As a tech reporter for NBC Select, I am usually bombarded with questions about gifts around the holidays. “What should I buy my mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, cousin, bestie” — you get the idea. But there is always a caveat: something like “they only use Apple products” or “they hate tech-y stuff but I know they want a fitness tracker.”
If you feel overwhelmed by all the options or are shopping for someone picky, you’ve come to the right place. I test all kinds of tech every year, so I am intimately familiar with the latest gadgets and the standbys people can’t live without. Below you’ll find gifts for tech enthusiasts, tech-averse, and everyone in between.
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Best audio tech gifts
If your giftee hates the feeling of rubber eartips clogging their eardrums, chances are they will enjoy an open earbud like the latest AirPods 4. The earbuds rest in the ear without any rubber eartips, leaving the ear mostly open to the environment. AirPods 4 have better battery life, clearer audio and microphone quality and improved water and dust protection compared to the previous version, so they make for a great gift even if your recipient owns the older AirPods.
These are our favorite over-ear headphones, especially for travel. Plane, train and automobile noise fades instantly once I put on these noise-canceling headphones, plus they don’t feel hot or uncomfortable, even after a five hour flight. They work well on all kinds of devices, come with a wired connection for seatback entertainment and a hard travel case.
If they want to listen to their favorite playlist or audiobook and still hear traffic and pedestrians while they run, bike or skate, these are a great option. The Shokz OpenRun are one of our favorite workout headphones because they don’t block your ear from hearing noise around you — instead they rest on the side of your head and use vibrations to transmit sounds. NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson and I have both used these headphones to stay safe while running and biking in heavily-trafficked areas.
Best home tech gifts
An iPad is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to watch their favorite TV shows around the house or just enjoys a bigger screen for video chatting. It has a large, 11-inch high resolution screen and two speakers, one on each end, for a clear, stereo-esk sound. It also comes in fun, bright colors. “I bought myself an iPad last Black Friday and it was the best decision I could have made,” says NBC Select senior editor Lindsay Schneider. “I essentially use mine in place of a laptop — and it costs way less than a new MacBook so it’s really worth it. I mostly use it for emails, online shopping and streaming so if your giftee loves to do basic tasks, then you can’t go wrong with this.”
If they’ve been meaning to upgrade their laptop,this MacBook Air is one of the best on the market, and my favorite for lightweight travel. It weighs about three pounds, and the 13-inch screen is comfortable enough for work but small enough to fit in most backpacks without issue. It gets up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge.
I didn’t see the point of a small, portable vacuum cleaner like this one until someone gifted one to me. It’s been indispensable for cleaning small nooks and crannies regular cordless vacuums just can’t get to. It’s also great for cleaning things like cars and strollers.
The Aura Aspen is one of the best digital photo frames on the market — believe me, I’ve tested a few. It’s exceedingly easy for the owner, friends and family to upload photos to the photo frame. And if you’re gifting the Aura Aspen, you can set it up virtually by scanning the QR on the packaging so it already has photos the second they set it up.
Best travel tech gifts
If you know they own an iPhone, chances are they will find a good use for an Apple Airtag. It’s a Bluetooth tracker that shows its precise location using Apple’s FindMy app. I’ve gifted these to friends and family (they make a great stocking stuffer), and everyone finds them easy to set up and use. It doesn’t come with a strap, so something like this Belkin AirTag holder is a great secondary gift so they can attach it to luggage or a backpack.
If you know they don’t use an iPhone, but tend to lose track of things, this Bluetooth tracker from Tile works similar to an AirTag. It uses the Tile app (available on iPhone and Android) to show you the location of the tracker. Similar to an AirTag, it also has a replaceable coin-shaped CR2023 battery inside — consider adding extra batteries into your gift box for added longevity.
This small power bank is my current go-to for keeping my phone and headphones charged on trips. It has a retractable charging cable that’s there when you need it and you can tuck it away when you don’t. It also has two extra ports if you do need to plug in two devices at once.
The Kindle Paperwhite is our favorite e-reader, and is the best way to take all your books wherever you go (without the weight of dozens of hard copies). It has a glare-free screen that makes reading in bright sunlight easy, and up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. I take mine with me whenever I go on a trip because it barely weighs anything in my bag and provides hours of entertainment.
I have a hard time holding my phone with one hand: This Popsocket solves that problem by adding a grip to the middle of the phone so I can hold it steady no matter where I’m swiping on the screen. Unlike other Popsockets, this one has a hinged design that folds out and becomes a kickstand so you can stand your phone up vertically. It attaches to the back of any iPhone that has MagSafe compatibility (iPhone 12 and onward).
This point-and-shoot camera is one of our favorites, especially for gifting. It fits in a pocket so it’s great for travel, and the photos look real and slightly vintage in a way that’s appealing, especially compared to the hyper sharp, super colorful photos most smartphones take these days. Just be sure to also get them an SD card to store their photos on the camera.
Best gaming tech gifts
If they love to play games on their phone, this controller could be their new favorite accessory. They can mount this to the sides of their phone, making gaming feel much more comfortable and precise, similar to a traditional gaming controller, in my experience.
It’s been nearly eight years since the original Nintendo Switch launched back in 2017 — now everyone I know wants a Nintendo Switch 2. It makes sense: Nintendo makes some of the best games, and the Switch 2 already has excellent games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World to play. Like the original, they can play the Switch 2 on the TV and switch to a handheld mode instantly by taking the console out of the docking station at any time. You can learn more in my Nintendo Switch 2 review.
Best fitness tech gifts
The last time I gave a massage gun, everyone in the group wanted to try it out immediately. This model from Theragun is great for loosening stiff and sore muscles. It’s also easy to use: it has one button that turns it on, off and changes between three speeds. It comes with three massager attachments (wide, standard and narrow) that can help you better target individual muscles or problem areas.
The FitBit Charge 6 is a fitness tracker best for beginners looking to start a new fitness journey or just monitor basics like steps, heart rate and sleep. One of its best traits is its seven-day battery life — your giftee won’t have to worry about charging it nearly as often as their phone. It connects to the FitBit app on their phone to show all kinds of health, sleep and workout data.
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Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter who covers technology, fitness and gaming, including guides to fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, and popular gadgets like the Oura Ring 4 and Nintendo Switch 2. For this article, I curated gifts using my first-hand experience with products, NBC Select staff recommendation, previous coverage and top-rated items from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
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