These 10+ car gadgets upgrade your daily commute for cheap
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Any time is a good time to score practical purchases that will make your life easier. And if you've got a road trip planned soon, it's a great moment to consider outfitting your car with some new gadgets to upgrade your driving experience.
Also: One of these 13 gadgets could be the hero your junk drawer needs (here's why)
From chargers to headrest hooks to emergency gear like jump starters and tire inflators, there's a lot to consider for your ride. Experts at ZDNET, including our in-house gadgeteer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes and me, have tested more than a few of these car gadgets. These are some of our favorite car tech devices you can shop right now -- many of which are on sale.
The best car gadgets you can get for cheap
ZDNET writer Cesar Cadenas recommends this retractable car charger from Lisen. It's a 4-in-1 charging hub that makes powering devices in your vehicle much easier. It plugs into your car's cigarette lighter socket and includes a built-in USB-C cable, a Lightning cable, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port. The two cables extend up to 31.5 inches, making it easy for back-seat passengers to charge their devices.
Also: I highly recommend this car charger for quick charging on the go - and it's cheap
These car hooks slip between your headrest and the top of the seat, adding a place to store purses, bags, and other incidentals from the back of the seat. This multipack from Amazon comes in over a dozen colors to match your interior or provide a pop of color, and I love having them in my car for my handbag. Plus, they're less than $10.
This MagSafe compatible phone mount clips into your air vent or mounts to your car. It features a cooling fan, a built-in Qi2 charger, illumination, and more. It's great for charging your phone on the go while keeping your device hands-free.
It also doubles as a mount to keep your phone stable while following directions or maps. Plus, the wireless car charger supports both iPhone and Android Qi‑enabled smartphones, and includes a metal ring to enable secure mounting and charging for non‑MagSafe devices and cases, too.
If you don't want a car charger for your device but still want an easy and affordable way to mount it for long trips or hands-free travel, this clip from Lamicall has been a steady presence in my car for over 5 years. It's no-fuss and no-frills, but it's reliable and useful.
Even with a MagSafe charger in my car, I still like to keep a charger for my cigarette adapter on hand. This one from Pioneer works with iPhone and Android, and it offers a USB-C and USB-A port for a dual-port experience. This is also a great option to plug in MagSafe charging mounts or other accessories if you don't have enough USB-C ports in your vehicle (or don't have any at all depending on your model car).
This gadget is more for your car keys than your actual car. The She's Birdie is a personal safety alarm with a wildly loud siren built-in. I've carried this on my keychain for almost 7 years, and it's a great investment for college students, parents with small children, older adults, and more, but for less than $30, I recommend everyone scoop one up.
When the top pin of the Birdie is pulled out, a 130db siren sounds and a strobe light flashes for up to 40 minutes. To put that in perspective, a 130db sound is equivalent to a jackhammer and nearly equal to the sound of a jet engine in the distance, according to the Hearing Health Foundation.
Also: My favorite personal safety alarm is as loud as a jackhammer
Statik's Tire Hero air compressor does more than just fill your tires, making it the ultimate emergency accessory to keep in your car. I appreciate the added features, like the flashlight and portable charger, and am fairly satisfied with its performance. I don't think this is necessarily the answer to all PSI problems, but it's an efficient tool in any roadside emergency kit.
Also: Going on a road trip? This multi-functional car charger has saved me so many times
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