What’s going on everyone—Justin here, and this is another Best Tech episode. In this one I’m rounding up some of my favorite tech picks under $500 and under $250, with a heavy focus on stuff that actually upgrades daily life: audio, home tech, desk accessories, and a few “premium-but-questionable” accessories too. It’s also the holiday season, so I kept giftability in mind—whether you’re a student, a traveler, or just trying to level up your home and desk setup. On the audio side, I tested everything from the Brane X (which genuinely surprised me with how much real sub-bass it can push for a portable speaker) to my easy under-$250 home speaker recommendation, the Sonos Era 100. For home infrastructure, the Eero 7 is still one of my most recommended routers because the app makes networking settings understandable, and migrating from an older unit is basically a one-button process. I also cover everyday “quality of life” tech like the Fellow Corvo kettle (if you’re not doing pour-over, you probably want the faster flow), a super smart Anker 25,000mAh power bank with built-in cables, and a Zojirushi Micom rice cooker that nails consistency so you don’t have to babysit a pot. And yes, we talk about that overpriced Rimowa iPhone case too—because sometimes it looks awesome even when it’s not objectively the best buy.