You know what makes a gadget great? I do. I review hundreds — if not thousands — of devices every year. The best of the bunch typically solves a common problem. It’s easy to set up and use without a whole lot of fuss or special tech know-how. 

Most of us love a great deal, but even better, we want to know that no matter how much we spent on a device, we got our money’s worth. Great tech tools are like our trusty companions. They’re dependable, do what they say they will, and keep up with our busy lives. And sometimes, they just make us feel good. 

Here are several gadgets I just showed off on "The TodayShow," along with a few others ending up under my own tree this year. 

Gadget gifts under $100

You know all those photos you snap with your smartphone, then never really look at again? We can all agree that paper photos are more fun, and Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 brings all your favorite digital photos to life — with a twist. For $100, you don’t just get a super-compact, super-portable Bluetooth photo printer. Paired with the instax link app, you get a ton of cool creative tools, too, like collages, stickers and captions. 

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Have you noticed how noisy the world seems right now? Whether it’s someone listening to music on the subway without headphones or even just talking loudly on their phone next to you walking down the street — it feels like the whole world turned up the volume button. When I need to drown out the world — super important when working from a plane, coffee shop, or hotel lobby — Loop’s Switch 2 adjustable earplugs are the perfect mute button. They’re discreet, volume-adjustable with a variety of tips that promise a secure fit, and ideal for quick naps, deep sleep or just some time alone with your thoughts. There are four available colors at a price point of $60.

We all know that particular young person who loves to tinker, build and create with electronics. Rather than grab them another video game this year, have them build their own. The Create Your Own Video Game Set by Uncommon Goods helps kids as young as eight create their own retro arcade games. The $85 DIY set syncs with web-based software that simplifies popular coding languages like Python and Java, so they can make their own custom space shooter or 2D platformer games. 

Handheld gaming is a blast, but if you’d rather give the gift of soothed joints, the LifePro Legra ($53)  hand massager is another reasonably-priced find to give your texting thumbs a break after a long day. It uses pressure, vibration and heat to to soothe tired and sore hands, fingers and wrists. The company says it’s great for relieving arthritis or carpal tunnel aches and improves blood flow in the hands, so it could be just what the doctor ordered after a marathon gift-wrapping or greeting-card session. 

A dry-erase board might not be the first thing you think of when giving a techy gift, but this $17 simple light-up board is a family favorite for leaving daily love notes or quick to-do’s. It comes with a white dry-erase marker and a see-through screen with 16 different color LED lights. I use this for family calendars, shopping lists, daily reminders, even leaving notes to my family. 

The $100 HMD Barbie Phone by Tracfone is one of the gadgets on this list that just makes me smile. Yes, it's a real phone. It delivers full voice and text capability, a camera that can shoot photos and video and 4G hotspot support. There are also a few basic apps like WhatsApp for chatting with friends, but the company is on a mission to reduce screen time, so it’s designed to for minimum obsession and maximum pink pride. 

Another gadget that puts a smile on my face right now… Nintendo’s Alarmo bedside clock is nothing short of perfect. For $100 (exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers right now) they’ll wake up to voice-acted scenes and tunes from the Mario, Zelda, Pikmin and Splatoon franchises.

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Gadget gifts that surprised me

Harbor’s new do-it-all baby monitor solves some pretty common problems for parents. It works with or without WiFi, keeps personal data secure and is end-to-end encrypted to keep bad guys out. It’s equipped with Apple Watch functionality for custom alerts — waking up just one parent so the other can rest, for example — and there’s even the option to have a living, breathing remote “Night Nanny” keep an eye on the child all night long. It’s not cheap at  $336 for the first year, which includes hardware and service ($20/night for nanny service is optional), but if you happen to have one of the eligible older baby monitors to trade-in right now, you can get it for $200 off. 

Kids a few years older don’t need a baby monitor, but they do still need a way to get in touch with their parents. As tempting as it is to stick a smartphone in their back pocket, you might be better off slapping a new kids’ Bark Watch on their wrist. With no apps or access to the internet, they’ll spend more time gazing at the world around them, but can still snap selfies, chat with friends and phone home at the press of a button. I like it as a set of techy “training wheels” to get kids comfortable with safe gadget use, and at $170 (plus $15/month for service) it’s on par with a budget smartphone. 

I’m obsessed with ROLI’s Piano M right now. I’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano, but traditional lessons are just so… boring. And expensive. For $200 right now during a holiday promotion, this colorful collection of keys syncs up with an app on your smartphone or tablet and teaches you how to play by lighting up the keys. It walks you through songs and feels more like a game than a music lesson. You can still stray off course and do your own thing, of course, but the family might not be quite as impressed.

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Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.” The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected].

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