You Should Buy: Tech Gifts for Christmas 2023
My recommendations for anyone in your life, not just techies!
Here are my top tech gift ideas for this holiday season. There are some for kids, some for adults, and some for everyone. I have personally used each of these products, so I won’t steer you wrong!
INUI External Battery Pack
You can read my full review here, but all you need to know is that this battery pack will charge multiple devices simultaneously! It has enough juice to charge phones multiple times. It also has USB-C in and out, so you can charge the pack quickly. You cannot beat the price and functionality. For around $40, it’s a great gift for just about anyone - perfect for travelling, camping or having on hand in a purse.
Buy: INUI 20,000mAh Battery Pack
Ember Smart Mug
Is your partner’s coffee always getting cold before they finish it? The Ember smart mug can keep it piping hot for up to 80mins on battery, or infinitely on its coaster, which doubles as the charging base. You can set your desired temperature with the accompanying app.
Buy: Ember Smart Mug
Portable Speaker: UE Boom / MegaBoom
I’ve tried several portable speakers, and I think the UE Boom series hits the sweet spot of price, sound quality, size, and water resistance. These speakers are not only waterproof, but they also float! And with 360˚ speakers, they sound good no matter which way they’re pointing.
They connect quickly to your devices, and you can even daisy-chain them and have multiple speakers playing at the same time for a massive sound. The volume buttons are huge, and you can set the button on the top to play a certain playlist.
I’ve owned the Boom 2, and I currently use the MegaBoom 3 daily. The MegaBoom is louder, has more bass, and has better battery life, but it’s much bigger (and more expensive). The only downside is they charge with the ancient mini-USB connector. My MegaBoom is officially the only device I own that doesn’t use USB-C or Lightning.
Buy: Ultimate Ears Boom | MegaBoom
Wireless Earbuds: Beats Fit Pro / AirPods 2
I reviewed the Beats Fit Pro, and for me, they are the best wireless earbuds on the market. They stay in my ears (even during hardcore cardio), they sound great, the battery life is fantastic, and the noise cancellation is amazing. They can’t be beaten for $250.
If your budget is a bit less, or you’re buying for someone who wants the classic white AirPods, the AirPods 2 are a fantastic deal. You can often find them for under $175. The AirPods 3 are better in most ways, but they’re also much more expensive.
For either, I would suggest getting the AppleCare+ coverage, which is usually around $40. It will cover accidental damage for two years.
Buy: Beats Fit Pro | AirPods 2
AirTag
If someone you love is always losing things (keys, purse, etc.), gift them an AirTag. It has a built-in speaker to help them find things. If they have a recent iPhone, Precision Finding will show you exactly where items are. They’re also great for keeping tracking of luggage, bikes, pets, and more.
Buy: AirTag
USB Microphone: Blue Yeti / Rode PodMic / Rode Podcaster
If you have a budding podcaster, YouTuber or streamer in your house, a good microphone is a great gift! The cheapest and simplest option is a microphone with a USB interface and stand built-in, like the Blue Yeti. It has a few options for different sounds depending on how noisy the location is, and it is adjustable on its stand. It’s plug-and-play, so you can get started right away. For $120, it’s a great starting point.
If you’d like to upgrade to the next level, the Rode PodMic USB is a broadcast-qualirt mic for $269. You’ll have to buy a stand for it - you can go with a cheap regular mic stand, or a boom arm that attaches to a desk, among other options.
The final option is a microphone plus a separate audio interface. The microphone I use is the Rode PodMic, and it’s a fantastic-sounding mic that is built like a tank. It sounds better than the other two mics mentioned, and it’s only $139, but you’ll not only need a stand, you’ll need an XLR cable (~$12) and an audio interface (~$160).
Side note: a pop filter for any of the mics isn’t a bad idea, either!
Buy: Blue Yeti | Rode PodMic | Rode PodMic USB
MagSafe Charging Stand/Dock: Twelve South Forte
If you’ve got an iPhone 14 Pro or 15 Pro, your always-on screen can double as a bed-side table clock. When in landscape mode and charging, you have a really cool screen that can dim really low for night-time usage.
To store your phone in this orientation while it is charging, there are several docsk and stands out there. The one I went with is the $55 Twelve South Forte. You also need to supply a MagSafe charger ($55).
Buy: Twelve South Forte (Or at the Apple Store) | MagSafe Charger