Being a gamer or tech enthusiast can get expensive pretty quickly, especially if you love having the latest and greatest gadgets. I can't lie — it's pretty cool to have the most cutting-edge technology on the market, like great laptops and gaming handhelds, so I invest a fair bit of money into refining my productivity and gaming setups. Still, it's always good to remember that you don't need to spend a fortune in order to improve your workflows and gaming experiences with fantastic accessories. In fact, some of my most-used accessories that are critical to my daily needs cost less than $50.

So, in a technology market where it's far too easy to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on your setup, let's highlight some products that you can get at affordable prices. While some of these are accessories I've reviewed, many are things I've just bought for personal use and are virtually irreplaceable to me.

10 Jsaux ModCase

The perfect companion for your ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, or Steam Deck

If you happen to own a gaming handheld from Asus or Valve, I can't recommend the Jsaux ModCase enough. It's a modular protective case that'll keep your Asus ROG Ally, Asus ROG Ally X, and Steam Deck safe from drops and scratches. I reviewed the ROG Ally version for XDA, but I've spent time using both the ROG Ally X and Steam Deck models with my handhelds. The ROG Ally one is my favorite, since it features an inbuilt kickstand that closes flat. The other two models have modular kickstands that can be added or removed as needed, but protrude from the handheld case when installed.

More than the modular features, I love the protection offered by this case. It's a rubber grip case that wraps around your handheld and can stay on all the time — even while you're gaming. When you're packing for travel, the Jsaux ModCase includes a hard cover that protects the screen and joysticks. It's fantastic for travel, where pulling off a hard shell is much easier than fiddling with a zipper case on a tight airplane. Considering how cheap these cases are, they're a must-have for ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Steam Deck owners.

• JSAUX ModCase for ROG Ally

  Materials

  Plastic

  Number of Color/Pattern Options

  1

  What's Included

  Protective case, travel cover, 2x velcro straps.

  Jsaux's ModCase is a hard-shell protective case for the Asus ROG Ally that adds protection and functionality. It's smaller than a padded case or sleeve, and packs extra features like a built-in kickstand. Best of all, it keeps the aesthetic of your ROG Ally intact.

  $26 at Amazon $26 at Jsaux (Asus ROG Ally) $30 at Jsaux (Asus ROG Ally X)

• JSAUX PC0104 ModCase for Steam Deck

  The Jsaux ModCase is a versatile case that adds protection and features to your Steam Deck. It's modular, so you can attach a variety of accessories to the back based on what your needs require. There's a kickstand option, a cooling fan accessory (sold separately), and a strap to hold something like a power bank.

  $34 at Amazon

9 Ugreen Revodok Pro 109

An expansive USB-C hub providing all the ports you need

By and large, USB-C is a great standard that can be adapted into everything you need. But on laptops and gaming handhelds, you'll probably need a solid USB-C hub to connect to all your accessories. The best bang-for-your-buck USB-C hub I've tried is the Ugreen Revodok Pro 109, which is portable, features an aluminum construction, has a braided host cable, and plenty of ports.

There are nine total ports on this USB-C hub, and it has everything I need. There's an SD and microSD card reader, an HDMI port, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. On top of that, there are plenty of USB ports, and they can all be powered from your host device. You get all of that for under $50, and I'm still using it.

8 Incase Go Sleeve

It'll fit 14-inch or 16-inch laptops while providing ample protection and storage

Sleeves are better than hard cases for laptops, in my experience, because they don't impede your experience using the device while offering a ton of protection during travel. They're also great for storing small accessories, like a power bank or charger. The best one I've used of late is the Incase Go, as it has excellent build quality, a soft interior, and an expansive front pocket. You can get it in 14-inch or 16-inch sizes, and it costs around $40.

The look and texture of the bag is great, and it comes in a few colors. Most of all, it's small enough to fit into another bag while still having enough padding to keep your laptop safe.

7 PGYTECH CreateMate SD Card Reader

This rugged carrying case will hold your SD and microSD cards while doubling as a reader

This carrying case and SD card reader from PGYTECH is my single most-important accessory while working on the go. As a journalist and reviewer, photography is an important part of my job, and this case ensures that I always have a USB-C SD card reader handy. With it, I can pull photos off my camera regardless of whether I'm using a MacBook, iPad, Windows laptop, or even a smartphone. The card reader is integrated with a rugged carrying case that has a built-in carabiner for versatile carrying.

There are other cool things about this case, too. It has a SIM eject tool that comes in handy when you need it, plus plenty of storage for SD or micro SD cards. If you're a gamer, this could be a fun way to keep your game cards for a handheld or Nintendo Switch organized and protected. I paid around $40 for this, but truthfully, I would've paid a lot more. This is an irreplaceable part of my workflow, and it took me quite a while to find something with all the features the PGYTECH case offers.

6 GameSir Kaleid Flux

Even die-hard PC gamers can use a controller every now and then

There are some games that just work better on a controller, and my controller of choice — the Xbox Wireless Controller — is pretty expensive. Luckily, the GameSir Kaleid Flux is a wired controller that's officially licensed for Xbox and provides a similar experience to what Microsoft offers. With a black-and-gold colorway and a transparent window, the Kaleid Flux might look better than a full-fledged Xbox Wireless Controller.

You get a braided USB cable in the box, which unlocks 1,000Hz polling rates for low-latency gaming. Customizable RGB lighting lets you make this controller your own. Put it all together, and this is a very compelling package for PC gamers. The wired connection requirement isn't a problem when you're at a desktop PC, and the sub-$50 price point is great.

5 Productivity & gaming mousepads

One for work and style, another for gaming performance — both under $50

I think a great mousepad or desk mat can make or break a desk setup, and I have two picks under $50 to help elevate your experience. For my productivity-based setup, which features an M3 iMac, I use a YSAGi leather desk pad. I know it's a no-name brand, but I loved my brown leather YSAGi desk pad so much that I ended up buying a second one for another desk build. At around $30 or less, depending on the size, you can't beat it. For gaming setups where a leather pad isn't ideal, I use a Razer Pro Glide XXL, and it's great for smoother mouse movement.

• Razer Pro Glide XXL

  The Razer Pro Glide XXL is a very large mousepad that's suitable for professional settings and matches Razer's productivity suite perfectly, and it's also fantastic for gaming.

  $30 at Amazon

• YSAGi Leather Desk Pad Protector

  This leather desk pad from YSAGi can add some character to your desk setup at a low price. It comes in a whopping 23 colors and is excellent for productivity-based workstations. 

  $27 at Amazon

4 UGreen M.2 NVMe SATA enclosure

There are so many ways to use this versatile and cheap accessory

Another PC accessory that everyone should have is an SSD enclosure, like this M.2 NVMe SATA one from Ugreen. You can put a compatible internal SSD in this cheap enclosure for use as a portable USB-C external drive. This can be a cheaper way to expand the storage of your computer, and an even better way to make use of an old SSD you might have lying around.

SSD enclosures also come in handy for tech enthusiasts and tinkerers that are always working with new hardware. If you have multiple boot drives, or SSDs pulled from old laptops, you can stick them inside this enclosure and use your old PC exactly as you left it.

3 Anker 12-outlet surge protector

We all need a reliable surge protector, and this is the best one I've found

While they aren't the most exciting tech accessory, everyone needs a good surge protector to keep their computers and electronic devices safe from power surges. I've personally lost hardware due to unprotected surges, and that's a mistake I won't make twice. The Anker 12-outlet surge protector is my power strip of choice, since it has plenty of power outlets, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. It has LED lights that indicate when the strip is grounded and surge-protected, too. I like to mount this power strip on the surface of my project desk, or a nearby wall, so I always have quick access to power without needing to crawl under my desk.

2 Netgear 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch

This cheap unmanaged switch holds my entire home network together

Networking enthusiasts look away — my entire home network hinges on a $40 switch you can buy at Best Buy. This five-port switch is small and supports Gigabit Ethernet speeds, which is all I need. I'm not lucky enough to have fiber internet in my area, so the best I can get is Gigabit speeds anyway. This simple switch gives me just enough Ethernet ports to wire all of my essential devices, including multiple computers and a NAS. It's certainly not the most advanced switch out there, but not everyone needs a giant switch costing over $100.

1 iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit

It's a great affordable and compact repair kit you can use for all your home projects

There's nothing more fun than taking apart a computer or mobile device and tinkering with it, or making upgrades. That is, as long as you have the right tools. I've thought about upgrading to iFixit's Pro Tech Toolkit for a while, but the iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit has served me well through every project I've done to date. That includes modding iPods, creating headless MacBooks, and upgrading Mac CPUs. Put simply, if you like to open up your tech, the Essential Electronics Toolkit is, well, essential.

Which of these accessories do I use the most?

All of these accessories are products that I use on a daily or weekly basis. If I had to pick the one that I've gotten the most value out of, it would certainly be the iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit. I purchased it for well under $50 years ago, and it's still in use to this very date. Most recently, I used it to take apart and reassemble an iPod Shuffle, which I didn't know was possible. At under $50, you can't really go wrong with any of the accessories on this list. They're all vital to my gaming and productivity loadouts.