As NBC Select’s tech reporter, I am usually bombarded with gifting questions around the holidays. Friends, family and colleagues ask what they should buy for their mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, cousin or bestie. But there’s always a caveat — something like “they already own a ton of Apple gadgets” or “they usually hate anything tech-y but I want to get them a fitness tracker.”
Thankfully, I’ve tested and reviewed all kinds of tech products over the years. In this gift guide, I included a variety of tech and tech-adjacent picks fit for any kind of person on your list: whether that’s your outdoorsy dad who hates technology or gamer partner who thinks they have it all.
SKIP AHEAD: Bestselling tech gifts | Tech gifts for homebodies | Tech gifts for travelers | Tech gifts for gamers | Tech gifts for the outdoors | Tech gifts for athletes | Why trust NBC Select?
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Bestselling tech gifts
Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K
I gifted this portable power bank to one of my best friends years ago and she still sends me selfies using it across the world. It’s one of our go-to travel accessories because it can charge your phone, tablet, headphones and earbuds while you are on the move or off the grid. It has USB-A and USB-C ports, and comes with both types of cable in the box, meaning they can charge almost all their devices.
Apple AirTag
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, and everyone finds them easy to set up and use. It does not come with a strap, so something like this Belkin AirTag holder can help them attach it to luggage or a backpack.
Tile Pro Tracker (2024)
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.
Tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve
I’ve used this protective laptop case for years, and it makes for a great gift for students. It has a zipper closure with extra layers of padding around the corners to protect my laptop from any accidental drops or bumps. The top zipper pocket isn’t very deep, but can store extra cables or earbuds easily. It comes in different colors and is available in 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch and 16-inch sizes.
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This Bluetooth speaker is small, lightweight, water-resistant and very affordable, compared to other brands. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio uses it at parties and picnics, because it has a loud and clear sound.
It connects over Bluetooth and can be controlled wirelessly, but also has buttons on the top as a backup option. If they are a big beach lover, consider one of our other favorite Bluetooth speakers, as this one does not have any dust-resistance rating.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
If you want to give them one of the best wireless earbuds money can buy (and you know they use an iPhone), the AirPods Pro 2 are it. They have the best sound, noise-canceling and call quality of all of Apple’s earbuds, in my experience. Our team has used them for everything from work calls, exercise, travel and even drifting off to sleep.
Tech gifts for homebodies
Apple iPad (10th Gen)
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. One of the biggest upgrades in this 10th generation version is the two built-in speakers, one on each side, for a clearer, stereo-style listening experience. It also comes in much brighter colors, giving it a fun pop inside of your gift box.
Amazon Echo Pop
If they tend to ask their voice assistant questions all the time, chances are they will get a lot of use out of an Amazon Echo smart speaker. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin uses the Echo Pop in her bedroom to control her smart lights and get reports on the news and weather in the morning as she gets ready for the day.
Ember Mug 2
Room-temperature coffee can ruin a morning. The Ember Mug solves this tragedy — it can control the temperature of drinks remotely through the Ember app. The temperature ranges between 120 and 145 degrees fahrenheit, which is good for keeping drinks warm, but not pipping hot. The mug has about 1.5 hours of battery, and charges wirelessly on the included coaster.
Canon Ivy 2 Mini Photo Printer
You might not consider a printer high tech, but this one fits into a purse and connects wirelessly to your phone — no cables or big ink cartridges needed. It prints small 2x3 inch photos with peel and stick backs that make it easy to decorate school supplies or an office cubicle. Printing photos can be a great alternative to scrolling through the thousands on your phone, in my experience.
Tech gifts for travelers
Apple MacBook Air 13” (M3)
If they have been meaning to upgrade their computer, Apple’s MacBook Air M3 is one of the best laptops on the market, and it’s currently on sale at its lowest price ever for $849. We’ve used MacBook Air laptops for years because they have a beautifully detailed screen, travel-friendly size and long-lasting batteries (up to 18 hours on this model). This version has Apple’s latest M3 chip for improved performance, and it comes in four colors.
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds
If they hate the feeling of rubber eartips clogging up their eardrums, chances are they will enjoy open earbuds 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, so they make for a great gift even if your giftee owns the older, long-stemmed AirPods 2.
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Great noise cancellation
- No ANC off mode
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 have a hard travel case in the box.
Hicober 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station
Do they hate cable clutter? Same. That’s why I use this flat wireless charging station in my bedroom, so I don’t have a rats nest of cables near my bedside. This model can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and compatible wireless earbuds at once, though the charging pad itself does need to be plugged into the wall.
Topo Designs Accessory Bags
You know where else cable clutter sucks? Travel bags. A simple zippered pouch like this one is great for separating chargers and charging cables from everything else. Any frequent flier with an eye for organization will find a use for one of these accessory bags that come in over 10 colors.
Beats Studio Buds
These are excellent all-purpose earbuds that work on both iPhone and Android devices, so even if you don’t know what phone they have, this is a safe tech gift. They also have premium earbuds features, including noise-cancelling and transparency modes, sweat resistance and up to eight hours of battery life in the earbuds (24 with the charging case). It comes with three different sized eartips, so they can find their best fit.
Kindle Paperwhite
A Kindle e-reader is a great way for them to enjoy all their favorite books and audiobooks without accidently getting lost in phone notifications. They can easily read this Kindle Paperwhite outside in bright sunlight and, unlike a laptop, there’s no glare, says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider. This latest model also has up to 12 weeks of battery life, according to the brand.
Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses
Part sunglasses, part voice assistant, part camera, part headphones, these smart glasses have fully captured the attention of team NBC Select. You can control the sunglasses by tapping the frame or using voice commands. Plus, you can ask the voice assistant questions, listen to music, take calls, snap photos, take videos and more. Being able to record video hands-free is particularly fun — recording picking up your cat or dog without having to hold your phone in one hand makes so much sense.
Tech gifts for gamers
Meta Quest 3s VR Headset
Gaming in a VR headset is completely different from anything else — take it from someone who has tried it. The Meta Quest 3s is VR gaming made easy: all they need is what’s in the box: no additional cables or wall-mounted cameras. For a first game, I recommend Supernatural — a fun exercise game that mixes music and fitness in an exciting and engaging way.
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
The Nintendo Switch is one of our favorite handheld gaming consoles and is a great gift for anyone who doesn’t already have one. This holiday bundle comes with the console and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, one of the best Nintendo Switch games. The best parts of the console are its amazing games and its portability — they can play it on the TV and switch to handheld mode instantly by taking the console out of the dock.
Tech gifts for the outdoors
JBL Clip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
If you asked anyone on the NBC Select team for a speaker recommendation, there’s a good chance they will recommend the JBL Clip 5. If your giftee likes to take their music everywhere (and I mean everywhere), this is the speaker to gift. It has a built-in carabiner that lets them attach it to almost anything: we’ve tried backpack straps, belt loops, bike handlebars, shower curtain rods, kitchen cabinet handles, the list goes on. It’s small, lightweight, loud and weatherproof.
FitBit Charge 6
The FitBit Charge 6 is a fitness tracker best for beginners looking to start a new fitness journey or just track basics like steps, heart rate and sleep, in my experience. One of its best traits is its long seven day battery life — they 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.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
We’ve used this Fujifilm instant camera for weddings, parties and office gags — it’s a fun way to capture memories and share photos as keepsakes instead of photos over text message. It has automatic exposure, built-in flash and a small mirror on the front for framing up selfies. Each film pack can take up to 10 shots.
Tech gifts for athletes
Theragun Relief
I’ve gifted a massage gun in a group setting — everyone wanted a turn to try it out. 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 ball-head attachments (wide, standard and narrow).
Shokz OpenRun Headphones
If they want to listen to their favorite playlist or audiobook and still hear traffic and pedestrians while they run, bike or skate, get them a pair of open ear headphones. The Shokz OpenRun are one of our favorite workout headphones because they do not block your ear at all — instead they rest on the side of your head and use vibrations to transmit sounds. NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson and I have used these headphones to stay safe while running and biking in heavily-trafficked areas.
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Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter who covers technology and fitness including guides to fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, TV brands and more. 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 storefronts like Amazon and Best Buy.
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