13 nifty USB-C gadgets you didn’t know you needed

I don’t know what your tech drawers look like, but mine are full of wires that I’ll probably never use again because technology has advanced so little. Fortunately, it looks like USB-C is here to stay because there’s no wrong way to connect these things. However, not only smartphones, tablets and laptops use these, but also a long list of gadgets.

We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 13 gadgets that will make you think, “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it would make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what great devices you’ll be able to use Type C cables and ports with.

Unihand rechargeable hand warmer

As the weather gets colder, sometimes you wish you could warm up your hands a little faster. Good, These hand warmers are worth $18 Rechargeable and fully ready to keep your fingers warm for up to 20 hours on a single charge. These tools feature a temperature sensing chip that helps you choose one of three temperatures for precise control. There are plenty of colors to choose from too.

Wowstick 1F+ Mini Electric Screwdriver

If you often have to fiddle with your computer or other gadgets, this is… Wowstick mini electric screwdriver It may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easy to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a sleek base so you can carry it on your desk, and a full set of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and can last for hours. This fun electric screwdriver usually costs $41.

Anker Nano Power Bank

One thing you should have in your bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never know when your phone will fail and scream for a recharge. Good, Anker nano power bank Small enough to fit almost anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is almost enough to fully recharge the phone, so it’ll be great in case you need it. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16.

Endoscope camera with light

Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, it is Ennover endoscope camera It can definitely be useful. Just connect it to your phone, install it, apply it and see everything the camera does. Our team swears by it, and uses it to find whatever they drop behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for leaky pipes. Since it is IP67 rated, you can even put it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4-foot semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and mirror. You can get this for $17 now.

Bluecar flashlight

I don’t care who you are, you need a flashlight. The smaller the better, because you can put it in any pocket. This model is from Bluekar It comes with a built-in 1,800 mAh battery that you can recharge using one of the many Type C cables in the tech drawer we’ve been talking about. It can run for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty good. There are four different modes to navigate through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of them is under $8, so there’s no excuse to pass this one up.

Heat treatment for insect bites

Anyone who suffers from mosquitoes in the summer will be especially pleased with this clever gadget. This small device, which easily connects to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching caused by bites and stings using targeted heat.

You can simply charge the little one Heat bite processor Apply and then hold it over the bite. Then the heat does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to become swollen, itchy, and painful. It’s a real summer must-have, and it’s only $20 when it’s on sale.

Small air pump

This is also perfect for summer Cyclplus mini air pumpwhich fits into any on-the-go bag. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes with the touch of a button, but it is also charged via USB. According to the manufacturer, it is suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles and even cars!

In addition to being an air pump, this handy tool can also be used as a flashlight or a power bank for on-the-go use – all things that come in very handy while cycling. And at just $57 (although we’ve seen it for up to $35) it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire.

USB-C mini fan

These little fans are also very clever; You can easily carry it in your pocket in summer and use it quickly when you need it. Anyone who has sat on a crowded subway in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget.

small fan, Which only costs $20It has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops or USB chargers. There are smaller, cheaper fans available that can plug directly into your phone, costing less than $10 each. But they also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the stand-alone version.

Reading light with book clip

Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late at night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different lighting modes, you can individually adjust the amount of light you need for reading.

the The Gritin Reading Lamp costs just $8 on Amazon It features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on use. Then, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can rotate the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there is also a small charging indicator. What more could you want?

External DVD drive

If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, this little tool will come in handy. this Amicool External DVD Drive It uses USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and gives you the optical drive you sometimes need. It can easily read and burn DVDs and CDs, allowing you to install software, copy files, backup data, play games, etc. You won’t even need to install drives because this thing is plug and play. Although this thing is usually $29, you can get it for around $20, which is quite a bargain.

Samsung flash drive

The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll be able to transfer files in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can put it in your smartphone to record 4K videos directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB up to 512GB and starting at $14. the 256 GB versionfor example, was $27 at the time of writing.

Type C microSD card reader

Most laptops nowadays don’t have a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data out of these little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data from your Dashcam card or if it’s from your camera, it’s pretty small Ugreen USB-C microSD reader It will work just fine. This reader is so small that you should probably put it on a keychain of some sort. If you prefer a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards It features USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of them will cost you less than $10, so they are worthwhile investments.

USB-C to HDMI adapter

If your laptop has a USB-C port but you haven’t updated your monitor in a long time, your monitor won’t have a Type-C port. This Anchor adapter It fixes this problem for you, allowing you to connect the regular HDMI cable that you connect to your monitor with this tool. The adapter supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz, which is pretty impressive. This is also a great way to connect your phone or tablet to a monitor or TV. This thing is $20, but we’ve seen it as low as $12.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 16, but has been updated to include additional devices.