Amazing new gadgets enter the market year-round. That means the latest and greatest tech changes all the time. With a plethora of options to choose from, you can find cool tech gifts for any kind of person in your life. New noise-canceling headphones, amazing video game systems and useful smart home accessories are just some of our favorite pieces of tech for gift giving. We’ve collected 25 of our favorite pieces of tech to help you find a memorable gift for anyone on your list.
Best tech gifts this year
Today’s gadgets can take the form of fun entertainment devices or useful tools for everyday living. And these days, you hardly need to be tech savvy to use them. If you know a gamer, an adventure seeker, avid reader, coffee drinker or someone who just loves to listen to music, there’s a gift here they will appreciate. To help you sift through these various gift ideas, we compiled them into the following categories:
- Bestselling tech gifts
- Tech gifts for gamers
- Tech gifts for entertainment
- Tech gifts for music lovers
- Tech gifts for phone enthusiasts
- Tech gifts for expanded productivity
- Tech gifts for new parents
- Tech gift for the bibliophile
- Tech gifts for adventure seekers
- Tech gifts for smart home lovers
Bestselling tech gifts
Smartish’s Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 for iPhone 14
The Wallet Slayer is both a phone case and a card wallet. It can reduce the number of objects in your pocket while keeping all your valuable items together. There’s a reason we recommended the iPhone 13 version earlier this year — we found the case durable, comfortable and relatively slim. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use it in tandem with a wireless charger or MagSafe accessories.
Apple AirTag
Always losing your keys? Or does your pet keep running off? The Apple AirTag is a reliable way to keep track of commonly misplaced items, allowing you to track the location of the AirTag via smartphone. Like many Apple devices, you can get it engraved with personalized information, free of charge.
Meta Quest 2 VR headset
The Meta Quest 2 is one of our favorite gifts for gamers. Formerly called the Oculus Quest 2, the Meta Quest 2 offers a wide variety of VR entertainment through its high-resolution, wireless headset. For your first VR game, we recommend Beat Saber – a fun rhythm action game in the style of Guitar Hero but with lightsabers.
Tech gifts for gamers
Valve Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a super-powerful mobile gaming console that plays all kinds of PC games. Our experts recommended the Steam Deck for PC gamers wanting to play their favorite games on the go. The Steam Deck released in 2022, and the brand is still ironing out some software issues. We recommend checking the brand’s official “Verified” list of 100% compatible games if you have specific must-play titles in mind.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is popular among Select staff and our experts. It's a hybrid gaming console that you can connect to a TV and play on the go easily. It is also the home to many critically acclaimed best selling games like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as well as laugh-out-loud multiplayer games like Overcooked!. Anyone interested in great games will find something to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch.
Xbox Game Pass Subscription
An Xbox Game Pass subscription is one of our favorite gifts for gamers. It is essentially the Netflix of video games – a monthly subscription service with a rotating library of hundreds of new, top-rated and classic video games. The subscription service is available on Xbox or PC.
Tech gift for entertainment
Fire TV Stick 4K
You can turn any HDMI-connected TV into a smart streaming device with this Fire TV Stick 4K. The device plugs into the HDMI port on the back or side of any TV and allows watchers to log in to streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and more. The remote is Alexa-enabled, meaning you can quickly guide your TV with your voice rather than scroll for hours on end.
LG C2 4K OLED TV
According to our experts, this screen from LG is one of the best TVs on the market today. It has an extremely detailed 4K picture that uses advanced OLED lighting. It's also great for gamers, as it has modern connectivity, like HDMI 2.1 and a fast 120Hz screen. This 55-inch model would be a good fit for living rooms, family rooms and other larger spaces, according to the brand.
Tech gifts for music lovers
Sonos Roam portable Bluetooth speaker
With characteristically strong sound from Sonos, useful smart home connectivity and a bassy output that helps it stand out amid noisy outdoors settings, this affordable speaker is a great gadget to buy as a gift. IP67 water and dust resistance protects it from rain, sand and even brief, 30-minute dips in the pool, according to the brand. It is also compatible with wireless charging, with a 9- to 10-hour battery life.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones
These Sony headphones are the latest in a long-line of top-rated noise canceling headphones from the brand. Its reported 30-hour battery life will last days in the office as well as any long-haul flight, making it a great choice for travelers. It also features a wide frequency range (4Hz-40,000-Hz), meaning a wider range of sounds in your favorite music. The noise cancellation can block out unwanted background chatter, although a dedicated ambient mode also records outside noise via external headphones, playing them back to you through the speakers, in case you want to be clued into your surroundings.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Apple’s latest AirPods Pro earbuds match the price of the previous model while upping audio performance, improving battery life to a total 30 hours (with the charging case), and offering standout noise cancellation in this compact form factor. It also has Spatial Audio for a slight surround sound effect. This second-generation model is easier to find if misplaced, as it includes a tiny speaker on the case that rings when using the “Find My” app.
Tech gifts for phone enthusiasts
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
For Apple enthusiasts, this iPhone offers the fastest performance, clearest screen and most detailed camera. One of the biggest improvements from the iPhone 13 is the camera system – the main camera shoots 48MP shots, a big improvement from the 13’s 12MP camera. The new software, especially the Dynamic Island feature, makes navigating around the screen easier, according to the brand and many reviewers.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
If you or your loved one misses the compact style of ‘90s flip phones, consider Samsung’s foldable Flip 4 smartphone. It’s a full sized smartphone that folds in half thanks to a hinge located halfway down the display. The ‘cover screen’ lets you see notifications, take selfies and pay for items even while folded. The aluminum body comes in multiple colors, all of which are IPX8 water resistant, according to the brand.
Tech gifts for expanded productivity
Logitech K380 Keyboard for Mac
Select writer Harry Rabinowitz has used the Logitech K380 for years, and recommends it for anyone looking to get more out of their laptop, tablet or even smartphone. It is a comfortable Bluetooth keyboard that can connect to up to three different devices. This model has a Mac-specific keyboard layout, but Logitech also offers a PC version for Windows users.
Logitech MX Master 3s Wireless Mouse
This top-rated wireless and Bluetooth mouse is a great fit for power-users looking to get more done throughout the day. Select writer Harry Rabinowitz has used this mouse for years and appreciates the premium feel, two scroll wheels, extensive software customization and long battery life. The Logitech MX Master 3s is available for both PC and Mac systems.
Tech gifts for new parents
Hatch Rest Night Light Sound Machine
Part sound machine, part night-light, the Hatch Rest can be customized with 10 colors and 11 sounds, including lullabies, rain, ocean waves, birds and even the clothes dryer to create a comforting environment to help your child fall asleep – and stay asleep. In addition, the Hatch app lets you.program colors and sounds for naptime, bedtime and wake-up time right from your smart devices to help your child maintain a proper sleep schedule, says the brand.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
The DXR-8 baby monitor is a top-rated device that’s lightweight and portable. It provides a continual video feed, with up to 700 feet of visual range, and a camera you can control from afar – meaning you can pan, tilt and zoom to get a good angle for your space. With a claimed 10-hour battery life, it should last well through the day (or night) and ensure you can check on your child while around the house.
Tech gift for the bibliophile
Kindle Paperwhite 2022
The Kindle Paperwhite is a staff favorite, providing a comfortable way to read ebooks and listen to audiobooks. This 2022 model stands out from previous versions because of its adjustable screen color — you can use gentler, warm light for easy reading during nighttime. It charges via USB-C, is fully waterproof and can pair with Bluetooth audio devices for listening to audiobooks. Those who want something a little more compact, lightweight and with a sharper screen should check out Amazon's more affordable All New Kindle, which has double the storage (16GB) and a runtime of up to six weeks on a single charge.
Tech gifts for adventure seekers
Samsung Galaxy Watch5
The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 includes plenty of smart tracking features that fitness minded users will find useful. Similar to a Fitbit or Apple Watch, it can track exercise, distances, sleep and more. The Watch5 features an improved screen that’s 1.6 times stronger than the Watch4, according to the brand. It comes in 40mm and 44 sizing, with a variety of colors and watch brands to choose from.
Anker 313 Power Bank
It can be tricky to keep gadgets charged while enjoying a big adventure away from home. A portable power bank like the 313 PowerCore Slim from Anker can charge multiple portable devices without the need for outlets. It has 10,000mAh of battery, which the brand claims is enough to fully charge an iPhone 13 twice. It is also one of the brand's most affordable power banks.
Hyperice Hypervolt 2
Tech heads serious about fitness and adventure may appreciate a massage gun like the Hypervolt 2 to help relieve sore muscles. Our experts recommend it for its great value, wide variety of attachments, different speed modes and quiet operation. The Hypervolt 2 is lighter than its predecessor, weighing just under 2 pounds, and has an improved ergonomic design, says the brand.
Equa smart water bottle
This 23-ounce smart water bottle makes for a unique gift. You can connect it to a smartphone app to control the LED rim at the bottom of the bottle. Through the app, you can set a schedule that will flash the LED at regular intervals, reminding you to drink water. It keeps your drink cold for up to 24 hours and your drink hot for up to 12, says the brand.
Tech gifts for smart home lovers
Kasa Smart Plug
Smart Plugs like this two-pack from Kasa allow you to add a bit of smarthome to any device. When a lamp, TV or other electronic device is plugged in through this smart plug, users can control it remotely via the Kasa app or through a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This Kasa Smart Plug has a 4.6-star average rating across 79,361 Amazon reviews. For connecting with an Apple Homekit, be sure to get the EP10P2 version.
Philips WiZ Smart Bulb
One of our favorite smart bulbs. the WiZ is a bit more affordable than many other smart bulb options. It connects to your Wi-Fi and can then be controlled with any smartphone connected to the same Wi-Fi. It can also be controlled through voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Users can choose colors from millions of different hues, according to the brand.
myQ Chamberlain Smart Garage Control
With the myQ Chamberlain Smart Garage Control, you can open and close your garage door from anywhere. Just download the free myQ app and you can begin to monitor suspicious activity, get alerted if you left the door open, or open the door for deliveries. The myQ Smart Garage Control is compatible with all major branded openers manufactured with safety sensors after 1993, says the brand. Note, however, that you will need a router with 802.11 B/G/N to support a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency, and the router must be positioned within 50 feet of the Smart Garage Control.
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