I love a good YouTube video where the host tests cheap tech from low-cost retailers. Curious as I am, I decided to try my hand at testing cheap home products from popular discount marketplace AliExpress. Surely you’ve seen the site populate in a Google shopping search for smart lights or home decor with items so cheap it seems impossible that they would be worth it.
When shopping for a new piece of home hardware, gaming gear or audio tech, cheap tech usually equates to low-quality performance. But as I’ve come to learn, that’s not always the case.
Rules for the experiment
- Products must cost less than $15.
- Devices need to be cheaper than a mainstream equivalent.
- Weird devices are more likely to make the list.
I’m happy to report it was an authentic experience with a mix of good-ish products and some really bad ones. From best to worst, here’s how my AliExpress order played out.
Best: Tuya Zigbee smart USB adaptor switch
It’s the smallest plug in my smart home.
A handy little ceiling fan.
Ceiling fans have always been out of reach, since I live in an archaic apartment without them. This means relying on a fleet of air circulators in my bedroom and office. But what if renters could add a ceiling fan without the hassle of begging the property manager to install one? Enter the tiny ceiling fan I got for $14.
I like the design of this fan, especially the 12-foot USB cord, which is long enough to reach a ceiling hook without much effort. The fan is surprisingly quiet and uses three power settings. Still, it’s not particularly powerful, with the highest setting producing a light breeze from a few feet away. The speed and timer controls are easy to learn, which is great because the entire manual is written in Chinese. You can get the gist of the manual by using Google Lens to translate the text, but it’s largely unnecessary.
I give this product a B+ for being useful, albeit in niche settings where normal ceiling fans aren’t practical.
Good: Tuya Zigbee water sensor
Watch this: Testing Temu Tech So You Don’t Have To
13:52
