Every time someone’s birthday or a holiday approaches, I catch myself thinking the same thing: I want to give something useful, not another mug that says “World’s Best Somebody.” Over the past couple of years, I’ve arrived at a simple formula — I gift things I use myself. If something stuck with me, it’ll work for someone else too. I’ve put together ten such products from AliExpress: from a cable for 280 rubles to a smartphone with a camera that can outperform many flagships. Everything is tested, everything works, nothing to be embarrassed about.

I’ve already re-gifted half of this list — and every time I received a thank-you a week later, not just a minute later

UGREEN GaN — 65W Charger for Smartphone and Laptop

Been carrying it in my bag since spring — never once brought a second power adapter with me

You know what’s always annoying everywhere? Three chargers for three devices that take up half your backpack when traveling and half your desk at home. The UGREEN charging block with a GaN chip solves this in one go: four ports, up to 65W on the main USB-C — enough even for a laptop. The second port delivers 45W, so you can charge an iPhone and iPad simultaneously without choosing who goes first.

I got one in March and replaced all my other chargers with it. It’s smaller than the standard Apple 67W block and runs cooler. It works as a gift for anyone: a mom who’s always looking for a free outlet, or a tech-savvy friend who has more gadgets than outlets. The original Apple adapter costs three times as much for the same wattage.

Price: 1,500 rubles

Toocki Retractable Cable for Those Tired of Tangles in Their Bag

280 rubles and zero tangled cables — the perfect little gift

Regular cables always seem to live their own life around me. Especially in a backpack: within five minutes they turn into a knot that requires meditative patience to untangle. The Toocki retractable cable winds up into a compact housing, and you pull out exactly as much length as you need. Supports up to 100W — you can charge both a smartphone and a USB-C laptop.

This is the kind of gift a person would never buy for themselves, but then won’t be able to live without. USB-C on both ends, works with Samsung, Xiaomi, iPhone 15/16, and basically everything that’s moved to Type-C. Obviously, it’s not an expensive gift, so you definitely wouldn’t give it to your wife for an anniversary, but you can totally gift it to a colleague who keeps borrowing your cable.

Price: 280 rubles

Vivo X300: Flagship Camera Phone on Android

I showed photos from it to my wife — she thought I took them with a DSLR

If your loved one is into mobile photography but doesn’t use iPhones — take a look at the Vivo X300. It has a 6.3-inch screen, 12/256 GB of memory, and a camera that’s on par with devices twice the price. It’s the China version, but Russian language installs without any hassle, and Google services work fine.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t buy this phone myself. It was recommended to me by our Android expert German Vologzhanin, and I immediately realized this is a device you could get for yourself, your wife, or close family. Thankfully, the camera capabilities here are top-notch. Portraits, night shooting, video — everything is at a level that’s nearly impossible to find for 40 thousand rubles. In Russia, the official Vivo X300 costs noticeably more, so as a gift for someone who values a camera — it’s a bullseye.

Price: 39,550 rubles

HONOR Watch 5: Smartwatch with Two-Week Battery Life

Last charged a week and a half ago — and it still shows 20%

A smartwatch is a gift that looks expensive but costs a reasonable amount. The key is not to pick the wrong model. The HONOR Watch 5 offers a large AMOLED screen, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep tracking, and can even do a comprehensive health scan with one tap. They work with both Android and iOS — connecting through the HONOR Health app.

The battery lasts up to 15 days — and this isn’t a marketing “up to” figure, but a very real number with regular use. For comparison: Apple Watch needs charging every day and a half. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who monitors their health or simply wants a stylish watch on their wrist — this is a solid option without unnecessary bells and whistles that honestly does its job.

Price: 7,400 rubles

Wired EarPods for Those Tired of Charging Their Earbuds

They’ve been sitting in my backpack since summer — they save me every time my wireless ones die

It sounds crazy in 2026 — gifting wired earphones. But think about it: everyone has that moment when their wireless earbuds die at the worst possible time, and you need to listen to a podcast or make a call right now. I tossed these EarPods into my backpack last summer “just in case” — and since then I’ve pulled them out more often than I’d like to admit. Plug in — and they just work. No cases, no Bluetooth, no “please wait, updating firmware.”

The sound, by the way, is still perfectly decent for everyday tasks. Lightning connector, so they work with iPhones up to and including the 14th model. As a gift — it’s perfect for someone who constantly forgets to charge their AirPods. Six hundred rubles, and they’ll thank you every week.

Price: 600 rubles

USB-C to USB-A Adapter for Pennies

One in the backpack, one on the desk, one in the car — 60 rubles each, makes sense right?

Here’s an idea for an add-on gift that costs