When it comes to purchasing gifts, many people have relatively limited budgets. However, some people aren’t, which does give you more choices and puts you in the premium category, particularly when it comes to mobile and gaming products. This article includes some of the best presents under the $500 price range, whether you’re shopping for the holidays, a special occasion, or to make someone happy. 

It’s essential to keep in mind that game consoles like the PS5 ($400 to $500) and Xbox Series X ($500), and Series S ($300) were difficult to find in stock last year. While the PS5 may still have a waitlist, Sony and Microsoft’s consoles are now easier to find and make excellent presents.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Change can be risky when you have a product that many people adore. This is the case with Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones. These headphones were first introduced in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have grown in popularity as they have improved with each new iteration. Sony has made some design changes over time, but nothing as significant as it did with the WH-1000XM5. Most of those changes are positive, except for the $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), and Sony has made notable advancements in voice-calling performance in addition to even better noise canceling and more pristine sound. So, it is a great gift idea available on Amazon for $398. 

JBL PartyBox 110

The PartyBox 110, released in 2021, is more powerful and produces a louder sound than many portable boombox speakers, including JBL’s own Boombox 3. Although the PartyBox 110 has an integrated handle for carrying the speaker, it is pretty heavy at 23 pounds and slightly taller than 22 inches. Due to the rubber feet on either side of the speaker, you can set this Bluetooth boom box horizontally or vertically. 

It has a redesigned light show that syncs to the beat of your music and is rated for up to 12 hours of playback time at moderate volume levels. 

The speaker has inputs for a guitar and a microphone in addition to Bluetooth or a wired USB connection. Notable features include the speaker’s IPX4 splash resistance and wireless connecting two PartyBox 110 speakers for stereo sound. It is available at Amazon and Best Buy for $400. 

Oculus Quest 2

The cost of Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 has increased in the past year; the 128GB version, which previously cost $300, now costs $400, and the 256GB version costs $500. Even though it is no longer as inexpensive, it is still the best cord-free VR headset available and is a lot of fun to use, thanks to its impressive selection of games.

A more expensive, higher-end “pro” model from Meta is anticipated; it will undoubtedly be better.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

A large-format, 10.2-inch E Ink e-reader from Amazon with a stylus has been announced. It is likely the 9.7-inch screen version of the now-defunct Kindle DX. According to Amazon, it will “arrive before the holidays” and is currently available for preorder for $340 with a standard or $370 with a premium stylus. A tentative release date has been set for November 30th. 

A few competing touchscreen E Ink e-readers with styluses also function as digital notepads, including models from Kobo and ReMarkable. The only front-lit 10.2-inch e-reader with a high-resolution 300 PPI (pixels per inch) E ink display is the Kindle Scribe, though.

Apple iPad 9

The updated A13 Bionic chip processor introduced in the ninth generation of Apple’s entry-level iPad last fall gave it a welcome performance boost (a keyboard or case is not included). Look for discounts as this iPad frequently receives the flash-deal treatment, with prices starting at $299 for 64GB of storage and rising to $479 for the 256GB model. It is defiantly one of the best gift ideas under $500 for iPad lovers. 

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

In addition to being about 30% smaller than their predecessors, Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2’s case is also considerably smaller and genuinely pocketable. Thanks to Bose’s new CustomTune sound calibration system, which adjusts the sound to your ears, they have the best noise cancellation in their class and better sound quality. Performance during voice calls is also noticeably improved over the original QuietComfort Earbuds.

The Sandstone color will be added later in the year after the buds initially ship in Triple Black. They are suitable for sporting activities and splash-proof to IPX4 standards. They are available on Amazon for $299. 

Message Gun – Theragun Prime 

The fourth generation of Theragun massage guns includes Theragun Prime. 

The main selling point of Theragun Prime, like the expensive Theragun Pro ($599), is how quieter it is than the model it replaces. The Prime’s volume level rivals that of the renowned quiet Hypervolt Plus, a significant improvement over the Liv.

But the advancements don’t end there: The Theragun Prime has five built-in speeds (ranging from 1,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm) and comes with five closed-cell foam attachments, whereas the Theragun Liv only had two preprogrammed speeds and two closed-cell foam attachments. Theragun Prime is available on Amazon for $299. 

TV – TCL 55S535 

No, you can’t buy a genuinely high-performance TV for under $500, but you can get a great gift with TCL’s 55-inch 55S535 for under $500 that has a nice size screen, excellent 4K picture quality, and the best streaming system available (Roku). TCL’s most recent 4-series 4K line is also a good option if you want to spend less than $400.

Conclusion 

To help you celebrate the people you care about, we’ve compiled a gift guide with options for every taste. The best time to buy gifts under $500 is early, allowing you to make an impression with a thoughtful present. It’s delightful to see their face light up even though the goal of gifting isn’t to see someone’s reaction to a gift.