Best Gifts Under $500 for 2023

Using the same cushioning technology developed for its mattresses, the Purple Harmony Pillow features a layer of honeycomb-patterned grid surrounding a supportive inner core of hypoallergenic ventilated latex. Wrapped in moisture-wicking breathable mesh material, the no-pressure, supportive combo offers cool comfort all night long and never falls flat. Available in three heights -- low, medium and tall -- so you'll sleep comfortably no matter your sleep position.

Released in 2021, the PartyBox 110 packs some serious punch and delivers bigger sound than many portable boombox speakers, including JBL's own Boombox 3. There's an integrated handle for toting the speaker, but the PartyBox 110 is pretty hefty, weighing in at 23 pounds and measuring slightly more than 22 inches tall. You can stand this Bluetooth boom box up vertically as shown in the picture above or place it horizontally, as it has rubber feet on both sides of the speaker.

It's rated for up to 12 hours of playback time at moderate volume levels and has a redesigned light show that syncs to the beat of your music (you can customize the light show from the speaker itself or use the JBL PartyBox companion app). 

The speaker has Bluetooth or a wired USB connection and there are guitar and mic inputs. It's also worth noting that the speaker is IPX4 splash-proof and you can wirelessly link two PartyBox 110 speakers together for stereo sound. 

Eagle Creek's Cargo Hauler XT wheeled duffle comes in a few different sizes, starting with a 21.5-inch model that qualifies as a carry-on bag (even internationally) and costs $269. The model shown here is the 32-inch "large-checked," which is a fairly large bag but not huge. Like the other Cargo Hauler XT models in the Eagle Creek line, this one is water resistant and also has hideaway backpack straps built in it so you can carry it on your back up stairs or on dirt paths and everything in between. (The travel lock in the photo is not included.)

Available in four color options (charcoal, earth red, glacier blue and safari brown), the bag is made out of recycled materials and looks and feels quite durable and has a few grab straps and extra pockets. I also thought its wheels operate quite smoothly. It's an ideal bag for a three- to seven-day trip, while the carry-on version is more suitable for weekend or overnight trips. 

The Epicboom's oval design is a bit of a departure for UE, which is owned by Logitech and has primarily designed Bluetooth speakers with more of a cylindrical shape except for its boxy Hyperboom. UE says the oval design "creates an impressive internal acoustic volume, and is coupled with a 4.6-inch woofer for bass clarity." It doesn't sound quite as good as Sonos' similarly shaped and more expensive Move 2 portable speaker that features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity (this speaker is Bluetooth only). But the Epicboom packs a good punch and sounds very good for its size, with the ability to fill a small- to medium-sized room with sound. Fully waterproof and dust-proof (IP67 rating), it also seems durable. 

Apple's latest iPad is the iPad 10 or iPad 10th Generation. But the ninth generation iPad, released in 2021, is the current entry-level iPad and often sells for less than its list price. It has an A13 Bionic chip processor that's still plenty zippy for most people, and despite this model being on the market for a couple of years, it remains the best budget iPad option. (The Apple Pencil in the photo is not included.) The $329 base version only comes with 64GB of storage, which may not be quite enough for a lot of folks, so look for the 256GB version ($479) to go on sale, which it frequently does. 

Vitamix makes some great blenders that are not only powerful but a pleasure to operate and built to last (they come with a free five-year warranty). That said, they tend to be quite expensive, which is why we like to recommend the entry-level Explorian, which is plenty of blender for people and lists for $350 but often sells for closer to $300. It's easy to use and a good value at that price.

Therabody says the Theragun Sense is "designed to relax both mind and body," combining percussive massage therapy with calming breath work via a companion app that you link to via Bluetooth. When doing the breathing exercises, you hold the Sense up to your chest in both hands and close your eyes. There's a built-in heart-rate sensor that you grip with your finger, as well as haptic feedback that helps guide you through the exercises.

The Theragun Sense isn't as powerful as the step-up Theragun Pro Plus ($599), nor does it have all its bells and whistles, but it's certainly powerful enough for most people. It comes with four attachments: the dampener, standard ball, thumb and micro-point.

If the person on your list doesn't already have a Nintendo Switch or needs an upgrade, you can't go wrong with this gaming system. This fourth iteration of Nintendo's Switch hybrid handheld adds a bigger, better built-in display (now an OLED screen), plus a redesigned kickstand and TV dock. It's a splurge, but it provides hours and hours of fun with games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pimkin 4 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

As far as budget TVs go, we've always liked TCL's 4-Series TVs partially because they came with Roku built-in. But TCL appears to be gradually phasing out Roku in favor of Google TV (as its smart TV interface). The TCL 4-Series and 5-Series remain very good budget TV values (the 6-Series is a little more premium), but Vizio's V-Series has slightly better picture quality and is the best overall entry-level TV that we tested.

As CNET's video guru David Katzmaier says, "The Vizio offered the most balanced and accurate picture during our comparisons, and it comes with some useful extras such as Dolby Vision support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth compatibility and variable refresh rate for potentially smoother gaming." He adds that the biggest downside of the Vizio is its smart TV platform, Vizio SmartCast, which is a bit sluggish and cluttered with ads for platforms such as Tubi and Kidoodle TV. But you can always buy a Roku 4K Express Plus streaming device for around $40 if you don't like it.

The price shown is for the 50-inch model, but the TV also comes in a variety of other sizes up to 75 inches.