Fifty-six tech gifts for gadget fans this Christmas
By Esat Dedezade and Sam White
The best tech gifts for Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries or any other celebrations. From headphones to consoles and everything in between
Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, or even Christmas, tech gifts are always a good gift idea for any gadget lovers in your life. Of course, this isn't to say they're an easy one to buy. The tricky thing about gadget lovers, is that they probably already have everything you were thinking of getting them in the first place. Either that, or they're so particular about the type of tech they like, that knowing what they'll like and what they won't can be hard. Thankfully for you however, we've rounded up the tech gifts that will go down well with tech lovers anywhere, no matter what the celebration.
From the shiny new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 to headphones, smartwatches, speakers and more, you're bound to find the ultimate gift for the gadget-obsessive person in your life. Scroll on down for our roundup of the best tech gifts for gadget fans…
Apple AirTags
An affordable location-tracking device for iPhone owners, these tiny pucks can be attached to your keys, travel bag, musical instrument case or anything of importance (bar a pet) so you'll always get accurate directions to their whereabouts. They're ideal for anyone who's constantly losing stuff down the side of the sofa or just wants an easy means to keep a closer eye on their valuables. From £29.99. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
The GoPro has long been the gadget of choice for those who like their holidays to be as full of adrenaline as they are cocktails, and the most recent Hero10 Black is predictably the best yet. This near-unbreakable wearable action camera can shoot ridiculously smooth high-res footage, even when strapped to the end of a snowboard, and can record underwater to boot. £429.99. At amazon.co.uk
This year's been another stressful one so far, so why not treat someone (or yourself) to this powerful massage gun. The Theragun is described as a "percussive therapy device" that essentially means it thumps your muscles at high speeds to provide the same relaxing results as a soft-tissue massage. Aches and pains begone. £549. theragun.com
Philips Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer
With its built-in metal comb and strong cutter, this beard trimmer from Philips is all about precision. The PowerAdapt sensor checks hair density 125 times per second and dynamically adapts the motor, so regardless of density or length, you get an even trim. £79.99. At argos.co.uk and amazon.co.uk
Teenage Engineering OB-4 Magic Radio
Teenage Engineering is known for its quirky and feature-rich synthesizers, but it also makes this "Magic" radio, earning the name thanks to its ability to rewind, slow down, fast-forward and loop live FM radio. You can even take chunks of a song and turn them into an endless ambient track. Is any of it necessary? Of course not, but it's very cool. £552. At amazon.co.uk
Nanoleaf Lines
The latest Nanoleaf smart lighting bars allow you to transform any wall into a technicolour dreamscape. Controlled using either an app on your phone or your voice, the Lines can be synced with games or movies for an explosion of colour, and can even change their output in time with music. £180. nanoleaf.me
Hydrow
If that gym membership looks unlikely to be resurrected in a post-lockdown world, get them started on a home-based equivalent with Hydrow, a rowing machine that works 86 per cent of major muscle groups and features 3000+ live and on-demand workouts viewable on its built-in 22in HD screen. £1,795. hydrow.co.uk
Read GQ's full review of the Hydrow
If you want the very best Apple blower you'll want one of the Pro models, but the best iPhone for most people is the middle-of-the-road iPhone 13. It has a fantastic camera system, a gorgeous OLED display and a processor so fast and powerful that it actually feels a little unnecessary. The only phone they'll need for years. £779. At johnlewis.com
Finally, a pair of AirPods rivals with a personality all of their own. Nothing's Ear (1) buds may have a name that's a parody of Silicon Valley iconoclasm but their transparent aesthetic is particularly striking, they sound the part with active noise cancellation (ANC) and they're competitively priced among a vast field of identikit rivals. £99.99. At amazon.co.uk
Philips Series 5000 nose trimmer
Armed with Philips' PrecisionTrim technology, this nose trimmer is designed to efficiently tackle and trim down nose, ear, brow and detail hairs, while the Protective Guard system prevents tugging. An affordable must-have for any man's grooming arsenal. £18. At amazon.co.uk
Dyson Supersonic Special Edition
One of the best hair dryers you can buy has been given a dashing paint job, looking great in its special edition Prussian blue/copper colourway. Function, though, remains the main reason to pick it up. The five included styling attachments allow you to tailor the hairdryer to all hair types and styles, while the V9 digital motor and Air Multiplier tech work in conjunction to dry quickly and efficiently. £299.99. At boots.com
Instant Pot Duo Plus
The do-it-all cooker that takes the hassle, not to mention a lot of the mess, out of cooking. From saute pan to slow cooker and makeshift microwave, there's very little it's not capable of, and it does its best work with the lid on while you're doing other things. £120. At johnlewis.com
Eight Sleep Pro Pod Cover
Transforming any old mattress into a smart one, this cover boasts thermoregulation tech that can cool and heat on both sides, reacting to room temperature and humidity. It tracks various sleep metrics during the night and will also wake the user up with subtle vibrations and a gradual temperature change when it's time to roll out of bed. All the important data is viewable via an app, making this a modern and effective way to get a better night's kip. £1,300. eightsleep.com
Lego Typewriter
It's a Lego typewriter with proper keys and a moving carriage. Don't pretend like we really have to sell you on this thing. £180. At Argos. argos.co.uk
Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle
If there was a beauty pageant for kettles we'd back the Stagg EKG to perform pretty well, but its all-black minimalism isn't the only thing that makes this electric kettle interesting. It allows you to choose your ideal brew temperature for tea or coffee and displays it alongside the real-time temperature on an LCD screen, so you can get it just right every time. £149. coffeehit.co.uk
It's the wildly popular Nintendo Switch, but not as you know it. Well, pretty much exactly as you know it, only with a bigger seven-inch OLED screen for punchier and more accurate colours. In other words, the most important feature on this portable console just got a whole lot better. Whether you're sneaking in 30 minutes with Metroid Dread on your commute or spending the umpteenth sofa-bound hour finessing your Animal Crossing village, this is the Switch you want. £309.99. At amazon.co.uk
Meridian "The Trimmer"
This waterproof body hair trimmer is designed to make light work of coarse and curly hair without nicking or pulling at the skin, with two adjustable guide combs to ensure you can get exactly the right length. £60. At amazon.co.uk
The original Quest offered the best standalone VR experience around and the second version is in the running for best VR headset, period. With a sharper screen than far more expensive rivals such as the Valve Index or HTC Vive, it's more powerful too, with proper head and room-scale tracking without the need for other unsightly sensors. If you can swallow the compulsory Facebook account, this is a virtual no-brainer. £299. At amazon.co.uk and oculus.com
Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Toothbrush
There are a lot of great electric toothbrushes competing for your cash, but the Spotlight uses sonic tech to replicate the gentle feel of an old-fashioned manual one. There are three different speed and intensity settings to choose from and a two-minute self-timer to ensure you're not brushing more or less than is required. £110. At amazon.co.uk
The ultra-portable Sonos speaker we were all waiting for fully lives up to its promise in the flesh. As big as a Coke bottle, with the ability to slot seamlessly into an existing Sonos setup and ten hours of battery life when you're away from home, the Roam is supremely versatile and sounds great whatever tunes you throw at it. It's as close to a no-brainer of a gift as you could hope for. £179.99. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
Nintendo Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda
Breath of the Wild is arguably the greatest game of the last five years, but if you know an older Zelda fan who got into the series when it all began, this pocketable handheld is a grin-inducing time machine. Crammed into the teeny device are three games: the original The Legend of Zelda from 1986, its sequel Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and the Game Boy classic Link's Awakening, plus a clock and a few Zelda-themed minigames. Retro heaven and the perfect stocking filler.£44.99. At amazon.co.uk
Bose QuietComfort 45
Like a late-night kebab, Harry Kane from the penalty spot or turkey at Christmas, there's just no going wrong with a pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones. An update to the former kings of business-class listening, the QuietComfort 45 bring superior kerfuffle dimming, improved battery life and fine-tuned sonics to a familiar, timeworn design. £319.95. At amazon.co.uk
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch
Our favourite Apple product by quite a margin, the iPad Pro is a ludicrously versatile computer whether you like to get arty with a stylus, edit video on the go or bash through your inbox with the help of its Magic Keyboard case. Now powered with the same ultra-capable M1 chip seen in the MacBook Air laptop, this is a tablet you'll use all year round in comfort and style. £999. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
Mirror, mirror on the wall (well, floor, but you can't mess with the rhyme), who's the fittest of them all? Vaha is an interactive home mirror that delivers on-demand classes, 1:1 personal training and custom training plans with evolving goals. You opt for either a 32in or 43in touch screen display, both with a 120-degree camera built into the device. And as a perfectly functional mirror, too, there's no better place to track your progress. From £1,195 + £31/month. uk.vaha.com
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde purifying fan heater
Air purifiers with extensive spec sheets like that of Dyson's Hot+Cool can sound overly complicated, but really they're about one thing: drawing in and capturing the various pollutants hiding in plain sight in a room, and projecting purified air back into it. And with both cool and warm air functionality to boot, it's useful to have in a room in any season. £599.99. At dyson.co.uk and boots.com
Braun Series 9 9390cc Electric Shaver
There are plenty of things the Series 9 does well to earn its spot in a stocking. For starters, its five shaving elements manage to slice more hair in one stroke than any other shaver, while sonic vibrations aim to glide over your skin to reduce irritation. With a waterproof build for wet/shower shaves, coupled with 20 per cent more battery power, this is a stubble tamer that performs as good as it looks. £209.99. At amazon.co.uk
Not-Another-Bill Leather Wireless Charger
Most modern smartphones support wireless charging, which is simply far more convenient than having to shove a cable into the bottom of your phone each time it needs a bit of juice. From Not-Another-Bill, this leather-covered charger comes in three colours and can be personalised with initials if you want to remind everyone at work whose charger they're pinching. £70. notanotherbill.com
The Xbox Series S certainly isn't the most powerful of the current generation of consoles, but is worth paying attention to for three simple reasons. 1) It's a very affordable entry into Game Pass, Microsoft's absolutely brilliant game subscription service which will add Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite before Christmas. 2) Games still look great, even if they're not running in 4K on the machine. 3) You can actually buy one. Crucial, that last one. £249.99. At amazon.co.uk
Smeg BCC02
No one needs to overthink the appeal of a Smeg bean-to-cup coffee machine. Its retro-futurist aesthetic hits the spot and it has a decent milk frother for your morning cuppa. What more could you ask for? £679. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
Tissot PRX
There's no bigger trend in watches right now than steel timepieces with an integrated bracelet. If you don't quite have the funds or AD connections to stretch to a Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, then Tissot's PRX is a delightful alternative for a fraction of the price. £295. tissotwatches.com
Polaroid Now+
A joyous alternative to smartphone camera shenanigans, this Now+ camera is a worthy update to Polaroid's recent wares, one with a host of added filters, improved app compatibility and all the tools you need to further your photographic creativity. Having a permanent print out of your experiments is far more thrilling than you'd expect. £139.99. polaroid.com
Google's smartphones have a loyal following, but the American giant has begun to look slightly disinterested in the last year or two. That changes with the Pixel 6 Pro, a magnificent blower that ships with a massive 6.7in OLED display, an all-new version of Android, great cameras and – like its obvious rival in the iPhone – a blazingly fast new chip made by the manufacturer itself. If you're gifting someone who has two feet firmly in the Android camp, this is one of the most exciting phones of the year. And it comes in at well under a grand to boot. £849. At carphonewarehouse.com
Sony DualSense controller
One day Sony will make a matte-black PS5 (that you don't have to buy from a scalper at double its RRP) and all will be right with the world. Until that moment, this appropriately coloured DualSense controller will satisfy our ongoing attempts at manifesting. £54.99. At amazon.co.uk
Lenovo Smart Clock 2
An all-in-one alarm clock and a wireless charging pad – it's so smart that we're surprised every brand isn't doing it. And the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is more than just an alarm clock. You can ask it questions, set reminders, catch up on news and listen to podcasts. The cherry on the cake? If you have any other Google Assistant-compatible smart home devices you can control them on it, too. £34.99. lenovo.com
Be warned that flying one of these in built-up central London is a big no-no, but if you think they've got accessible land to make it worth the investment then DJI's Mavic 3 is the ultimate consumer drone. It can fly for up to 46 minutes at a time, has a max speed of 47mph and can record in 4K at a buttery smooth 120fps. Holiday videos will never be the same again. £1,879. At currys.co.uk
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Not everyone wants a Mac, and if you're looking for a no-nonsense Windows laptop that gets all manner of jobs done and looks good doing them, then Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 is a very good option. Slim, lightweight and packing a touchscreen, great speakers and plenty of power, it's more than ready for both work and play. And if you opt for the soft Alcantara finish you can probably rest your tired head on it, too. From £699. microsoft.com
Getting someone a fitness-related gift for Christmas is a tightrope to walk for all manner of reasons, but the most recent incarnation of Garmin's much-loved Fenix watch is a vital exception to this rule. As well as ticking off all the exercise-tracking boxes you could hope for, it also recharges via absorbing sunlight through its screen, which is cool however you prefer to get a sweat on. £489. At amazon.co.uk
Pro-Ject Primary E
This is for the muso who'll happily rank every track of Minutemen's Double Nickels On The Dime in order of their contribution to alt-rock history but also somehow doesn't have a turntable. The Primary-E is a great starter option for anyone who has looked into the existential chasm of vinyl collecting and thought, "All of my money will be well spent here." £179. At amazon.co.uk
Folding smartphones have been around for a while now, but Samsung's new Flip 3 is the first to feel like it could replace your "normal" phone with a minimum of fuss. As well as its ability to flip (geddit?) in half, this handset features all the super-powered internals you'd expect and a camera that's par for the storied Galaxy course. £949. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
Belkin MagSafe charger
A classier way to charge your iPhone and accompanying Apple kit, this Belkin MagSafe charger will sit on your office desk and wirelessly top-up their batteries without you having to scramble for the right power cable. Slick, convenient and stylish. £139.95. At amazon.co.uk
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level
A stunning Scandi-made speaker that's been built to last, with a selection of removable and upgradeable parts alongside B&O's imperious grasp of audio finesse. Although you get plenty of oomph for your buck here, the Level sits extremely well on any WFH office desk. Plus, it's portable for when you want to explore the great outdoors. £1,299. bang-olufsen.com
Bowers & Wilkins PI7
We've come a long way since the days when wireless earbuds recalled the audio prowess of your local laser tag arena's intercom system. Still, there remains a big difference between the fidelity of B&W's PI7 in-ears and basically every other alternative you can care to think of. Hearing really is believing with these things. £349. At amazon.co.uk
Panasonic TX-55JZ1000 OLED TV
OLED remains the holy grail of telly tech, and Panasonic has been making serious moves in the space in the last few years. The 55in JZ1000 (also available in 48in and 65in variants) is an absurdly desirable gogglebox, featuring the best of Panasonic's 4K picture tech and support for all the major HDR standards, plus Dolby Atmos. It's excellent for gaming too, while Panasonic's previously lacking smart platform has come on leaps and bounds, and as of recently now includes Disney+. £1,299. At John Lewis. johnlewis.com
Cowboy 4
A smarter breed of e-bike, the Cowboy 4 is the kind of commuter vessel that's as delightful to ride as it is to look at. With ample, easy-to-use ride assistance, a removable battery and a handy "cockpit" docking station for your smartphone, it's the kind of purchase that'll brighten your day the year-round. £2,290. cowboy.com
Oris Aquis Date Upcycle
A timepiece with a purpose… Featuring a stunning, multicoloured dial that's made of upcycled PET plastics, this all-new edition of Oris' much-loved dive watch is a living testament to its maker's carbon-neutral status. Outstanding wristwear in every respect. £1,600. At watches-of-switzerland.co.uk
Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker
Tech disguised to not look like tech is an increasingly well-stocked space, and the ongoing collaboration between Ikea and Sonos has produced some of the best examples. The pair's big launch this year was the Symfonisk picture frame speaker. Though not actually a picture frame in the traditional sense, it is a piece of wall-mountable art that hides a surprisingly big-sounding Wi-Fi speaker to which you can ping songs from your iPhone or the Spotify app. £179. ikea.com
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Gaming headsets are often garish horrors that you frankly wouldn't even want to wear alone in your living room, but that's changed now Bang & Olufsen is involved. Its first gaming-focused headphones, the Beoplay Portals, are designed to pair instantly with Xbox consoles, and support virtual surround sound via Dolby Atmos. But these cans also double as a very decent pair of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones, so they're very much a two-in-one proposition. We love ours.£450. At mrporter.com
Backbone One
Now that 5G is a legitimate thing and Xbox is taking streaming seriously with its Netflix-esque Game Pass subscription service, you can actually play console games on your phone wherever you damn well please. The Backbone One controller is here to indulge this childhood fantasy turned reality, transforming your iPhone into a Nintendo Switch-style portable with a proper array of thumb sticks and triggers so your kill streak needn't falter on the train to work. £99.99. At amazon.co.uk
Peloton Bike+
AKA the deluxe Peloton, this bike's new larger touchscreen swivels outwards so you can more easily follow other strength and cardio workouts, while more powerful built-in speakers bring you closer to the heart-pumping, sweaty action. £2,295. onepeloton.co.uk
Sonos Beam Gen 2
The sequel to Sonos' brilliantly compact smart soundbar's notable new feature is Dolby Atmos, which means it can simulate 3D surround sound when playing supported shows and movies. But it's also a great speaker, especially for iPhone users, with full support for Apple AirPlay 2. Built-in TV speakers are nearly always spectacularly naff, and this is the best soundbar for the space-conscious. £449. At amazon.co.uk
Fender American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster
For the person who fancies themselves to be an acoustic troubadour and a death metal connoisseur, Fender's American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster is a guitar that can do both with aplomb. We'll let you listen to that debut album first, though. £1,599. At guitarguitar.co.uk
Dyson V15 Detect
A vacuum cleaner might not be the first thought that comes to mind when you think of a gift, but the new V15 Detect makes dust-busting a genuinely satisfying experience. A built-in laser on the cleaner head projects an eerie green light that makes dust and other particles more visible, revealing a seemingly clean floor's dirty secrets. Combined with a built-in screen that gives you real-time data on how many particles and dust you're cleaning, plus a handy auto-mode that adjusts power accordingly, this is Dyson's most exciting vacuum yet. £499.99. dyson.co.uk and at currys.co.uk
Xbox Fridge
The joke present that could well make someone's Christmas, Microsoft's Xbox Fridge is exactly what it sounds like. Only the actual Xbox Series X console doesn't come with enough cooling space for 12 soda cans and two snack shelves. The internet being the internet, this thing sold out of pre-orders faster than you can say "meme stock", but it's expected to go back on sale come its December release. For the truly desperate, there's always StockX... £89.99. At game.co.uk or stockx.com
WD_BLACK SN850
As anyone who has owned a PS5 for going on a year now will know, you can really eat through its storage without trying too hard. It's very much a set-menu-over-bottomless-brunch kind of setup. Don't want to worry about SSD space any more? Plug the Sony-approved WD_BLACK SN850 into your console for an instant upgrade. We'd recommend the option with a heatsink for added protection and a minimum of 1TB storage. From £110. At westerndigital.com
Budding influencers, game streamers and Zoomers could all benefit from a webcam that doesn't distort their features into a grainy, blurry mess. Enter the Logitech StreamCam, a full HD 60fps affair that comes bundled with software for automatic exposure, framing and stabilisation, along with AI face-tracking so you're always in focus. You can also rotate it to shoot vertically too, making it ideal for the gram. £115. At amazon.co.uk and Argos. argos.co.uk
Trust Gaming GXT 258 Fyru microphone
From insulting scrubs in CoD to giving a hot take on the latest quarterly reports in Zoom, a good quality microphone can make all the difference. This three-legged affair from Trust looks smart enough to do the job without looking too garish, and has four different mic settings depending on your needs, including single or omni-directional options for solo or group podcast sessions. With internal pop filters to help filter out unwanted sounds and subtle LEDs to add a touch of colour to proceedings, it's a far cry away from your laptop's tinny-sounding equivalent £116.14. amazon.co.uk
Nintendo Ring Fit
Nintendo Ring Fit aims to get you back into the swing of exercise with some truly fun mini-games, all of which get you active, in a variety of different ways. Working out has never been this accessible and enjoyable. £64.99. At Currys. currys.co.uk
Razer BlackWidow Elite
The first rule of working from home is to get yourself a decent office setup with a keyboard, mouse, monitor and chair arrangement that your back will thank you for making this the perfect gift this year. Made by PC gaming pros Razer, this mechanical keyboard fits that Venn diagram nicely. £99. At Currys PC World. currys.co.uk
Xbox Elite Controller 2
The Series 2 of the Xbox Elite Controller is the most premium, comfortable and customisable game controller on the market. It's sturdy, features rechargeable batteries and USB-C for optimal accessibility, and can be tweaked and tuned to your liking. Removable thumb sticks, changeable D-pads and rear levers give you greater control than ever before. £159.99 At amazon.co.uk
8Bitdo Arcade Stick
Do they need an arcade stick for your Nintendo Switch and/or PC? Probably not. But would they like one? We thought as much. Housed in a robust, retro-fuelled case, this ultra-modable arcade stick has wired and wireless support, dedicated buttons for the Switch and the ability to create custom macros – a perfect choice for retro gamers and tinkerers. £79.74. At amazon.co.uk
Thrustmaster TCA Flight Stick
Microsoft's legendary Flight Simulator made a long-awaited comeback this year. The game impressed so much that we considered it one of the most ambitious games of 2020. The best way to fly, of course, is just like the pilots do: with a stick. The Thrustmaster TCA doesn't break the bank, but immerses you far more than a standard game controller ever could. £68.99. At thrustmaster.com
iFi hip-dac
This cyberpunk hipflask-esque device is actually a DAC, or Digital to Analogue Converter. For those yet to dip their toes into the vast oceans of the audiophile universe, a DAC is a device that converts a digital signal into an analogue one, so headphones can then turn it into sound. Yes, they could listen to music on your device of choice without one, but the built-in versions in laptops and phones are mass produced without the best audio quality in mind. If they might want to hear more details in their tunes and kickstart a potentially dangerously expensive new hobby, the hip-dac is as good a place to start as any. £149. At amazon.co.uk
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