From smart bird feeders to portable printers, our favorite gadgets to gift are designed to make everyday life smarter
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The best tech gifts aren’t just for Inspector Gadget — from portable printers to projectors, these gifts can make anyone’s life smarter. Some tech gifts offer a high-tech fix, while others are simply a delight to use. And while many of the best tech gifts are on the cutting edge, some of our favorites are as retro as they get.
Crucially, tech gifts can fit into any category — there are the expected headphones and wearables, sure, but you can also get a smart bird feeder for the garden-loving grandma, a stress-relieving alarm clock that helps the snooze button smasher start their day a little better, or accessories that make old-tech 21st century-friendly.
Of course, tech is a broad term, which is why we’ve broken down our favorites by category, including our favorite audio products, smart home essentials, and quirky, unique gifts that are more about bringing a smile than solving a problem. Read on for our favorite tech gifts of 2024.
Best Audio Gifts
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
If you’re looking for a showstopping gift, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones back up their steep price with excellent active noise-canceling and a premium finish.
Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Radio
Tivoli’s retro radio combines an old-school AM/FM antenna with Bluetooth and AUX, housed in a compact, stylish design that’s ideal for small spaces.
Loop Experience 2 Ear Plugs
Loop’s earplugs are more low-tech than they look, but they’re still a great gift for the music-lover in your life. They’re designed to reduce noise at concerts and live events, without reducing the sound quality, and our editors have loved using Loop earplugs at concerts.
Sonos Era 100
There’s a reason Sonos is a go-to for building a home audio system. Sonos speakers are simple, stylish, and crucially, sound great. The Era 100 is the ideal starting point for building a Sonos system. It features WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, and can be used as a standalone speaker, a stereo set, or as part of a multi-room setup.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Apple’s latest AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are a major leap forward. Not only do they have impressively improved noise-canceling over the previous generation, but the addition of features like heart rate sensing makes these an upgrade well worth waiting for.
WiiM Mini AirPlay 2 Wireless Audio Streamer
Know someone with an old-school audio system that they want to make smart? The WiiM Mini can directly stream from Spotify and other music apps to a stereo.
Soundcore Sport X20
Looking for an affordable pair of earbuds for the fitness junkie in your life? Anker’s Soundcore X20 earbuds were among our favorite earbuds with ear hooks, thanks to the comfortable, flexible hooks.
Best Tech Accessory Gifts
HP Sprocket Instant Smartphone Photo Printer
HP’s instant printer connects to your phone via Bluetooth to print photos, making it easy to make personal mementos on the go. The printer uses special photo paper that doesn’t require ink.
Nintendo Switch 2
The latest Switch 2 is a welcome sequel to Nintendo’s handheld console, offering playability in handheld, tabletop, and TV modes. According to our review, “What worked great before — the seamless transition between portable and home play, smart implementation of its Joy-Con, and a likely future-classic library — is all present.”
Targus Ergonomic Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard
Know someone who’s always working on the go? Targus’ mini folding keyboard turns a phone or tablet into a mobile workstation. It can connect to up to three devices, and it’s compatible with Chrome OS, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Apple AirTag
Apple’s AirTags are a great stocking stuffer for anyone who frequently misplaces their keys, and they can buy peace of mind for items like luggage. AirTags are only compatible with iPhones, so you’ll want to go for an alternative like Tile if you have an Android.
Bellroy Phone Case
Most phone wallets are a lot less discreet than Bellroy’s, which features a slot that pops open for stashing three cards. It even has a slot for storing a spare SIM card.
Herman Miller Oripura Laptop Stand
Herman Miller’s laptop stand is a sleek, stylish option for WFH and travel. It’s available in white, yellow, or mint green, and has a dedicated slot for running a charging cable.
Anker Nano Power Bank
Know someone whose phone is always at 1%? Anker’s Nano Power bank is the ideal portable charger for emergency on-the-go-juice. The 5,000mAh capacity won’t get most flagship phones to a full charge, but it’ll keep a phone alive for those no-time-to-sit-down days.
Smart Home Gifts
Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Projector
Nebula’s capsule palm-sized HD projector has up to 2.5 hours of battery life, and the built-in Google TV interface lets you stream content from your favorite apps. Plus, built-in Chromecast lets you stream from your device.
Govee LED Strip Lights
A set of strip lights is a great gift for someone who just moved into a new apartment or dorm. Govee’s strip lights are compatible with Bluetooth or WiFi, and they can even sync with music.
Bird Buddy
Bird Buddy is the ideal gift for the birder in your life, and it’s sure to bring joy to anyone who loves nature. Plus, the user-friendly app can even help you identify different species.
Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock
Hatch’s sunrise alarm clock is a great gift for anyone who struggles to wake up in the morning. It has a gentle light with soothing nature noises to wake you up gently, and you can personalize your routines during the week or weekend.
Google TV Streamer 4K
The dirty secret about smart TVs is that they’re often not so smart — the interfaces can be buggy and slow, so it’s worth having a separate streaming device. Google’s new 4K Streamer is its most advanced, featuring features like an ethernet port for faster streaming and an improved voice remote.
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