Tech gadgets make for great holiday gifts, but with so many new phones, laptops, tablets and accessories launching all the time, where do you even start? That’s where we come in. We’ve got recommendations for every type of gadget lover on your list — ones that we picked based on the rigorous hands-on testing out we do year-round.
From affordable stocking stuffers to splurge gifts for that special someone, here are the best tech gifts to buy this holiday season. And if you need more?gift ideas, we’ve got you covered with great?gift ideas for men,?gift ideas for women?and some of the best?Amazon gifts.
If you’re team Android (or want an item tracker that works with any device), the Tile Mate is a great Apple AirTag alternative and one of the most popular trackers out there. It can help you find your stuff from up to 250 feet away, and unlike the AirTag, it has a useful hole for easily attaching to your keys. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
We’ve long loved the AirFly, a must-have for travelers who want to use their Bluetooth headphones or AirPods with the TV inside the chair in front of them on a plane. It lasts over 20 hours — more than enough for a super-long flight or round trip — and the AirFly Pro Deluxe includes a crucial international adapter for when you’ve got a long haul. And since we’re talking about tiny pieces here, TwelveSouth even throws in a neat suede bag so you don’t lose a thing!?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
The latest?Amazon Echo Dot?adds better sound, new sensors and Wi-Fi extension capabilities to what’s long been our favorite budget smart speaker. If you want to give your loved one the gift of Alexa for the first time, here’s where you should start. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
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This isn’t the ergonomic keyboard you may be familiar with. Logitech’s Wave Keys keyboard ditches the split-keyboard look for a more natural-looking design, and its built-in wrist rest helps enable a more comfortable experience. In the month and a half since I got my testing unit, I haven’t even thought about going back to my pricey mechanical keyboard once. It even helps you make your own keyboard shortcuts. My F5 key is all I need to click at the end of the day, and the F6 key will open all the apps I need in the morning. It also pairs with up to three devices, which is great for those of us who have a secondary computer or tablet nearby. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
Our favorite budget tablet, the newest?Fire 7?is a great stocking stuffer for anyone getting their first tablet. It’s got access to all the key apps you need, it offers long battery life within an attractive design and it’s loaded with perks for Amazon Prime members. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Portable chargers seemed a bit boring until tiny little displays began creeping into them so you could get a more exact readout of their current capacity. It only makes sense too: Your phone can tell you its remaining battery percentage, why not your charger? Anker’s neat 10,000mAh Nano Power Bank is also perfect for folks who like to share, as its capacity is big enough to refuel your phone and a friend’s. On top of all that, its built-in USB-C cord is elegantly designed to work as a strap to carry the charger. It’s been an essential item when I’m out and about ever since I got my new iPhone 15 Pro Max. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
The home entertainment center and home office accrue cruft and dust faster than you can say “I don’t have time to clean.” So, for the friend who’s always trying to make their space a bit cleaner, there’s no better gift that says “I get it” than this tiny vacuum cleaner. One of my favorite gifts to myself from the last year, the Brigii Y120 is a USB-C chargeable vacuum that helps keep everything tidy. Your keyboard, drawers and consoles will thank you later. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
If your loved one is an aspiring Twitch or YouTube star — or if they just need a simple microphone so people can actually hear them on Zoom calls, the Yeti Orb is a great pickup. This compact microphone has excellent sound quality for the price, complete with gaming-friendly features like RGB lighting and a wealth of voice customization options. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
If you’re shopping for someone looking to stay on top of their health, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great choice. In addition to providing advanced features like heart rate and sleep tracking, the Charge 6 is also essentially a cheaper Pixel Watch — complete with handy apps like Google Maps, Google Wallet and YouTube Music for getting places and listening to music without grabbing your phone. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Sharing a fun moment on social media is great, but as certain apps become more of a drag to use, the HP Sprocket steps in to say, “Make that memory permanent.” It doesn’t even need to be plugged in to print, as its internal battery charges while plugged in. Oh, and because it uses Zink technology instead of actual ink, you’ll never need to replace cartridges; you’ll just have to buy more packs of printer paper. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
Someone in your life probably loves their AirPods Max. They wear them everywhere, and they’re probably getting annoyed by how they’re not that unique anymore. Enter these genuine leather AirPods Max covers from Commuter NY, a brand appealing to the sneakerheads among us. With a pebbled texture that reminds us of the best Nikes and enough colors to match your actual shoes and outfits, these “Walkman” covers are the perfect way to upgrade your AirPods Max.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
Apple may be out on leather, but casemaker Bullstrap is still impressing with its genuine leather iPhone cases. For the loved one who vents about how Apple’s “FineWoven” cases aren’t that fine, these MagSafe compatible cases offer an excellent feel and lovely colors. Oh, and if you own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, they actually put a physical button for the new Action button, unlike some other major case makers.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
We all know at least one person who is two or three items deep into the Apple ecosystem, and Twelve South’s HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand is perfect for that. Unlike most similar charging stations, it’s pretty slim, so it doesn’t take up much space on your desk or dresser. From its MagSafe charging puck stand wrapped in vegan leather to its Apple Watch fast-charger to hidden third Qi charging bay in the back, the HiRise 3 Deluxe keeps your tech nearby and refueled. Oh, and the MagSafe charger can be tilted up and down, which is perfect for iOS 17’s StandBy smart display mode, helping you keep a clear line of sight at the time, photos or other widget you chose.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
The MacBook Air M2 is our best laptop pick and a great choice for nearly anyone on your list. It’s thin and light enough for travelers, comes in 13-inch and 15-inch variations, is powerful enough for casual users and budding creatives alike and is cheaper than ever these days. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
The 2021 iPad is still our?favorite tablet, offering fast performance, access to tons of great apps and seamless connectivity to all your other Apple products. Better yet, it’s almost always on sale these days. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Seeking an inexpensive gift for the traveler or music fanatic in your life? Go with the Sony XB100, the latest version of what’s long been our favorite portable Bluetooth speaker. This small cylinder pumps out an impressively big sound, with plenty of clarity, detail and thumping bass for your road adventures and shower singalongs. It’s tiny enough to throw in any bag or strap to your bike, comes in a range of gorgeous colors (we especially love blue and orange) and is IP67 rated to handle any spills at the pool or beach. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
While the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones may not swing every iPhone user — I tested them extensively for my Bose QC Ultra Headphones vs. Apple AirPods Max face-off — they’re damn good. So good, in fact, I’d say they’re one of the very top pairs of cans any Android user would love to own — and a pair that even this AirPods Max owner loved when testing them out. Bose’s sound and active noise canceling remains on par with all rivals, if not better. Plus, a new set of Immersive Audio settings means you can opt for a more compelling sound.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer?
You can’t go wrong with the classic AirPods, especially now that they’re cheaper than they’ve ever been. A perfect gift for those yet to jump on the wireless earbuds train, the 2nd-generation AirPods pair effortlessly with iPhones and offer fantastic sound as well as easy access to hands-free Siri controls. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
If you’re willing to splurge on someone who wants the best of the best, the?AirPods Pro 2are the way to go. They have some of the best active noise cancellation we’ve ever tested, along with superb sound and a more durable case that you can even attach to your lanyard. Better yet, they now come in a USB-C variation that you can charge with the same cable you use for your MacBook and iPad. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Got a nostalgic gamer on your list? My Arcade’s Nano Player Pro takes the arcade games you loved from the ’80s and ’90s and shrinks them down into adorable desk toys. With models based on iconic titles like Pac-Man, Galaga, Space Invaders and Street Fighter, these fully functional mini cabinets offer an authentic arcade experience without costing you any quarters — or the sheer amount of cash and space you’d need for the real thing. I personally have the Ms. Pac-Man variation at my desk, which, uh, hasn’t hampered my productivity one bit. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Perfect for the gamer in your life, the?Backbone One?is by far the best mobile gaming controller we’ve tested. This handy attachment turns your smartphone into a Switch-like gaming machine, with console-quality controls and a handy companion app that lets you access your favorite mobile games (and cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna) all in one place. The Backbone comes in both iPhone and Android variants, and there’s a handy new USB-C model that’s perfect for playing high-end games like Resident Evil Village on your iPhone 15 Pro. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Comfortable and compatible with PC, Android, Mac, iPhone and either Xbox or PlayStation, the Astro A30 Lightspeed gaming headset is great for folks who love to multitask. For example, I was able to pair my laptop over Bluetooth while the USB receiver connected to my Xbox Series X so I could easily put Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ score for“The Social Network” as the background music for Starfield. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
It’s a classic conundrum: You want to binge trash reality TV, and your partner wants to play their PS5. Instead of arguing over who gets the big screen, just get them a PlayStation Portal. This unique handheld gaming device lets you stream your PS5 games to a vivid 8-inch screen, complete with the same substantial controls and immersive haptics of the standard PS5 DualSense controller. Just don’t be surprised when they’re suddenly playing their PS5 games in bed all night. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
If you have a Mario fan in your life who’s yet to upgrade their Nintendo Switch to the OLED edition, now’s the perfect time. The Mario Red Edition Nintendo Switch OLED offers all the same perks as the regular edition OLED?— a brighter, more colorful screen, a better kickstand, an Ethernet port in the dock — plus neat little design tweaks that practically yelp “it’s-a-me!” As a Switch owner who’s still yet to get it for himself, I’m hoping someone I know is reading this gift list. Those who enjoy fighting games should wait until Black Friday’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate bundle, though, which throws in a copy of the fantastic brawler for free.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
The Xbox Game Pass subscription unlocked a whole new era of gaming that’s been great for those ready to move past optical media — and it’s an especially good value when combined with the all-digital and affordable Xbox Series S. However, that system’s 500GB onboard storage will fill up with games fast. Fortunately, you can kiss micromanaging installs goodbye with this new, all-black Xbox Series S, as it doubles the size of the super-speedy storage that enables lightning-fast gameplay and Microsoft’s awesome Quick Resume feature that lets you hop between games in seconds. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
The Fire TV Stick 4K is a great way to supercharge your old TV with streaming capabilities, offering access to essentials like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and Hulu and support for beautiful 4K playback in Dolby Vision and HDR. Better yet, the newest model packs Wi-Fi 6 for even faster streaming. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
Samsung’s Freestyle projector has long been a favorite of ours, and for good reason. This projector lets you beam up to a 100-image screen onto any surface, all within a sleek, cylindrical design that’s a breeze to throw in a bag and bring to your next camping trip or rooftop party. The new second-generation Freestyle’s Gaming Hub also lets you stream tons of big-name games from services like Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna, meaning you can fire up a game of Halo or Mortal Kombat anywhere — even the roof of your tent. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
As the streaming world goes through customer-alienating changes, it’s never been a better time to own a very good 4K Blu-ray player and build a library of physical media. The best ones support Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio standards, which make content look and sound better. Somehow video game consoles don’t offer it for physical media. Whether I’m watching “Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One” in gorgeous 4K with director Christopher McQuarrie’s excellent commentary or the devastatingly emotional indie film “The Worst Person in the World,” I always watch on the Panasonic DP-UB820 when I can. While Sony makes more affordable 4K Blu-ray players, I’ve found them to be unreliable in practice — often freezing on perfectly clean discs — and this model is far more reliable.?— Henry T. Casey, electronics writer
If you’re looking for a gift that can truly turn heads,?Samsung’s The Frame TV?is one of our favorites that we’ve tested. This unique television has the ability to double as a gorgeous digital art display when you’re not watching your favorite shows, making it much nicer to look at in your living room than a blank screen. Oh, and it’s a pretty good QLED TV for when you’re actually watching stuff. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
For those willing to splurge on a special someone — or themselves, we don’t judge — the Sony Bravia XR A95L is our new favorite high-end TV. Available in 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch variations, this stunning OLED set offers beautiful picture quality, snappy performance, impressive built-in speakers and even an included webcam that lets the TV adapt to where you’re sitting. It’s also a great pick for gaming, with HDMI 2.1 support that allows it to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer
