17 Small Tech Accessories That Will Make Your Life Better

woman in city at night using phone.

Technology has solved so many of humanity’s problems (and caused a bunch, but that’s a different conversation), from revolutionizing the medical field to connecting us with people across the world at any moment.

However, not all tech inventions change the world. Some just improve our day-to-day lives a little bit, which is much appreciated.

These are tech gadgets and accessories that you might not be familiar with but can improve your life in some way, whether it’s opening your curtains in the morning or peeling your potatoes for dinner.

Mini Vacuum Cleaner for Car

Penang, Malaysia - 19 June 2023: A close-up of a woman using a Dyson V8 Slim Cordless Vacuum to clean her car. Dyson is a British technology company that designs and manufactures household appliances.
Image Credit: TY Lim and shutterstock

If you’ve ever tried to clean your car with your full-sized home vacuum, you know it’s not the most convenient method. Our cars get so dirty so quickly, and keeping them clean feels impossible unless you have a mini vacuum.

You can find these little vacuums for under $50 (sometimes as low as $15) and keep your vehicle tidy and fresh. They can get into all those tricky nooks and crannies. We like to do a quick vacuum every time we pump gas!

Mug Warmer

Woman taking cup of coffee from heater on table.
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Electronic mug warmers and mugs are becoming more and more popular. If you don’t have one already, it’s time to get one.

You can get a mug warmer, which is like a mini hot plate that you rest your mug on to keep your drink warm. Or, you can get one of the fancier wireless mugs, which keep themselves warm. Never let your coffee go cold again.

Bluetooth Cooking Thermometer

New thermometer for measuring water temperature from above horizontal.
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Meat and cooking thermometers are underrated in general. They make cooking tricky foods properly a breeze, and the only thing better is a smart or Bluetooth thermometer.

With these thermometers, you can set timers, monitor your food without getting up, know the ideal temperatures for different foods, and more. It takes a lot of the guesswork and tediousness out of cooking.

Automatic Hand Soap Dispenser

Automatic soap dispenser in the bathroom. Hand with soapy solution closeup.
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We know this one might sound unnecessary, but we think it’s a must for any kitchen. Have you ever handled raw meat and then spread chicken juice around the kitchen trying to wash your hands? You touch the chicken, then your soap dispenser, then your faucet handles, and so on.

Remove one problem from this sequence with an automatic soap dispenser. You won’t have to sanitize the sink every time you make burgers. Automatic faucets aren’t a bad idea either, but they’re much more expensive.

Smart-Reusable Notebook

Girl working at home with tablet during quarantine.
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These notebooks are a true testament to technology. They’re electronic notebooks that you can write in like normal, but the notebook automatically scans the writing and uploads it to your chosen device(s).

Handwriting things is just sometimes better, but typing out handwritten notes is annoying. Smart notebooks do this irritating task for you! It’s great for students, writers, and anyone who uses notebooks.

Smart Toothbrush

Close up man puts settings of his electronic toothbrush with mobile phone app. Wireless connecting sonic toothbrush with smart phone app. Modern home health care technology concept. Selective focus.
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Most dentists these days say you need an electric toothbrush, but we think everyone should have a smart toothbrush. We recommend the extra fancy Bluetooth toothbrushes if you want all the high-tech features.

Smart toothbrushes do more than just spin bristles. They can time how long you brush each section of your teeth, tell you when to change sections, and track your tooth health.

Smart Power Strip

Man using the smart power strip. Electrical plug in outlet socket at home.
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The next time you need a new power strip, get a smart one. These power strips have amazing capabilities. You can operate devices plugged into them with voice commands and use them to conserve energy.

These gadgets extend the life of your devices, save you money on utility bills, and potentially prevent electrical fires. You can even get Apple outlets — which plug into your home’s outlets — that will work seamlessly with other Apple products.

Rechargeable USB Lighter

Flameless electric lighter. Cover open and visible arc.
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This little gadget is wonderful if you use lighters or matches often and want a safer, more sustainable way to spark flames.

Butane and other kinds of lighters are bad for the environment and don’t usually last very long. They can also be tough to operate. Matches are even worse.

Rechargeable USB lighters are easy-peasy to use and never need replacing. They’re more environmentally friendly, simple to use, and just as effective. Light candles, the fire pit, the grill, and more with ease.

Electric Lint Remover/Fabric Shaver

Female hand with modern fabric shaver and clothes and wool sweater. Top view.
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There haven’t been many scientific or inventive advances in the world of lint rollers. Using them is an unpleasant, sticky task. Plucking pilled threads off of fabric is even more tedious and frustrating.

Luckily, there are electric lint removers and fabric shavers that can deal with pet hair, lint, pills, and more. Not only does this little device make caring for your clothes easier, but it’s kind of fun to use!

Facial Cleanser and Massager

portrait of young woman with perfect skin removing makeup with cleansing brush, device for household Washing and massage Face, applying spa procedures, Female facial skin care, clean the pores of dirt.
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This one is self-explanatory — it’s a small device that you use to cleanse and massage your face during your skincare routine. These have been around for decades now but are criminally underrated.

They can help clear your pores, refresh your skin, make the most of your cleansing and exfoliating products, improve circulation, and help you relax. It’s one of the best self-care tech products that won’t break the bank.

AirTags and Tiles

Paris, France - May 2, 2021: Name AirTag after unboxing in iPhone app for keys headphones handbag jacket luggage umbrella wallet small device helps people keep track of belongings wallet.
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Most people know about AirTags and Tiles, but not everyone realizes how incredibly useful they can be. These small tracking devices allow you to use your phone to locate items.

You can attach them to anything and everything you want to be able to track. Use them for your wallet, keys, pet, bag, jacket, TV remote, speaker, car, umbrella, IDs, gaming devices, and much more.

Blue Light-Blocking Glasses

Mature woman wearing blue light blocking glasses with amber lenses, lying in bed before sleep, looking at tablet screen.
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Blue light-blocking glasses are technically not a tech gadget; they’re a tech accessory. These glasses are brilliant for people who spend way too much time looking at screens (like us).

The effectiveness of these glasses is still being studied, but many people feel their eyes are less strained and fatigued when they wear the glasses. For some, they might stop headaches, dry eyes, sleep problems, and other issues.

Automatic Curtain Opener

Close up of man hand holds remote control close window blinds in office with multiethnic business team sitting at table and discussing project.
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An automatic curtain opener might not be a must-have, but it’s fun and feels luxurious. With these tiny gadgets, you’ll never have to get up to open your curtains again. They simply slide along the window sill to move the curtains, either via voice commands or a Bluetooth connection.

Getting up in the morning when your blackout curtains are closed is tough, but with this product, you can open them and let the sunshine wake you up before your feet hit the ground.

Battery Organizer and Storage Case

Organization of home space, storage and coziness, a lot of plastic household goods, new clean container boxes with a lid for easy storage of things.
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Despite modern tech advancements, many of us still rely on batteries to run certain devices. It’s easy to keep batteries in loose drawers and random places, but that’s not a great way to store them.

Proper battery organizers and storage cases can protect your batteries from damage, keep them tidy, and even charge the rechargeable batteries. You’ll never have to dig through the junk drawer looking for a battery again.

Electric Potato Peeler

Electric potato peeler on the table.
Image Credit: Virare and Shutterstock

We love eating potatoes, from mashed to French fried to roasted. However, we don’t love peeling potatoes. If this is the bane of your culinary existence, get yourself a handy electric potato peeler.

All you have to do is stick the potato on the device, press a button, and watch the peeler skin your potatoes. It will cut your dinner prep time down significantly, and now you have a solid excuse to eat more potatoes.

Epilators

Summers days. Pregnant woman shaving legs. Close up.
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Epilators are slowly growing in popularity. They’re electronic devices that act like a collection of mini tweezers. They pull hair out at the root, but they look like a razor.

Unlike razors, you can enjoy hairless skin for several weeks, not a few days, when you use an epilator. This can work for men and women, replacing electric razors, manual razors, waxing, Nair, and other unpleasant hair removal methods.

Infused Showerhead

Woman washing hair and showering.
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An infused showerhead is not a necessity; it’s a luxury, but one we want you to have. These showerheads can be infused with a number of things, from hyaluronic acid to essential oils to vitamins and more.

An aromatherapy showerhead can make your showers soothing and tranquil, or you can treat your skin with beneficial vitamins and compounds. This gadget is ideal if you want to give your showers a little something extra.

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Veronica is a lifestyle and culture writer from Boston, MA, with a passion for entertainment, fashion, and food. She graduated from Boston University in 2019 with a bachelor's in English literature. If she's not in the kitchen trying new recipes, she's binging the latest HBO series, catching up on the hottest trends in Vogue, or falling down a research rabbit hole. Her writing experience ranges from global news articles to celebrity gossip pieces to movie reviews and more.
Her byline appears in publications like The Weather Channel, The Daily Meal, The Borgen Project, MSN, Wealth of Geeks, and Not Deer Magazine. She writes about what inspires her — a stylish Wes Anderson film, a clever cleaning hack, a surprising fashion trend. When she’s not writing about life's little joys, she’s keeping her dog away from rabbits and spending too much money on kitchenware.

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