Best Electronics for Beginners: Easy Picks From Amazon's Best Sellers

Wired earbuds are the most forgiving starting point in personal audio. There is nothing to charge, nothing to pair and no app to install: you plug the USB-C connector into your phone, tablet or laptop and they simply work. Apple's EarPods add a small remote on the cord for volume, play and pause, and answering or ending calls, plus a built-in microphone for calls, FaceTime and Siri. They work with any device that has a USB-C port, so check that your phone or computer has one before buying.

Reviewers frequently describe the sound as crystal clear and like them for podcasts, calls and everyday listening. The fit is the main point of disagreement: some say they stay put, while others find they fall out. Comfort and durability are mixed too, with a few reviewers reporting breakage within a few months. Because the shape is fixed with no ear tips to swap, it is worth knowing they will not suit every ear.

An AirTag is a small tracker you attach to keys, a wallet or a bag, and then locate through Apple's Find My app. For iPhone owners it is one of the easiest gadgets on this list: setup is a single tap, and reviewers consistently call it easy to set up and use. This second-generation model has a speaker Apple says is 50% louder than before, and Precision Finding gives step-by-step directions to a nearby lost item on iPhone and now Apple Watch. You can also temporarily share an item's location with trusted people or with over 50 airline partners if luggage goes missing.

The beginner-friendly touch is the battery: it lasts more than a year on a standard replaceable battery, and your iPhone alerts you when it is time to swap it. The important catch is compatibility. Find My requires an Apple device signed in to iCloud, so this is not a choice for Android users. Reviewers are also mixed on pairing, with some saying it would not connect to their iPhone, and on battery reliability.

A streaming stick plugs into your TV's HDMI port and turns it into a smart TV with apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and HBO Max, plus a large library of free, ad-supported shows and live TV. The 4K Plus is the step-up model in Amazon's lineup, with Wi-Fi 6 support for smoother streaming when other devices share your router, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio if your TV and sound system can use them. The voice remote lets you simply say what you want to watch, and Alexa+ can help with recommendations.

With over 116,000 reviews, this is the most-reviewed product here, and reviewers commonly describe it as easy to set up, fast and responsive, with crystal-clear picture. It also works with a wide range of TVs. The remote gets mixed feedback, with some reporting connection issues, and several reviewers say their unit stopped working after about six weeks, so keep your receipt handy. If your TV is not 4K, you will not see the full benefit of this model.

AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's premium wireless earbuds, and their headline feature is active noise cancellation, which uses microphones to reduce background noise like engine hum or office chatter. Apple says they remove up to twice as much unwanted noise as AirPods Pro 2. They also come with ear tips in five sizes, which is helpful for beginners because a proper seal makes both comfort and noise cancellation work better. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours with noise cancellation on.

There is a lot packed in, including heart rate sensing for workouts, Live Translation, a hearing test and a Hearing Aid feature, but many of these rely on an iPhone. You can ignore the extras and still enjoy what reviewers praise most: the sound quality and noise cancellation. Fit, battery life, connectivity and value all draw mixed feedback, with some reviewers saying they fall out easily and others finding them comfortable.

If you want the simplest way to add streaming to a TV, especially an older one, the Roku Streaming Stick HD is a natural first choice. It plugs into the back of your TV and draws power from the TV itself, so there is no wall outlet and no extra cords. Its slim design is made not to block neighboring HDMI ports. Roku highlights setup that takes minutes, an uncluttered home screen and a remote that can also power your TV on and adjust the volume, so you are not juggling remotes. You also get voice search and 500+ free HD channels with live news, weather and sports.

Reviewers often call it intuitive and easy to set up, and some say it performs better than the Fire TV Stick. One reviewer notes it works well with older TVs. Note that this is an HD model, which suits non-4K TVs well but will not take full advantage of a 4K set. Feedback on the remote and connectivity is mixed, and some reviewers report crashes, though others have had no issues. A handy extra is Bluetooth Headphone Mode for late-night listening.

AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to Apple's standard AirPods, which use an open-ear design without silicone tips. For beginners who dislike the plugged-up feeling of in-ear tips, that can be a real plus, and Apple describes the design as built for all-day comfort. Adaptive Audio blends noise cancellation with a Transparency mode so you can hear your surroundings, and Conversation Awareness lowers your music when you start talking. They are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water resistance, so rain and workouts are not a worry.

This is a newer listing with far fewer reviews than the others, but early reviewers praise the clear sound for calls and music and the noise cancellation, with one saying it blocks out heavy rain. Fit is again the sticking point, with some saying they do not stay in securely. Battery life is rated at up to 4 hours with noise cancellation, or 20 hours total with the USB-C case, and reviewers are split on it.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is Amazon's more basic 4K streaming option. It covers the essentials: 4K Ultra HD with HDR10+, access to major apps such as Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+, and Alexa voice search from the remote. Setup is described as simply plugging in and connecting to Wi-Fi, and reviewers agree it is easy to set up and use.

The feedback beyond that is more divided. Some reviewers think it is great value, while others call it a waste of money, and several report compatibility issues, saying it does not work with many popular apps and cannot sideload apps. Sideloading means installing apps from outside the official store, which most beginners will never need, but the app complaints are worth checking against the specific services you use before buying.

This newest Fire TV Stick 4K has some genuinely beginner-friendly design choices. Direct Power means it runs from your TV with no wall adapter, and the redesigned remote includes TV power and volume controls plus one-click buttons for the Shortcut Panel, the Fire TV menu and Live TV. It supports 4K with HDR10+ and Wi-Fi 6, and gives access to the usual apps along with free, ad-supported content and Alexa+ voice recommendations.

However, its rating is noticeably lower than the other streamers here, at 3.3 out of 5 from a relatively small number of reviews. Reviewers do find it easy to set up, but opinions on speed, picture quality and value are split, and multiple reviewers report being unable to download any apps. That may improve as the model matures, but for now a beginner may prefer a better-reviewed option on this list.

If you want wireless earbuds that are not tied to Apple, the JBL Vibe Beam is a popular, well-reviewed pick with over 41,000 ratings. Battery life is the standout for beginners who do not want to think about charging: up to 8 hours in the earbuds and 24 more in the case, for 32 hours total, and a 10-minute speed charge adds about two hours. They are splash and dust resistant and use a closed stick design that JBL says helps block outside sound and boost bass.

There are also handy awareness features: TalkThru lets you hear people around you for a quick chat without removing the earbuds, and Ambient Aware keeps music playing while letting in your surroundings. Reviewers like the sound quality and consider them good value. As with most earbuds, fit is mixed, with some saying they fall out, and some report disconnections or batteries that stop holding a charge over time.