During the recent AliExpress sale, I filled up an entire cart. Some things I bought for work, some for myself, and some out of pure curiosity. I put together ten items that actually arrived and that I’m already using. The prices were sale prices, and some items had coupons so I managed to save a bit.
This is roughly what my home looked like while I was waiting for all the orders
Rugged Smartwatch for Sports Instead of Apple Watch Ultra
The watch is awesome, highly recommend
I ruined my old watch on a run in the rain, so I was looking for something tougher. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 rugged smartwatch looks like a tank: the case handles impacts, and the screen easily withstands scratches. What hooked me was the battery life. It lasts for weeks on a single charge, not just a day. It has a pedometer, sleep tracker, and phone notifications. I now wear it both to the gym and on trips where there’s no time to look for an outlet.
Price: 12,860 rubles (with coupon)
Wireless Clip-On Earphones for When Regular Ones Keep Falling Out
If regular earphones fall out, here’s the solution
I don’t like earbuds stuffed in my ears, especially in summer. The Baseus MC1 Pro clip-on earphones attach to the edge of your ear and don’t go inside — your ear breathes, and the sound is still right where it needs to be. I walk around the city with them and can hear cars; at home I can hear when someone calls from the kitchen. LDAC support provides decent sound quality, and there’s moisture protection, so light rain isn’t a problem.
Price: 3,130 rubles
Compact MP3 Player with Bluetooth — No More Worrying About Whitelists
Bought a player and no longer depend on streaming services
I wanted to offload my iPhone and stop draining its battery on music during commutes. The INNIOASIS 64 GB MP3 player looks exactly like an old iPod on the outside — even the click wheel is there. I loaded my favorite albums onto it, connected headphones via Bluetooth, and listen in the subway without touching my phone. It also has FM radio. Nostalgia and practicality in one package.
Price: 4,840 rubles
USB Microphone for Voice Recording
Let’s see if my podcasts take off
I decided to try recording podcasts, but the built-in laptop microphone sounds really weak for that. I plugged the Zealsound USB microphone into the port and immediately heard the difference: the voice is cleaner, without a muffled echo. It’s a condenser mic with a cardioid pattern, so it cuts out extraneous noise from the sides. It comes with its own tripod, which is convenient. The RGB lighting is purely for ambiance, but it looks nice on the desk.
Price: 1,340 rubles (in combo cart)
Portable Speaker for Epic Parties
This speaker can easily rock any party
In summer we often head outdoors, and the phone speaker just doesn’t cut it there. I got the Tribit StormBox Blast 90W speaker for the volume, and it didn’t disappoint: it pumps out enough sound to be heard across the entire clearing. It has moisture protection — it’s not afraid of splashes or rain. It plays for a long time on a single charge, easily lasting through the end of the evening.
Price: 12,570 rubles (with coupon)
Bluetooth Tracker for Finding Things — For Those Who Are Always Losing Everything
A perfect replacement for the expensive AirTag
I’m always losing my keys right before heading out — a familiar problem.
