Best branded tech accessories for corporate gifts

Last updated November 2026. Written by Jerome Abrahams, owner of Crest Promos.

The best branded tech accessories for corporate gifts are the ones people reach for every day: a good USB-C charger or cable, a wireless charging pad, a quality power bank, a tidy tech pouch, or a set of earbuds or a speaker from a brand people recognise. They work because everyone carries a phone and a laptop, and running out of battery or hunting for a cable is a daily annoyance. The catch is that tech gifts fail in a way other gifts don't. A cheap power bank that won't hold a charge, or a cable that stops working after a month, puts your logo on something that let the recipient down.

That makes quality and safety more important for tech than for almost any other promotional item, and power banks now come with airline rules that affect how useful they are as a travel gift.

"With tech, a cheap version shows itself within weeks. A power bank that won't hold a charge is worse than no gift at all, because your logo is on the thing that let them down."

Jerome Abrahams, owner, Crest Promos

The shortlist

These are the tech accessories we see used most by the people who receive them. Your price will depend on the product, quantity and branding, so ask for an itemised quote that shows the price and minimum for each line.

If you want one item that suits almost everyone, a good USB-C charger or a quality braided cable is hard to beat. Both cost little, get used immediately and don't raise any travel or safety questions. For a client gift that feels more generous, a speaker or earbuds from a recognised brand will be remembered longer than a branded gadget from a brand nobody knows.

Specs that separate a good gift from a dud

Two branded power banks can look identical in a catalogue and perform completely differently. Ask your supplier for these details before you order.

Chargers and cables

USB-C with Power Delivery (PD) is the standard to look for, because it charges most current phones, tablets and many laptops quickly. Check the wattage: around 20 W is enough for a phone, while a laptop usually needs 45 W to 65 W or more. Chargers built with gallium nitride (GaN) are smaller and run cooler than older designs at the same power.

For cables, a braided outer and a reinforced joint at each connector make the biggest difference to how long they last. Multi-device charging cables suit mixed-device teams, because one cable covers several connector types. Chargers, cables and USB hubs are practical branded tech gifts for laptop users in particular, since most modern laptops are short on ports.

Power banks

A branded power bank lists its capacity in milliamp hours (mAh). Around 10,000 mAh charges most phones about twice, which suits most people, while a high-capacity power bank is heavier and brings the airline limits into play. Look for USB-C PD for fast charging in and out, and check the capacity is believable for the size and price. Unusually cheap power banks with very high claimed capacities are a common sign of poor-quality cells.

Recipients judge a tech gift by how well it works. A power bank that charges quickly and holds what the label says will be carried for years, and your logo goes with it.

Airlines limit power banks by watt-hours (Wh) rather than mAh. To convert, multiply the mAh by the cell voltage (usually 3.7 V) and divide by 1,000. A 10,000 mAh power bank is about 37 Wh, well under the 100 Wh limit that applies without airline approval.

Wireless chargers

Check which charging standard the pad supports. Qi is the long-standing standard, and the newer Qi2 adds magnetic alignment for phones that support it. A pad that charges slowly or only works with some phones will be left in a drawer. A good one becomes part of the desk and gets used every day, which is why wireless chargers are such a popular desk gift.

Audio

Judge speakers and earbuds on sound quality, battery life, Bluetooth version and brand, and brand matters most. People notice the difference between a recognised audio brand and an unknown one as soon as they open the box. Wireless earbuds and Bluetooth speakers suit executive gifts and other premium gifts, where sound quality and brand recognition count. If the budget doesn't stretch to a good audio product, choose a better charger or cable instead.

Warranty and support

Ask how long the warranty is and who handles a fault. A supplier who stocks the product in Australia can replace a faulty unit far more easily than one shipping from overseas.

Safety, compliance and flying

Lithium batteries

Power banks, speakers, earbuds and most other rechargeable gadgets use lithium-ion batteries, and poor-quality cells can overheat, swell or catch fire. In July 2025 the ACCC reported 17 power bank recalls published since 2020, nine of them in the previous 16 months, with around 34,000 recalled units still in consumers' hands. Most of the incidents it described happened while the power bank was charging another device.

For a corporate gift, that's a risk worth taking seriously. Choose products from brands with an Australian distributor, ask your supplier for the product's test and compliance details, and check the Product Safety Australia recalls list for the brand before you order. Include the maker's care instructions with the gift rather than throwing them out with the packaging.

Mains chargers and the RCM mark

A wall charger that plugs into a power point is in-scope electrical equipment under Australia's Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), which lists household power supplies and chargers in its highest risk level. It must meet the relevant standards and carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM), a tick inside a triangle, before it can be sold here. Ask to see the RCM on the product and its packaging. A charger bought cheaply online without it shouldn't go out with your logo on it.

Button batteries

Small gadgets such as Bluetooth trackers, remote shutters and some light-up items run on button or coin batteries. Since June 2022 these products have had to meet mandatory Australian standards, including a secure battery compartment, child-resistant packaging and warnings. Ask your supplier to confirm compliance for any item with a button battery.

Power banks on planes

Australian airlines tightened their rules in late 2025. At the time of writing:

• Qantas and QantasLink passengers can carry up to two power banks each, at no more than 160 Wh per power bank, and can't use or charge them during the flight. They must be in carry-on and kept within reach, in the seat pocket or under the seat in front, not in checked bags.
• Virgin Australia allows two power banks per person in carry-on only. Power banks up to 100 Wh need no approval, those over 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh need the airline's approval, and power banks can't be used or recharged on board. They must be kept in the seat pocket, under the seat in front or on you, not in the overhead locker.

A power bank still makes a good gift for staff who work on site, drive between clients or spend long days at events. For people who fly often, it's now less useful in the air, so a USB-C charger, cable or tech pouch may be the more practical choice. Rules change, so check the airline's current policy before giving power banks as a travel gift.

Branding tech without spoiling it

Tech gets handled every day, so the branding needs to last and shouldn't get in the way. The right branding method depends on the material and the space available.

Keep the logo off the parts people touch most, such as the button side of a power bank or the top of a charging pad, where it wears fastest. On a small charger or cable, a simple logo mark or icon reads better than a full logo with a tagline.

With brand-name tech, many people would rather the product looked exactly as it does in a shop. In that case a branded gift box or sleeve and a printed card can carry your branding without changing the product, and the gift often feels more valuable for it. Crest Promos supplies brand-name gifts such as Nite Ize travel and phone gear and Ledlenser rechargeable lights, which you can see on our brands page.

Matching tech gifts to recipients and budgets

The best branded accessories are the ones matched to the recipient's daily devices and routine.

Compact tech fits easily into welcome kits and mail-to-home onboarding boxes. USB drives are still useful in workplaces that move files offline, and mouse mats make a handy desk add-on for a new starter's setup.

For events, cheaper items are fine as long as they work, because at a trade show you're handing out volume. For client gifts and staff gifts, spend enough to get a product that works well for years, even if that means a smaller order or a simpler logo. Our guide to employee welcome kits has more on building packs for new starters, and our guide to trade show giveaways covers event items.

Frequently asked questions

Are power banks still a good corporate gift?

Yes, for the right people. They suit staff who work on site, drive for work or spend long days at events. Since Qantas and Virgin Australia banned using power banks during flights, they're less useful for people who mainly want them on planes, though they can still be carried in cabin baggage within the airlines' limits.

What size power bank should we choose?

Around 10,000 mAh suits most people. It charges a phone about twice, fits in a pocket or bag and sits well under airline limits at about 37 Wh. Larger power banks are heavier and better suited to people who work away from power for long periods.

Should we choose USB-C or include other connectors?

USB-C is now standard on most new phones, tablets and laptops, including recent iPhones. A multi-device charging cable with USB-C, Lightning and Micro USB connectors suits a mixed group of recipients, or anyone still using an older iPhone. The same goes for other phone accessories and device accessories: match them to the connectors recipients already use.

Can you put a logo on name-brand tech?

Sometimes. Some brands allow engraving or printing on selected products, and others don't allow any change to the product. Some phone accessories, such as phone wallets, suit embossing or debossing rather than print. Where the product can't be marked, custom branded presentation does the job instead: a branded box or sleeve and a printed card carry your logo, within the brand's rules.

How long do branded tech orders take?

Our standard turnaround for decorated stock items is 10 to 14 business days from proof approval. Allow extra time before your event date for approvals and freight, and longer again for technology gift sets, because kitting and custom packaging add steps. Custom products, such as power banks made in your brand colours, take considerably longer and usually have higher minimum orders. Production starts only once you approve the proof, so sign off your design as early as you can.

What's the minimum order for branded tech?

It depends on the product and its minimum order quantity. Most of our hard goods start at 50 units and some styles go lower, while larger orders usually bring the price per item down. Name-brand gifts can sometimes be ordered in smaller numbers.

Ordering branded tech with Crest Promos

Crest Promos supplies branded tech products to Australian businesses, including branded chargers, cables, wireless chargers, power banks, audio and tech pouches, along with brand-name gifts from makers such as Nite Ize and Ledlenser. Practical tech merchandise appeals to almost any audience, which is why so many businesses choose promotional technology products for staff, events and corporate gifting. We can advise on options across our technology range, from phone accessories and charging products to audio.

Tell us who the gifts are for and what you'd like to spend, and we'll come back with a short list and an itemised quote, with the compliance details for each product. Quotes and digital proofs are free. You'll see the branding options for each item and exactly where your logo sits before anything is made, and we can suggest a more understated logo treatment where that keeps a premium product looking premium.

"I'd rather send a client a really good cable than a cheap power bank. The cable gets used every day for years, and nobody ever has to wonder whether it's safe to leave charging overnight."

Jerome Abrahams, owner, Crest Promos

About the author

Written by Jerome Abrahams, owner of Crest Promos. Jerome has more than 30 years of experience in promotional products and corporate gifts, supplying businesses ranging from small teams to national brands such as Meta, JCDecaux, Nutrien, White Claw and amps.

Reviewed by Jerome Abrahams, owner, on 13 November 2026. The product advice in this article is based on the tech accessories Crest Promos supplies and what clients tell us about how they're used. Safety, compliance and airline information was checked against the sources below on 13 November 2026. Airline rules in particular change often, so check the current policy before travelling.