cable: https://amzn.to/3pY9ICT
Anker Wireless Charger
Anker has been the best brand in the value charger market for a long time, and this wireless charger is no different! The upright charger works nicely for all the face unlocking phones out there. My iPhone 11 Pro Max unlocks without having to look like a bobblehead to check my notifications.
Amazon Affiliate Link
Wireless Charger: https://amzn.to/3sC48I3
Thicc Mouse Mat
There are slightly less expensive mouse pads out there, but… get this one. The SteelSeries Large (and in charge) Cloth Pad is made of high-quality materials. I’ve used this one for over 4 years and now have upgraded to their full desk mat.
Amazon Affiliate Link
SteelSeries Large Cloth Mouse Pad: https://amzn.to/2NK8lLc Full Desk Mat: https://amzn.to/3ktvbCJ
Cable Organizers
Affiliate Link
Cable Organizers: https://amzn.to/2ZXJ7eI
Adapters
With devices and cables all over the place, sometimes you need an adapter to get them to talk nicely with one another! If you want one order to rule them all, you can try the everything bundle! I have not personally used the everything bundle, so buy at your own risk.
Amazon Affiliate Links
USB-A to USB-C: https://amzn.to/3bKU1Kn
USB-C to USB-A: https://amzn.to/2ZZliTM
Micro-USB to Lightning: https://amzn.to/3aZTOE7
Everything Bundle: https://amzn.to/3svG4Xq
EpocCam/iVCam
EpocCam and iVCam aren’t physical products but could be the best webcam available right now! They are apps that turn your smartphone into your computer’s webcam. Even most budget smartphones will have a camera that far outperforms most webcams, and the setup is easy! Both apps work through USB or wirelessly.
Link: iVCam Webcam—Apps on Google Play
Link: EpocCam Web camera for Computer on the App Store
Conclusion
That is all for the tech under $20 work from home edition! Stay tuned for the under $50 and $100 finds coming soon.