With the cost of living still a top concern among consumers, it's only normal for most of us to tighten our belts, and cut down on excessive consumption. But you still need to replace stuff that gets broken. Here are five value-for-money gadgets that aren't necessarily close to the best, but are decent enough to do in a pinch. After all, we have tested them thoroughly, and more importantly, they all cost less than S$100 or thereabouts.
Creative Stage SE
Need a budget soundbar that sounds better than its price suggests? You can always rely on Creative. The Stage SE offers solid sound for your desktop, with a virtual surround mode to spice things up. It's a bit larger than previous Stage models, with a convenient volume dial. More importantly, the audio is decent for its asking price (S$89), with surprisingly strong bass.
Jabra Elite 4
The Jabra Elite 4 packs plenty of features for its price (launched at S$160, but can be found for S$108 now). You get active noise cancellation, Bluetooth Multipoint, and Qualcomm aptX support. Not to mention it has decent battery life, as well as a clean and balanced sound. The noise cancellation is not Jabra's best, but it's acceptable for entry-level earbuds.
Logitech Brio 300
Webcams on laptops, especially older ones, can be lacklustre. But this is easily solved by a decent, inexpensive webcam like the Logitech Brio 300. It offers decent video (Full-HD resolution) and audio quality, and you can place it on your monitor or laptop. Its clever privacy shutter uses a swivel design and magnets to keep it secure. At S$89, it's a cheap upgrade for any middling laptop webcam.
Razer DeathAdder V3
With its lightweight design, smooth glide, ergonomic shape, and lack of RGB LEDs, the Razer DeathAdder V3 is ideal for esports titles. It weighs a handy 59g, with optical switches, 8,000Hz HyperPolling, and Razer's SpeedFlex cable that doesn't get in the way. You can also configure the mouse to your liking with the Razer Synapse app. At around S$80, it's a good deal for FPS gamers looking for an advantage.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8
Like previous Xiaomi fitness trackers, the latest Smart Band 8 has a tweaked design that changes up the appearance and usability. The new metallic frame, especially, looks more upscale, while the strap mechanism makes changing the straps even easier. Battery life, too, is slightly better. However, it still remains very affordable at less than S$50.
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