How much tech can I get from Temu for $100 (and is it any good)?

How much tech can I get from Temu for $100 (and is it any good)?

Here’s what I got for my $100 spending plan.

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By now, all of us understand we can get economical product from Temu. What about tech? Can we conserve cash purchasing a few of the more generic tech gadgets from Temu? And what is the quality like?

: Is Temu legit? Whatever to understand before you position your very first order

To discover, I offered myself a $100 spending plan. Temu supplies totally free shipping once an order overcomes $10, so I positioned a single order, which concerned an overall of $99.77 and secured free shipping. Here’s a fast summary of whatever I got for that quantity, an overall of 18 private products:

  • Wireless mouse
  • Turtle-shaped wired mouse
  • USB 2.0 3-port mini center
  • TWS cordless earbuds
  • Keyboard and mouse set
  • HD web cam
  • PCIe USB 3.0 card
  • Screwdriver pen toolkit
  • USB C SD card reader
  • USB tester
  • Electronic composing tablet
  • Turning tablet stand
  • HDMI capture user interface
  • Portable video game
  • 32GB thumb drive
  • 32GB microSD card
  • 5-port USB charging center
  • External CD/DVD drive

Temu works as a market for specific suppliers, just like Amazon Marketplace. Item schedule and cost change continuously on Temu. An item offered one week might be passed the next. One uncomfortable discovery I made when assembling this short article was that the total prices from the day I positioned my order to the day I finished composing the short article increased about 13%.

: I attempted to return something to Temu. Here’s what occurred

For each product I explain below, I’m noting both the initial rate and the cost 4 weeks later on. I’m likewise noting comparable Amazon items, which are items that are as close as possible to the items Temu offers. Stay tuned to the end of the post where I will reveal you just how much this hundred dollar haul would have expense had it been acquired on Amazon.

And now, let’s dig in.

1. Wireless mouse – $2.11

Invest up until now – $2.11

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  • What I paid: $2.11
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $2.47
  • Amazon equivalent: $1.99 + $6.99 shipment

Plan condition.

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This Temu cordless mouse is a fundamental, bare-bones cordless mouse. It interacts to a computer system utilizing a USB 3 dongle. It’s incredibly lightweight, and takes 2 AAA batteries. It works and does its task.

Amazon does provide a variety of really economical mice, consisting of those offered for a cent. They all consist of a shipping charge. The least costly I discovered, consisting of the shipping charge, was this one for an overall of $8.98 (even if you have Prime, as I do). Temu does charge for shipping, however if your order goes beyond 10 dollars, it’s complimentary.

2. Turtle-shaped wired mouse – $3.39

Invest up until now – $5.50

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $3.39
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $3.97
  • Amazon equivalent: $12.99

Product packaging.

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This turtle-shaped wired mouse is a mouse, formed like a turtle. There’s very little more to state, other than did I discuss it’s a mouse formed like a turtle? It plugs into your computer system over USB 3, does not need batteries, and is really green. And it does work.

Amazon uses a turtle-shaped wired mouse that plainly utilizes the exact same molds, for $12.99. There are likewise a variety of suppliers using the very same green mouse color and precisely the very same mold, however in a cordless variationvarying from in rate from $12.73 to $15.93.

3. USB 2.0 3-port mini center – $3.98

Invest up until now – $9.48

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $3.98
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $3.98
  • Amazon equivalent: $5.12

Center product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This USB hub/splitter is sort of a useless purchase. The Temu website does not define that this is for USB 2.0 gadgets, however it is. That stated, it works great with a mouse and succeeds as a charging connection if you just have one USB port.

It spins, and fits well on the side of the 2 laptop computers I checked it with. Toughness is constantly a concern, and I’m thinking if you spin the port a lot of times, it’ll quit working. Amazon has a comparable gadgethowever the Amazon listing states it’s USB 2.0 right in the title.

While it’s not precisely misstatement, I think about the Temu listing deceptive, and call this purchase a frustration, even for less than 4 dollars.

4. TWS cordless earbuds – $2.98

Invest up until now – $12.46

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $2.98
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $2.97
  • Amazon equivalent: $7.99

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

For 3 dollars, I suggest, fine. These cordless earbuds workThey do not draw (primarily). Sound quality is remarkably great, as long as you’re not trying to find pounding bass. Bluetooth connection works, however just under about 5 feet. Whenever I got about 5 feet far from my computer system or phone, they dropped the connection. They charge utilizing a micro USB connection, however do not consist of a cable television.

Amazon has a relatively big offering of extremely inexpensive earbuds, however they all have shipping in between $6.99 and $10.99. I discovered a relatively great set for $7.99 with complimentary Prime shipping. These are in fact an action up from the Temu buds, with a case that supplies charging information.

: The very best budget plan earbuds of 2024

The bottom line on the $3 Temu set is this: if you’re utilizing it with your phone, which you keep with you, they’re actually okay. If you mean to be any range at all from the Bluetooth connection, they’ll drop or frustrate you with a continuously periodic connection. Hey, for $3 and tolerably excellent sound quality, what’s to grumble about?

5. Wireless keyboard and mouse set – $5.26

Invest up until now – $17.72

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $5.26
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $8.35
  • Amazon equivalent: $20.97

Keyboard and mouse product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

For a little over 5 dollars, this cordless keyboard and mouse is a quite good set. I am a fan of thin, light-weight, chicklet keyboards, however some individuals dislike them extremely. This is a really light-weight keyboard that links over bluetooth, as does the mouse. The mouse utilizes non reusable batteries, while the keyboard charges over USB.

The cost differences are fascinating here. 4 weeks later on, the keyboard increased measurably in cost. It is available in 3 other colors: infant blue, black, and white. Each of them is more pricey than the rather (to me) unsightly pink. For 5 dollars, pink is great. The specific very same item seems on Amazon, and there it’s priced at over $20. I’m not exactly sure this set deserves $20, however it’s in fact rather good for what it cost. Bluetooth works, however it is extremely range-limited, 3 or 4 feet at finest.

6. HD cam – $6.56

Invest up until now – $24.28

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $6.56
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $6.55
  • Amazon equivalent: $5.99 + $6.99 shipment

Web cam product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This little cam is a pleased little purchase. To be clear, it’s no Logitech, however the image quality for a 1080p electronic camera isn’t bad, it’s responsive, and it worked right out of package. It has a folding grip for the top of a screen, and, as a really great little plus, you can turn the electronic camera itself on a ball joint to intend it simply.

The only thing truly missing out on is a 1/4″ -20 install on the bottom to install it to a tripod or other photo-related grip equipment. To be reasonable, lots of cams I’ve utilized for many years have actually likewise done not have that install.

:The very best cams for streaming

Amazon has what seems the precise very same web cam for 57 cents less– other than you likewise need to pay $6.99 shipping. The Amazon item is not Prime eligible.

7. PCIe USB 3.0 growth card – $8.79

Invest up until now – $33.07

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $8.79
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $8.79
  • Amazon equivalent: $21.79

USB card product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

If you wish to include more USB ports to your PC develop, this card will definitely get you there. Unlike the majority of the other products in this short article, I didn’t personally evaluate this board. My PC is humming completely and I do not wish to open it up. The evaluations on Temu are rather favorable, as long as you follow this one standard: “Hook it up to a 15-pin SATA power cable television for it to work.”

There are a great deal of comparable USB growth cards readily available on Amazon, and much of them are beginning to blend USB 3.0 and USB C. I did discover one that looks extremely comparable to the system on Temu, with some small part distinctions. Amazon will deliver the board free of charge, however at $21.79 since the time of composing, it still clocks in at more than two times the rate.

8. Screwdriver pen toolkit – $1.69

Invest up until now – $34.76

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $1.69
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $1.98
  • Amazon equivalent: $7.99

Screwdriver product packaging

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This thing certifies as a must-buy. It’s a little small screwdriver set for under 2 dollars. All the screw heads in shape inside the body of the screwdriver. The body of the screwdriver is relatively well-machined, as are the screw heads. My only grievance is that the chuck (or bit holder) isn’t extremely robust. It does hold the bits in usage, however it is most likely to break at some time.

Let me repeat: this is under 2 dollars. For that cost, you can purchase 4 of them, put one in your glove compartment, one in a kitchen area scrap drawer, one in your toolkit, and one in your workplace desk. You’ll constantly have a small screwdriver around when you require one.

: The very best electrical screwdrivers

The Amazon comparablewhich seems the precise very same product, is $7.99 with Prime shipping. I discussed you can get 4 of these sets from Temu since the Temu cost is less than a quarter that of the Amazon rate.

9. USB C SD card reader – $1.35

Invest up until now – $36.11

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $1.35
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $1.83
  • Amazon equivalent: $12.99

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This little device sports an SD card slot, Micro SD card slot, and USB 3.0 port, and links to your computer system over USB C. I attempted this with all 3 media types and it worked. I’m relatively sure it’s not utilizing the complete efficiency capability of the USB 3.0 or USB C user interface. I utilized a USB 3.0 thumb drive that’s rather quick plugged straight into my Mac Studio, however when moving through this user interface, it was relatively slow. On the other hand, what do you anticipate for $1.35?

Amazon has a comparable gadget in white. Temu likewise uses a white variation, which ends up being twenty cents approximately less than the black variation. It was more pricey when I positioned my order last month.

10. USB tester – $4.98

Invest up until now – $41.09

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $4.98
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $4.98
  • Amazon equivalent: $6.59

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This little USB charging tester might not be simpler to utilize. You plug it into a source of power (I’m utilizing my laptop computer here), and after that plug in the gadget you wish to charge. The gadget reports voltage and present, in addition to collected existing and overall running time. This can assist you figure out if the USB power brick or port is supplying enough juice for the gadget you’re attempting to utilize. There’s likewise a reset button, which clears the cumulative information on the gadget.

Amazon provides a relatively similar gadget with a various color plastic shell. Amazon’s cost is just about a dollar and a half more than the Temu cost, and it’s offered free of charge shipping by means of Prime. This is another item that does what it states it will do, say goodbye to and no less.

11. Do not purchase this tablet – $13.16

Invest up until now – $54.25

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $13.16
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $15.48
  • Amazon equivalent: $20.69

The product packaging is the very best part of this thing.

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

I am personally upsetthis item even exists. It’s the single most pricey thing I purchased in this Temu haul. It’s like an Etch A Sketch gone badly, badly incorrect. It’s a digital tablet without any output. You compose on it, and you remove what you compose. That is all. You compose on it. You can’t conserve what you compose. You can’t publish it to your computer system or phone. You can’t produce more than one screen’s worth of composing. You can’t alter the brightness or contrast of the irritatingly dim screen.

The eliminate function does not work all that well and leaves residue from all the other times you composed on it. On top of all that, the battery is almost difficult to get rid of. The tablet is glued into its case, which is styled to appear like among the initial iPad cases. It’s not an iPad. It’s an iSuck.

:The very best tablets of 2024

Amazon shockingly offers the exact same designtypically noted at an insane-for-this-garbage $28.99, marked down on the day I sought to $20.69. If you would like to know how little the sellers themselves even appreciate it, have a look at the Amazon link. The clip art image they utilize of a computer system in the scene (keep in mind, this does not. deal with a computer system) states “Mockup.” I believe it needs to state “Mockery.”

Strangely enough, this thing has a lots of favorable evaluations on both Temu and Amazon. It’s still dreadful. Do not purchase it.

12. Turning tablet stand – $10.98

Invest up until now – $65.23

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $10.98
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $13.49
  • Amazon equivalent: $26.99

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

As bad as that strange composing tablet was is as great as this tablet stand is. This is every bit a top-tier quality tablet stand. It’s made from strong metal (most likely some aluminum alloy), is great and company when it opens, and has a good turning base. As long as you angle it a bit, it supports full-sized tablets like the iPad Pro. And it folds down quickly, so you can bring it with you. I like it a lot.

Amazon appears to offer the very same designfor approximately two times the rate (although there’s a 40% off voucher today). This is where Temu shines. Sure, you can get the Amazon system in one day with Prime, however if you’re ready to wait a week and a half approximately, you can get away with sharing, or as I did, less than half the cost.

13. HDMI to USB 2.0 video capture user interface – $5.98

Invest up until now – $71.21

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $5.98
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $5.98
  • Amazon equivalent: $8.99

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This is an HDMI video capture user interfacebeneficial for generating material from a DSLR video camera, a DVD gamer, or a video gaming console. The gadget itself does not included any video software application, however it works well adequate with OBS. When I linked my video cameraI didn’t see any evident frame loss, however that’s not stating much when you’re simply generating space video or a talking head. Basically, if you’re not all that requiring, the USB 2.0 user interface suffices.

What’s unsatisfactory is the matching Amazon usingWhile the title of the item on Amazon states it’s an “HD 1080P USB Capture Card,” the body copy states it “records 4K@60Hz video input at complete speed, no lag, no hold-up.” No. No, it does not. There is no other way you’re recording 4K video over USB 2.0 without dropping a minimum of 75% of the frames.

Indicate Temu for not declaring it’s anymore than it is, and a finger wag at Amazon for declaring it can do something that the physics of deep space make difficult.

14. Portable video game – $2.94

Invest up until now – $74.15

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $2.94
  • Temu rate 4 weeks later on: $3.81
  • Amazon equivalent: $15.80

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

Temu promotes this as a”Handheld Switch Game” Now, rather certainly, this isn’t a Switch console, however for under $3, no one anticipates it to be. I can certainly see the thinking. Grandfather asks Junior what he desires as a present, and Junior states “A Nintendo Switch.” Grandfather goes to Temu, enters Switch, sees this thing and believes, “Hmm, 3 dollars. Let’s get Junior this. The little tyke never ever calls or composes anyhow.” SEO, FTW.

And, you understand what? It’s worth each of its 294 cents. It includes “26” video games– the majority of which are variations of each other. Someplace in there (video game J) there’s a trustworthy Tetris clone that’s relatively enjoyable to play. This is a novelty that’s not awfully unique, particularly considering that all our smart devices are physically larger, have beautiful backlit color screens (this isn’t backlit), and you can download and play all the Candy Crush you desire. Hey, it’s an item.

When it comes to the Amazon variation of the itema minimum of it does not declare it’s a Switch. On the other hand, it promotes the item as appropriate to wean kids far from their phones, and to “work out the senior’s response speed and memory, postponing the aging speed of the brain.” You can’t make this things up.

15. 32GB USB 3.0 and USB C thumb drive – $2.54

Invest up until now – $76.69

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $2.54
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $3.98
  • Amazon equivalent: $7.87

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

Here we have a fundamental 32GB thumb driveWhat I rather like about it is that it includes both a USB 3.0 port and a USB C port, so it can be utilized on a few of my laptop computers that have just USB C ports, along with my devices geared up with USB 3.0. Beyond that, there’s absolutely nothing to compose home about. Transfer speed is sufficient, however it’s definitely not maxing out the bandwidth that USB C supplies. It works, it passes fundamental storage tests, and what else can you ask for something that’s under $3?

There are Amazon thumb drives that expense less than this one, however none are Prime-eligible. While you might invest a dollar on the drive, you’re being asked to invest 8 dollars on shipping. This drive appears functionally comparable and echos all of the physical style notes, so it’s my guess they are the very same fundamental gadget.

16. Kodak brand name 32GB microSD card – $4.98

Invest up until now – $81.67

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $4.98
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $6.29
  • Amazon equivalent: $9.99
David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This is a Kodak-branded microSD cardKodak, when the towering sovereign of movie photography, now certifies its name to lots of producers. Precisely who makes this card is something of a secret. That stated, it operated in my cam and in the drone to tape-record video, so it’s great enough.

Surprisingly, the Temu variation is a UHS-1 U3 card, which is spec ‘d to move information at 30 MB/s. The more pricey Amazon variation is in fact a UHS-1 U1, which is just spec ‘d for information transfer at 10 MB/s.

17. 5-port USB charging center – $7.62

Invest up until now – $89.29

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $7.62
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $8.48
  • Amazon equivalent: $10.75 (utilized)

Bundle

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

This little 25W USB charging center does a great task of charging up several gadgets. It’s very light-weight, so you require to hold it with one hand when disconnecting or plugging anything in. It’s not a quick battery charger, having actually taken practically 3 hours to totally charge my iPad from entirely out of juice. That stated, I like the kind element, it includes a power cable, and you can’t beat the cost.

Amazon does use an similar system It’s just offered in an utilized design. As you may envision, Amazon does provide a lot of USB charging centers, usually varying from 10 dollars and up.

18. External CD/DVD drive – $10.48

Invest up until now – $99.77

David Gewirtz/ZDNET
  • What I paid: $10.48
  • Temu cost 4 weeks later on: $10.03
  • Amazon equivalent: $19.99

Product packaging

David Gewirtz/ZDNET

All that brings us to our last product in our huge Temu haul, an external CD/DVD gamerAs it ends up, this is likewise a burner, although given that I didn’t have any DVD-RW blanks, I didn’t check that part of its performance. As a DVD gamer, what can I state? It filled industrial DVDs and played them back. What else do you desire for under eleven dollars? The Temu gamer featured both a USB cable television to link to a computer system along with a USB cable television for power (although I discovered no requirement for the 2nd cable television).

: How to play old DVDs on your contemporary Apple M-series Mac

I need to state that the drive from Temu looks practically similar to the $19.99 Gotega drive I purchased in 2015 from Amazon. I’ve been extremely pleased with that drive. We’ve bought a variety of old sci-fi television series that aren’t offered through streaming, and it’s been enjoyable to see them utilizing the DVD gamer. It was something of a no-brainer to get the retro gamer at twenty dollars, however for somewhat over 10 dollars, it’s plainly a simple win.

Just how much I minimized Temu

In general, I was rather delighted with the basic quality of the products Temu sent me. None of them might be thought about top-tier products, however there were just 2 that I ‘d think about horrible: the USB 2.0 switch that wasn’t marketed as USB 2.0, and the unusual writing tablet that didn’t do anything. Otherwise, whatever worked relatively well.

I suggest, a cordless mouse for $2? A keyboard and mouse set for under $6? There’s very little to grumble about there.

: Temu vs. Amazon: Which shopping website is best for your purchasing requires?

I invested $99.77 for the whole haul. Had I put that exact same order today, it would have cost me $113.37. Temu’s rates increased by 13%. However, that’s absolutely nothing compared to the $239.46 that it would have cost to purchase the exact same products on Amazon. Temu is rather actually less than half the rate. And the majority of the equipment carries out as promoted.

What do you believe? Will this alter your mind about Temu? Have you bought from Temu before? What do you believe? Did you get what you anticipated? Were the offers great? How was the quality? Let us understand in the remarks listed below.


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