Reviews

These AmazonBasics Products Are Totally Worth It

By Jack Busch

Updated August 23, 2021

AmazonBasics is a private-label store brand that lets you nab low-price commodity items that compare favorably to name-brand competitors.

When I was a kid, I remember there being this painfully generic food stuff at the grocery store. I’m talking about a yellow box with black letters that just said “Cereal” on it. No photos, no slogans, just bare bones products at rock bottom prices. My family was thrifty, but even we avoided that stuff. I’m pretty sure those products just existed to make the next off-brand up look better.

This is sort of how I felt when I started seeing AmazonBasics brand products on Amazon.com. I saw those AmazonBasics batteries and I instantly thought, “Yep, probably cheap junk!” Still, I did end up buying some products that had good prices, good reviews, and didn’t really matter to me in terms of brand. And now, as I sit down to write this post, I realize that there are quite a few AmazonBasics products in my home. So far, not one of them has proven to be a dud. I even bought those AmazonBasics batteries recently.

It seems that the AmazonBasics strategy is to take an item that’s already a hot seller on Amazon, then cloning it and selling it for less. Oftentimes, the quality is as good or as better as the original and the price and shipping are excellent.

So, on that note, let me recommend a few AmazonBasics products that are totally worth it.

AmazonBasics HDMI Cables

Getting sold gold-plated Monster HDMI cables with a platinum protection plan at the big box store is the modern day equivalent of getting sold upriver on a used car.  Everyone knows by now (I hope) that you don’t need to be paying more than $10 or $20 for an HDMI cable, and the AmazonBasics HDMI cables prove that. These are cheap and they work just as well as any other HDMI cable. I’ve got a couple.

Compare to: BlueRigger Rugged High-Speed HDMI Cable – 3 Feet

AmazonBasics Wireless USB Mouse

I keep trying to get on board with Bluetooth peripherals, but they are just too flaky on my laptop. So, I’ve stuck to USB wireless mouses. I’ve gone through a couple of brands, from a name-brand mouse that set me back over $20 to a super cheap one from China for under $10 that took months to arrive at my doorstep via shipping barge.

Now, I use this AmazonBasics wireless mouse. It’s small, it’s reliable, it cost less than $8 and it shipped to me in 2 days with Prime. What’s not to love?

Compare to: Logitech Wireless Mouse M185

AmazonBasics Wireless Headphones

I think my ears should be factory recalled because I just cannot wear earbuds. Stock Apple earbuds are OK, but there’s nothing more infuriating than being deeply enthralled in an episode of S-Town when my wired headphones get caught on a drawer handle and rip out of my ears. I bought these AmazonBasics over-the-ear wireless headphones and they’ve been an absolute workhorse. I wear them while doing chores, exercising (just kidding, I don’t exercise), working in the yard, walking the dog, or even sitting at my desk.

I even bought a wired pair for the office, where I’m not allowed to use Bluetooth.

Compare to: SoundBot SB220 Bluetooth Headset Wireless Stereo Headphone

AmazonBasics iPhone Lightning Charger

I got a black one for me and a white one for my wife so we can both charge our iPhone 6s in the car. It charges my phone, what more could you want? Oh, that’s right, how about a really long one?

Compare to: Apple Charger Cable

AmazonBasics Car Charger

Steve uses this AmazonBasics USB car charger and he says “it rocks!” It charges super fast and has two USB ports instead of just one. He’s got two in his minivan, one for the front and one for the back.

Compare to: Anker 24W Dual USB Car Charger, PowerDrive 2

AmazonBasics TV Wall-Mount

I wish I would’ve known about this TV mount before I paid pretty much twice the price for a similar mount at Costco. Steve has this one in his home, too, and he says it’s heavy-duty and a great price.

Compare to: Sanus Full-Motion TV Wall Mount

AmazonBasics Camera Tripod

Lightweight, universal and does the trick. This tripod works well for the price.

Compare to: Xit XT60TRB 60-Inch Pro Series Full-Size Camera/Video Tripod

AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

I bought a pack of these AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths because I needed just one, and now I use them for everything. No wonder you can get them through Subscribe and Save.

Compare to: SimpleHouseware Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

AmazonBasics Batteries

I bought one pack of each size to keep in my junk drawer: AA, AAA, C, and D. I even bought a couple of packs of their rechargeable batteries. So far, they hold their own even when compared to the Eneloop rechargeable batteries that I usually use.

Compare to: Duracell Batteries

What Else?

Those are just the items that either I or someone else at groovyPost has bought and use all the time. Today, there’s a ridiculous array of AmazonBasics items, all that I wouldn’t hesitate to try out.

Consider:

• AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage
• AmazonBasics Hangers
• AmazonBasics Video Game Controllers and Accessories
• Patio Furniture Covers
• Pet Supplies

And all sorts of other random everyday wares you can get from Amazon’s “store brand.”

Do you use AmazonBasics products? Give us your recommendations in the comments below!