The world of tech is wildly varied, and kind of overwhelming. There’s a seemingly endless cornucopia of everything from smartphones to smart home devices, cameras to speakers. It can be intimidating, especially if you’re looking for a gift for the technologically inclined. But that’s where we come in! Here are our favorite gift ideas for the tech lover in your life.
GoPro HERO8 Black
Price: $400
From: GoPro.com
The latest camera from GoPro marks the first major design update since HERO5 Black and is a revolutionary powerhouse. HERO8 Black brings with it a new streamlined design that has completely changed how you can use the camera — with expandable mods, four digital lenses, advanced wind-noise reduction and the smoothest video ever offered by the series. HERO8 Black is the perfect gift for the tech-forward adventurer in your life.
1. Disney+ Subscription
Price: $7/month
From: disneyplus.com
While it is not technically a gadget, Disney+ is the hot topic of the tech world this holiday season. With its unbelievably large catalog of cartoons and animated films — everything from The Little Mermaid to Moana, The Lion King to Finding Nemo as well as all the Star Wars and movies from the Marvel Universe — it stands to satisfy every taste.
2. Mission Darkness Faraday Bag
Price: $23
From: amazon.com
Is there someone in your life who has trouble unplugging? They won’t with this Faraday Bag. When a phone is properly placed inside, no outside signal can reach it. It’s the same type of bag that law enforcement use to collect forensic evidence. Maybe it can also help your giftee stay off Twitter.
3. Amazon Smart Plug
Price: $25
From: amazon.com
Anybody who talks to Alexa on a regular basis, whether they have an Echo or a speaker like the Sonos One which as Alexa built-in, will be able to find a good use for this handy little smart plug.
4. Anker PowerPort Atom III Slim
Price: $35
From: amazon.com
This is an excellent and incredibly thin wall adapter for a MacBook or USB-C laptop. Yes, this tiny thing can actually power a laptop, making it a fantastic travel device.
5. Mophie Powerstation Mini (Fabric)
Price: $40
From: amazon.com
This 5,000mAh portable battery is a perfect smartphone companion. It’s super thin and can easily slide into a pocket. It also charges via USB-C, which any MacBook or Android user can appreciate.
Gear Patrol Magazine Subscription
Price: $39
From: store.gearpatrol.com
Gear Patrol Magazine is a deep dive into product culture. Inside each issue, you’ll find seasonal buying guides, rich maker profiles and long-form dispatches from the front lines of product design. Get four print magazines — delivered quarterly — with an annual subscription.
6. Google Smart Light Starter Kit
Price: $45
From: google.com
If you’re shopping for a real technie, chances are good that they already have an Google Home or Echo smart speaker in their home. If it’s the former, then this combo of a Google Home Mini and a smart light bulb will slot right into their existing smart home ecosystem. It’s also great for anybody who doesn’t have any smart devices and might want to get their smart home off the ground.
(For Alexa users, you can achieve the same basic effect with an Echo Dot and a Wyze Bulb.)
7. Nest Mini
Price: $49
From: google.com
The Nest Mini is the new, improved and rebranded version of the Google Home Mini. It’s the smallest and cheapest smart speaker that has Google Assistant built-in, plus it sounds better than you might expect.
8. Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator
Price: $59
From: amazon.com
This pocket-sized $59 synthesizer runs on AAA batteries and strikes the perfect balance between coolness and nerdy-ness. If they have any musical inclinations, they’ll love this thing.
9. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit
Price: $75
From: amazon.com
This third-generation Raspberry Pi is perfect for any tinkerer that’s comfortable around a circuit board. Whether they want to build their own retro gaming console or rig up a DIY desktop PC, this is a great place to start.
10. Polaroid Lab Digital Photo Printer
Price: $129
From: amazon.com
This charming machine allows you to turn your your smartphone photos into real Polaroid film prints, which is wonderful; it gives digital phographers a little bit of that analog experience. But heads up: the film is sold separately.
11. Kano Computer Kit Touch
Price: $170
From: amazon.com
This little starter kit is great for anybody who wants to build their own computer, learn how to code, or both. It comes with step-by-step book that teaches you how to build your computer, a Raspberry Pi 3, a 10.1-inch HD screen, a wireless keyboard with trackpad and a bunch of the other computer-building necessities.
12. Ring Video Doorbell 2
Price: $199
From: amazon.com
This is the best smart doorbell for anybody who has a smart home built around Alexa or already owns some of Ring’s other smart home devices. It allows you to access a 24/7 live feed of your front door, whether you’re home or away, and it sends notifications whenever somebody shows up on your front porch.
13. Massdrop Alt Mechanical Keyboard
Price: $180
From: drop.com
There’s a soft spot in the heart of every tech lover for a really nice mechanical keyboard. And if there isn’t yet, there should be. The Massdrop Alt is made of a big chuck of anodized aluminum with LED backlighting, and the ability to swap out its switches with no soldering required.
14. Analogue Super Nt
Price: $190
From: analogue.co
The Super Nt is Analogue’s new-age retro gaming console that lets you play your favorite Super Nintendo and Super Famicom cartridges, such as Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario World, on your big screen TV just like you could with your old SNES. If you buy an Adapter Cartridge ($20), the Super Nt will be compatible with old GameBoy and GameBoy Color games, too.
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15. Master & Dynamic MW07
Price: $249
From: amazon.com
Master & Dynamic recently released two new versions of its MW07 wireless earbuds. There’s a sport-focused pair, the MW07 Go ($200), and a pair with noise-cancelation, the MW07 Plus ($300). Both are cool and new, but the original MW07 wireless earbuds are still available — and now they’re $50 cheaper than they used to be. These are a great AirPod alternative.
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16. Apple AirPods Pro
Price: $249
From: apple.com
Apple’s “Pro” AirPods have a bunch of key new upgrades. They sound better. They have noise-canceling and transparency modes. They’re sweat- and water-resistant. And, maybe best of all, they have silicone tips and so will definitely fit snugly in people’s ears.
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17. Arturia Microbrute
Price: $349
From: arturia.com
Here we have a great entry-level synthesizer that any aspiring musician or tech enthusiast will love. It’s super easy to use, but it also has more sophisticated controls that advanced musicians will be into. It’s a great beginner instrument that you can grow and improve with.
18. Oculus Quest
Price: $399
From: amazon.com
The Oculus Quest is the perfect gateway into virtual reality. It lets you play similar games to the higher-end and more-expensive Oculus Rift, as the headset utilizes similar Touch controllers and offers six degrees of freedom. Yes,you can play games and walk around the room. But crucially, it doesn’t need to be tethered to a computer nor does it need a dedicated room. The Quest is portable and you can play it anywhere.
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19. Sonos Port
Price: $399
From: sonos.com
Tech and hi-fi often go hand-in-hand, and if the person you’re shopping for fits that bill, the all-new Sonos Port is a great gift idea. It’ll connect to their existing stereo or receiver, and essentially turn their their non-Sonos system into something that has all the ease-of-use that Sonos is famous for. Stream on.
20. Apple Watch Series 5
Price: $399+
From: apple.com
The Series 5 is the best Apple Watch ever made and probably the best smartwatch ever made to boot. It adds an always-on display, a faster processor and a compass sensor (so you always know which direction you’re headed) to the already excellent Series 4. If the person you’re shopping for has an iPhone, this might be the best gift you can get them.
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21. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Price: $399+
From: amazon.com
Bose has been the king of noise-canceling headphones for decades. Its new Headphones 700 are the best the company has ever made. They have an all-new design, better sound and noise-canceling abilities than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, and deliver the best-ever call experience on a pair of headphones. Yes, they’re expensive, but they’re one of the best-sounding things you can possibly put on your dome.
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Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar
Price: $2,500
From: store.gearpatrol.com
It features five dedicated high-fidelity tweeters that deliver studio-quality sound, six long-throw woofers producing extreme 30Hz bass, and midrange vocals recreated with breath-taking precision. AMBEO Soundbar delivers a 3D home audio experience like you’ve never heard before. Developed with Fraunhofer, the AMBEO Soundbar merges with the acoustics of your environment that delivers a fully immersive sound experience, placing you in the center of the action. And with the Smart Control App, you can adjust your acoustic settings and tailor your sound to your own personal taste. Compatible with iOS and Android smartphones, the AMBEO Soundbar makes the entire experience completely seamless.