5 Of The Most Useful USB Gadgets You Can Find On Amazon Under $40

USB, or Universal Serial Bus, has become a common denominator across devices from every corner of the world. And while it was previously looked at as only a connector for keyboards, mice, and external storage devices, its functionality has grown immensely over time. Today, you'll find a lot of handy gadgets built exclusively to support USB ports, both A and C. In fact, the increasing adoption of USB-C has made these gadgets even more useful, as you can now use them across laptops, smartphones, and other devices.

And realistically, there's no better place to browse USB gadgets than Amazon. It offers fast delivery, painless returns, and an enormous catalog — if a USB gadget exists, it's probably listed there. However, finding useful USB gadgets on Amazon can be a tiring task because of the wealth of options available. Also, while their low price tags can be tempting, it's important to steer clear of gimmicky products that add no value.

To help you out, we've reviewed hundreds of listings and found the five most useful USB gadgets you can buy on Amazon right now. Our selection includes a wide variety of products, from USB rechargeable batteries to a portable vacuum cleaner, a dual-USB flash drive, a gorgeous USB clock fan, and a USB security key. Together, they not only improve your quality of life and elevate your setup's aesthetic appeal but also enhance your digital privacy. Better yet, every one of them is priced under $40.

Desk nerds will tell you how useful it is to have a portable clock and a fan on your table. But if you also take your laptop to the sofa, or simply don't have enough room on your table to fit them in, consider the Breis USB Clock Fan. It combines a cooling fan, a real-time clock, and a temperature display in one minimalist product that plugs in via USB-A port. It has a low price tag of just $17.99 and a 4.2-star rating from over 1,200 reviews.

The installation doesn't require any drivers; just unbox it, plug it in, and press the button at the back. You can also adjust the time by long-pressing this button, then wait for the minute hand to blink, and tune it accordingly. However, there's no option to adjust the fan speed or the temperature. 

One of the fan blades contains a cutting-edge tech chip along with an LED light. When you turn it on, it creates a clock face complete with the three hands: hour, minute, and seconds. And the real-time temperature display is available in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. The two fan blades are built from durable PVC, and the gooseneck — which you can use to adjust the fan to any position you want — is built from metal and comes in a sleek silver finish. The fan comes with a rechargeable battery, and you can also use it while it's plugged into a socket or a power bank. The latter is a handy option if you want to use the fan on the go or while performing outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.

Most rechargeable batteries need a dedicated dock-style charger that goes into a power socket. However, Paleblue's USB rechargeable AA batteries — also available in a AAA variant — have made rechargeable batteries more convenient than ever. Priced at $29.99, each pack includes four lithium-ion batteries, which is arguably the best battery type thanks to its fantastic energy density, durability, and its ability to not only charge quickly but also leak minimal charge when sitting idle. These batteries currently have a 4.5 rating from 1,122 reviews.

Speaking of charging, you can fully charge these AA Paleblue batteries in just 1.9 hours. The AAA batteries charge even quicker, with a documented 0%-100% charge time of around an hour. Even better, you can charge all four batteries together thanks to the 4-in-1 USB-A to USB-C charging cable that is included, by plugging it into your phone charger or even your laptop. The built-in LED charge indicator will tell you when they're fully charged and ready to go.

According to Paleblue, these batteries charge around 12 times faster than typical rechargeable batteries and can be charged more than 1,000 times. Enjoy maximum convenience, especially for high-drain devices like gaming consoles and digital cameras, which can have you running to the store quite often.

If you're still relying solely on cleaning wipes, it's time to elevate your cleaning game with the Dealswin Portable USB Rechargeable Vacuum Cleaner. It's a plug-and-play solution that comes with three different nozzles: A flat one, a brush, and a round-mouthed suction nozzle, each designed for a specific purpose.

The brush nozzle, for example, helps you get rid of fine dust, hair, or tiny but ugly-looking crumbs from the crevices of desktop or laptop keyboards, the grilles and vents of a car's AC unit or dashboard, and other non-flat surfaces. The round-mouthed suction nozzle, on the other hand, is tailor-made to gobble up larger debris. The vacuum cleaner charges via a USB-A to USB-C cable, with the USB-C port going into the vacuum cleaner. So, you can charge it using your laptop, power bank, car charger, or a traditional adapter.

Under the hood, you get a 2000 mAh lithium battery that can last you over 500 charge cycles. Plus, given that each full charge (which takes approximately 3-4 hours) can keep the vacuum running for 60 minutes, that's a total of around 500 hours of cordless usage. Combined with an ergonomically designed handle and a weight of just 75g, you can comfortably use the Dealswin vacuum cleaner for an extended period, even with a single hand. It currently has a 3.8 rating from 2,327 reviews and retails for $29.99.

With over 117,000 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, the Sandisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive offers a triple whammy of high-speed data, convenience, and affordability. Sure, there are cheaper alternatives that can replace USB drives, but when you can get one that offers decent storage, both USB-A and USB-C ports, and costs just $32.49, it's hard to ignore. You can use it to transfer files from USB Type-A devices like your computer to USB Type-C devices like your smartphone, and vice versa, without any technical hassle. It comes with a slider on the side that lets you switch between Type-A and Type-C ports while also giving you extra style points whenever you pull it out.

Plus, it's super-compact and easy to carry. It's roughly the same size as the Shift key on a typical laptop keyboard and weighs just 9.2 grams. With read speeds of up to 150 megabytes per second over USB 3.1, it's certainly not the fastest flash drive out there, but it's still more than speedy enough for most use cases, including everyday photo, video, or file transfers. Plus, it's compatible with older USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, so it's equally good for folks with slightly older computers.

Finally, note that while the 256GB variant can serve as both a storage option and a data transfer tool, if you're only after the latter and would like to spend as little as possible, you also have the option of the 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB variants. That said, we suggest sticking to the 128GB Sandisk stick for $17.91, because all three are very similarly priced.

Phishing is among the top three cyber crimes, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It's lethal because it's a social engineering scam, meaning it exploits human vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws. However, just because you click a phishing link and end up entering your login credentials on a fake page doesn't mean you need to suffer a financial loss or identity theft. Physical passkeys like the Yubico Security Key C NFC are hardware-based and resistant to phishing, remote hacking, and server-side breaches that typically compromise passwords and OTPs.

The Yubico Security Key, at just $29, packs a long list of features and has a 4.4 rating from over 3,400 reviews. Not only does it employ the latest passkey standards, including FIDO2, WebAuthn, and FIDO U2F protocols, but it also supports hundreds of services, including everyday essentials like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and some of the best password managers, including Keeper, 1Password, and Bitwarden.

Using it is super simple, too. It comes with a USB-C port, so it works with most laptops and smartphones. Alternatively, you can use its NFC (near-field communication) functionality and just tap it on your device without requiring any internet connection at all. Then, when you want to log into a service, simply tap it. No codes, no SMS, no hassle.

It's also built to last. It's IP68 rated, meaning it's both water and dust-resistant, and it can't be crushed either. It's worth noting that this particular security key by Yubico is a lower-tier, more affordable version suited to everyday users. However, if you're a tech pro and need compatibility with secure static passwords, OATH, smart cards, or want to be able to generate authentication codes, consider getting the YubiKey 5 series.

For this guide, we combed through Amazon, creating a list of the highest-rated USB gadgets and analyzing them through customer reviews (and first-hand testing where possible) to find out whether they're actually worth the money and add real utility to your everyday life. Speaking of value, we only chose products under the $40 mark. That said, you can rest assured that none of the gadgets on our list is a cheap gimmick.

We also prioritized products that are robust and come from reputable companies with a solid track record. Along with covering both legacy USB-A devices and sleek, USB-C-powered tools built for the latest laptops and phones, we tried to steer clear of hyper-popular USB gadgets such as hubs, microphones, and webcams, and instead surface more under-the-radar picks.