The 33 best tech gifts for everyone on your list, from portable speakers to action cameras

Amazon

If you’re shopping for someone who is in need of a compact Alexa speaker, you can’t go wrong with the Echo Dot. Amazon’s tiny, orb-shaped Dot can answer questions, set timers, and control tons of other compatible smart home devices. This new fifth-gen model even adds a temperature sensor and improved bass to offer a bit more oomph when listening to music.

Sonos

Sonos is one of the most trusted names in wireless audio. Though mostly known for its lineup of home speakers, the company’s portable Roam is a great pick for anyone who wants an on-the-go speaker with a few extra bells and whistles. The Sonos Roam has a travel-friendly, waterproof design with Bluetooth playback and 10 hours of battery life. As a bonus, it also supports Wi-Fi with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can use it as a smart speaker when at home.

Roku

A streaming stick is a great gift idea for anyone rocking an old “dumb” TV without Wi-Fi, or anyone unhappy with the speed of their existing smart TV’s interface. This 4K stick from Roku is one of the best on the market, and it’s typically on sale for less than similar options from the competition. We also find Roku’s interface to be the simplest to navigate. Just make sure your giftee’s display has an HDMI port. Read our Roku Streaming Stick 4K review for full impressions.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

There are tons of wireless headphones out there, but if you’re aiming to gift the best of the best this holiday season, you should splurge for Sony’s highly rated WH-1000XM5. They’re our top pick for the best noise-canceling headphones, and are a great fit for listeners who want industry leading noise cancelation without sacrificing audio quality. They’re pricey, but earn their price tag with best-in-class performance. Check out our WH-1000XM5 review for more details.

Isabel Fernández and Crystal Cox/Insider

If you’re shopping for a book lover who hasn’t made the switch to an e-reader yet, you can help them embrace the world of ebooks with a Kindle Paperwhite. This model is one of our favorite e-readers, and is the best Kindle for most people. It has a few extra features that the standard Kindle doesn’t have, including an adjustable light and waterproof design, which make it more travel friendly. Check out our Kindle Paperwhite review for more details.

Amazon

Few things are more convenient than a wireless charging pad. If you’ve got a supported smartphone, you can just set it down and let it charge without worrying about having to find that pesky cable you’re always losing. This pad from Belkin is an affordable option that’s perfect for gifting. It works with Qi-enabled devices like iPhones and Android phones, and can charge at up to 15W so you can get your devices powered up quickly.

Best Buy

One of the most useful tech products we’ve ever used, the FastFoto scans photos and documents in an instant. Simply feed a printed material into the machine and it’ll scan and send the image to a computer or mobile device for storage and sharing. The latest model is Wi-Fi-enabled, so it can be placed anywhere in a home. It’s the perfect gift for anyone with tons of printed photos lying around.

Best Buy

For the bedside or to tame a desktop, the Trio is a place to wirelessly charge an Apple Watch, phone, and accessory like earbuds. LED lights indicate if a device is charging properly, while a minimalist design looks good wherever it’s placed.

Amazon

This portable battery attaches to the back of an iPhone via MagSafe, but it also has a built-in kickstand to prop it up for when you want to relax and watch some videos. The USB-C port can be used to charge other devices or recharge the 5,000-mAh battery itself.

Amazon

If regular tablets, like iPads, are too complex for grandparents or older adults you want to video call, the Grandpad is the solution. It’s an ultra-simplified tablet designed to make it easier to stay in touch with the technologically-challenged, and the company even thought of homes that don’t have Wi-Fi — it can connect to US Cellular’s mobile network. It’s more expensive than an iPad, but you’re paying for a unique customer service experience where friendly support agents can help users with issues 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

Amazon

Looking to declutter the tech jungle that is your desktop? The Logi Dock acts as a hub that you connect all your devices to, which helps to create a tidier-looking work area. It also doubles as a stereo speaker with six noise-canceling microphones for video calls; you can use it for entertainment, whether it’s watching movies or streaming music.

Insta360

The Link is one of the best webcams you can buy, and it’s also one of the most innovative in recent years. Created by a camera company, the Link uses a half-inch sensor to deliver terrific video quality, even in low and bright lighting conditions. It can also track and automatically pan and tilt with the user, ensuring they stay at the center of the screen during video calls. When it isn’t in use, the camera folds down for privacy.

Xbox Design Lab

Microsoft’s Xbox wireless controllers already come in a huge variety of colors, but you can also create your own custom one with the Xbox Design Lab. The online tool will let you or your gift recipient decide how each part of the controller looks. Pricing starts at just $10 more than a standard Xbox controller, and Microsoft recently opened customization to the premium Xbox Elite controller.

If you want to let your gift recipient design their own Xbox controller, you can give them a Microsoft or Xbox gift card to cover the final price after customization.

B&H Photo

Fujifilm’s Instax instant cameras are fun, but for many people, the novelty is short-lived. Which is why we like the Instax smartphone printer: Using the same instant film, the printer is designed to work with mobile phones and tablets. Simply pair it via Bluetooth to print photos from the camera roll. Unlike regular Instant cameras, the print quality looks better, too.

HyperX

This wireless headset works on PlayStation consoles as well as PCs, and can last hundreds of hours on a single charge. It’s perfect for communicating with party members during online games and it’s also compatible with Sony’s 3D audio technology on PS5 for immersive spatial sound. The mic can be removed when not in use, and the headset features controls for mute and volume control.

Amazon

This sturdy microphone is popular with streamers and podcasters and comes well equipped with on-board controls, a headphone port, LED lighting to meter your sound, and multiple recording profiles.

Walmart

Tile’s Bluetooth tracking devices can help you find lost or misplaced keys, bags, and other essential items. The Tile Starter pack comes with two different models; Tile Mate is designed to easily loop onto keychains, while Tile Card is thin enough to slide into wallets.

Backbone

The Backbone is a portable controller that can turn your phone into a full-fledged gaming device. While smartphones can already connect to controllers via Bluetooth, the Backbone provides a direct connection to the device through its USB charging port. This provides a faster, more stable connection, improves battery life, and keeps the Backbone’s controls firmly in place. The gamepad also features a 3.5mm headphone port and a passthrough for charging while you play.

Amazon

The portable JBL Clip delivers solid audio performance and bass for its handy, compact size. The speaker is waterproof and lasts for up to 10 hours on a single charge. Available colors include, black, blue, pink, gray, white, and camouflage.

Amazon

Whether you’re filming YouTube videos at home or just joining Zoom meetings, proper lighting can drastically improve how you appear on camera. The Litra Glow is designed to sit right on top of your computer screen and you can adjust the brightness and warmth of the light to match your surroundings.

Fitbit

FitBit’s latest fitness tracker can help you monitor and manage all sorts of personal health data on a daily basis. Fitbit Inspire features a 24-hour heart rate sensor, sleep tracking, workout tracking for more than 20 exercises, and a personal wellness report.

Blink

These small indoor security cameras include motion detection, nightvision, and two-way audio so you can both see and hear what’s going on around your home, and speak to visitors or pets while you’re away.

Walmart

Fluance’s entry-level turntable makes a great gift for any music lover who wants to dip their toes into the world of vinyl records without breaking the bank or sacrificing quality. Sure, this model lacks the high-end cartridge or extra bells and whistles you’ll find on more expensive players, but it’s a great option for anyone getting started with the hobby. It even features a built-in preamp so you can easily pair them with a set of powered speakers.

Amazon

The Space Q45 shows you can gift a premium pair of headphones without spending more than $150. Though they don’t offer the same level of performance you’ll get with the more expensive Sony XM5, the Q45 are an excellent alternative for shoppers looking to spend less.

Amazon

The Osmo Mobile 6 is a must-have gimbal for anyone who shoots videos with their phones. The handheld grip not only stabilizes your footage, it adds smooth pans and tilts, giving your videos the professional treatment. When not moving around, the Osmo Mobile 6 can be set on a table using the included mini tripod.

Apple

This travel charger lets you leave the cables at home. Designed for Apple devices, there are two wireless chargers for iPhones and AirPods, plus an Apple Watch charger. It folds up for storage inside the included carrying case. Mophie also makes a similar version that works with iPhones and Androids.

Plugable

The Plugable Bluetooth keyboard is the perfect accessory for road warriors. Compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled computer or mobile device, it uses scissor-switch keys that deliver a regular keyboard experience. It folds into itself for storage in the included case, and it doesn’t take up much room when inside a bag.

Bellroy

Whether it’s commuting to work or heading back to the skies for exotic travel, we carry a lot of tech on us. This organizer from one of our favorite companies helps keep cables, earbuds, chargers, and other tech accessories all in one place — no more rummaging through a rucksack to find that Lightning cable again! The Tech Kit uses quality zippers to keep things sealed, and it opens up completely for easy access.

Away

The F.A.R. series is Away’s take on durable travel and commuter goods. Eye-catching designs blend with thoughtful functionality to make them stand out from traditional outdoor gear. The F.A.R. Messenger 16L fits laptops up to 15 inches, as well as tablets. It’s water resistant so you don’t have to worry about your tech getting wet if you’re caught in a downpour. The recycled material is tough yet soft, and there is a hidden pocket for things you need like keys and a phone. We’ve been using one of F.A.R.’s backpacks and find the series’ products to be incredibly well made.

Best Buy

A smart clock functions as a digital assistant for when you first wake up. Besides telling time, it can display calendar entries, tasks, weather, traffic, and anything one needs to start their day. Google Assistant is built in, so you can ask it questions or use it to control your smart home accessories. During downtime, it can play relaxing music to help you fall asleep. The clock comes with a docking station that lets you wirelessly recharge phones.

Best Buy

Elevate the work-from-home warrior’s setup with the M8 from Samsung. This 32-inch 4K display hits the sweet spot in size, as it provides just the right amount of viewing angle and screen real estate. No need for a separate webcam, as there’s one built-in. The M8’s media apps turn it into a smart TV for breaks between meetings or after work. It comes in different colors to suit one’s space or personality.

Amazon

A projector doesn’t need to be big or weigh a ton. The Astro is small and super portable, yet it can project an image up to 100 inches. It supports video connections via USB-C, HDMI, Bluetooth, and AirPlay. The Nebula’s standard definition resolution isn’t suited for a home theater, but it’s ideal for travel, camping, backyard parties, or other on-the-go situations, since it can run off its rechargeable battery. 

GoPro

The Mini version of GoPro’s spectacular Hero 11 Black action camera shares the same specs and delivers the same performance and video quality. The difference is that it’s designed for active sports, where you don’t need to look at a screen or want a heavy camera to weigh you down. Just press the button or use a voice command to start recording, and the camera takes it from there. The latest Hero 11 shoots the best-quality, super-stable video we’ve ever seen from a GoPro camera.