Best Amazon Basics Products That Are Actually Good

Amazon Basics is Amazon's private label brand, offering hundreds of products at lower prices than name brands. Some are genuinely excellent — identical to premium products at half the cost. Others are bargain-bin quality wrapped in Amazon packaging. We've tested dozens of Amazon Basics electronics products. Here's our honest assessment.

The Winners: Buy These

HDMI Cables — Excellent

Amazon Basics HDMI Cable ($8 for 6ft). HDMI cables are digital — they either transmit the signal or they don't. There's no quality difference between a $8 Amazon Basics HDMI cable and a $40 Monster cable. Amazon Basics HDMI cables support 4K@60Hz, ARC, and Ethernet. Buy with confidence.

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths — Excellent

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cloths (24-pack) ($14). These are the same quality as brand-name cloths at a fraction of the price. We use them in our testing lab for cleaning screens, lenses, and electronics.

AA/AAA Batteries — Very Good

Amazon Basics AA Batteries (48-pack) ($16). Performance testing shows they deliver 85-90% of the lifespan of Duracell and Energizer at roughly 40% of the cost. For everyday devices (remotes, clocks, toys), the value is outstanding.

USB-A to Lightning Cables — Good

Amazon Basics Lightning cables are MFi-certified (Apple-approved) and work identically to Apple's own cables at about 60% of the price. Durability is slightly lower — they last about 18 months of daily use versus 2+ years for Anker cables.

Monitor Stands and Arms — Very Good

Amazon Basics monitor arms are rebranded Ergotron designs (one of the most respected brands in the category) at 30-40% lower prices. The build quality and adjustability are comparable.

Batteries (Rechargeable) — Good

Amazon Basics rechargeable AA and AAA batteries are adequate for most uses. They hold charge well but have slightly lower capacity than Eneloops. At half the price, they're the right choice for non-critical applications.

The Losers: Skip These

Headphones and Earbuds — Skip

Amazon Basics audio products are universally mediocre. The sound quality, build quality, and comfort don't compare to similarly-priced options from Anker Soundcore or JLab. Spend $5-10 more on a dedicated audio brand.

USB-C Cables (for Charging Laptops) — Caution

Amazon Basics USB-C cables work fine for phones and tablets, but their laptop charging cables have mixed reviews on durability and consistent power delivery. For laptop charging, stick with Anker cables or the cable that came with your laptop.

Surge Protectors — Skip

Amazon Basics surge protectors have among the lowest joule ratings in the market. For meaningful surge protection, spend $25-35 on a Tripp Lite or APC unit. Protecting your electronics is not where you want to save $10.

SD Cards — Skip

Amazon Basics SD cards are slower and less reliable than Samsung, SanDisk, or Sony cards at similar price points. For cameras and dash cams where data integrity matters, pay the small premium for a trusted brand.

Phone Cases — Mixed

Quality varies dramatically by model. Some Amazon Basics cases are fine for basic protection; others feel flimsy. At $8-12, they're cheap, but an $8 Spigen case is better in almost every way.

The Middle Ground: Decent But Not Best

Ethernet Cables — Fine for Most Uses

Amazon Basics Ethernet cables work perfectly for home networking. They're not Cat 6a certified in some lengths (despite claims), so for 10Gbps networking, go with a verified brand. For typical 1Gbps home use, they're perfectly fine.

Power Banks — Adequate

Amazon Basics power banks deliver reliable charging at competitive prices, but they lack fast-charging protocols and USB-C Power Delivery that you'd get from Anker at a similar price. For simple phone charging, they work. For laptops or fast-charging, skip.

Keyboard and Mouse — Budget Acceptable

The Amazon Basics keyboard and mouse combo ($14) is fine for a secondary computer or emergency backup. It's not comfortable enough for all-day use. The keys feel mushy and the mouse tracking is imprecise. For daily use, a Logitech K380 and M720 are worth the upgrade.

The Amazon Basics Decision Framework

Buy Amazon Basics when:

• The product is a commodity (cables, adapters, batteries)
• There's no technical advantage to a name brand
• The product doesn't affect safety (cables yes, surge protectors no)
• You're buying in bulk for cost savings

Skip Amazon Basics when:

• Sound quality matters (headphones, speakers)
• Reliability is critical (SD cards, external drives)
• Safety is involved (surge protectors, power strips for expensive gear)
• A dedicated brand offers the same product within $5

Read our full USB-C cable guide →

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As an Amazon Associate, BestElectronicsReviewed earns from qualifying purchases. All products are independently selected by our editorial team.