Buyers Guide: 5 Gadgets Under $100 To Make Your Work From Home Experience Better For You And Those Around You

This article was originally published 12 May 2020 and updated with latest information.

With Singapore going back to the default Work-From-Home arrangements, some of us are starting to rediscover pain points with come with working from home. Intermittent internet connections, back and neck aches, a not-so quiet home environment, or a lack of an ergonomic workspace – are just some of the gripes you could be facing as you continue telecommuting for the foreseeable future.

You might be glad to learn about simple gadgets that you can buy and resolve some of these issues – for under $100. Even after you return to the office – whenever that is in the future – these gadgets will continue to be useful and likely find regular use.

Read Also: 4 Ways To Improve Your Work-From-Home (WFH) and Home-Based Learning (HBL) Experience By Reusing Old Technology

#1 True Wireless Earbuds

Not everyone has the most conducive work from home environment, but noise-levels can be easily be reduced with a pair of wireless earbuds. Some wireless earbuds have active noise cancellation to help you cope with noisy family members or a television blaring in the background. You can also take calls without the hassle of wires, while offering a clear-sounding voice to your call recipients.

While higher-end earbuds are priced above $100, the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 is a budget alternative that delivers both great sound and clear microphone quality for its price. With dual cVc 8.0 noise cancelling microphone technology, the SoundLiberty 95 ensures that you remain clear and coherent even in a noisy environment. These earbuds have up to 28 hours of playtime and comes with One-Step Pairing to help you easily connect to your phone.

Retailing at $68.37 on Amazon.sg

Read Also: YouTube Music Premium VS Spotify Premium VS Apple Music: Which Should S’poreans Choose For Their Music Subscription Needs?

#2 Laptop Stand

Spending hours every day hunched over a laptop is sure to cause back or neck pain. If that’s the case, a laptop stand can benefit your posture by adjusting your laptop to the perfect eye-level. Certain laptop stands also help your laptop keep cool with mesh or fans, so you won’t have to worry about your computer overheating.

If you want to use a stand both at home and in the office, most laptop stands come in portable designs too. For instance, the MOFT Laptop Stand Gen 2 with Heat Ventilation is a light and strong stand that is extremely portable with a thickness of 3 mm and weighing just 85 grams. Despite its slimness, the laptop stand can support laptops up to 15.6 inches in size.

Retailing at $32.90 on Shopee.

#3 Ergonomic Chair

If your dining table chair leaves you feeling achy and sore at the end of each day, you might want to consider investing in an ergonomic chair. A well-built chair improves good desk posture and provides you with daily comfort, be it for work or entertainment.

For an affordable chair that props you up ergonomically, go for the JIJI SG Typist Office Chair. With a memory foam cushion and a ergonomic mesh back for breathability and comfort, this chair is as supportive and comfortable as many chairs twice the price.

Retailing at $45.00 at JIJI.sg, currently on sale

Read Also: 5 Factors To Consider When Choosing A SIM-Only Mobile Plan During Work-From-Home

#4 Wireless Mouse

Using a wireless mouse brings multiple benefits. Your workstation is kept tidy without the unsightly wires of wired mouse, and it is more comfortable than the laptop touchpad over long periods of use. If you are using a laptop stand to improve ergonomics, you’ll need a mouse too. As an added bonus, a wireless mouse is easy to store and bring around.

Since most mice cost below $100, we went for a popular value-for-money choice: the Logitech M585. With a 2-year battery life and its precise scrolling, this mouse is useful enough to use over long periods of time. For those who work constantly on two computers, its dual connectivity function will also be beneficial, as you can easily control both computers with a single mouse.

Retailing at $49.00 on Lazada, $39.00 on Shopee.

#5 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Have Wi-Fi dead zones in your house? A Wi-Fi range extender can be a simple way to get reliable access to the internet, by extending the range and signal of your router. This ensures you get a strong Wi-Fi signal from any corner of your home.

The TP-LINK AC1750 is a budget-friendly tet reliable range extender that can work with any Wi-Fi router. For an average home network, this extender has dual band antennas to provide sufficient coverage and reliable connections even for bandwidth-intensive tasks such as HD video streaming or online gaming.

Retailing at $72.00 on Lazada.

Read Also: Complete Guide To Choosing The Best Broadband Plan For Your Home

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