6 Tech Gifts to Upgrade Your Holidays This Year

Whether you’re shopping for a gadget-obsessed spouse, a hard-to-shop-for sibling, or that friend who somehow already has everything, tech gifts are an easy win this holiday season. From smart home helpers to creative tools and wellness-boosting devices, this year’s lineup is packed with items that add convenience, joy, and a little futuristic magic to everyday life. Here are some of the most gift-worthy picks to help you finish your list in one scroll.

1. Smart Speakers 

Voice assistants keep getting better, and this year’s models come with sharper microphones, richer sound, and better home-automation features. For hands-free timers, weather checks, or simply filling the house with holiday playlists, a smart speaker is both practical and fun.

• Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) Smart Speaker: A small, affordable smart speaker that can stream music, manage timers/alarms, answer questions, and control other smart-home devices with voice commands. Great for someone who wants convenience or wants to start a smart-home setup without a big investment.

• Apple HomePod mini: A compact, powerful speaker that delivers surprisingly rich and well-balanced sound for its size. It works especially well for people already using Apple devices and looking to integrate music, podcasts, or smart-home control into their home.

2. Wireless Earbuds

Earbuds are a staple for everyone nowadays. Look for options with improved noise canceling, long battery life, and smaller, more comfortable designs. Gift-givers can choose based on lifestyle, whether that’s gym-friendly versions for fitness lovers, premium audiophile picks for music fans, or budget-friendly buds for teens.

• Apple AirPods Pro 3: Great for Apple lovers, they offer adaptive noise cancellation, transparency modes (to let in outside sound when needed), and a comfortable in-ear fit.

• Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds: Known for strong noise cancellation and balanced, high-quality sound. A good choice if the person commutes frequently or wants immersive listening.

3. Portable Projectors

Home theaters aren’t just for people with basements anymore. Compact LED projectors can turn a blank wall into a big-screen experience, perfect for holiday movies, gaming sessions, or backyard evenings when the weather warms up. Pair it with a blanket and popcorn for a gift that’s like an experience in a box.

• RCA 1080P FHD Roku Smart Projector: Transforms a wall or blank surface into a movie screen. A good pick for movie nights, streaming shows, or casual big-screen experiences without needing a huge TV.

• Vankyo Leisure Projector: A portable projector that’s easy to set up and move. Handy for someone who rents, moves often, or likes to watch movies or share photos/videos in different rooms or even outdoors.

4. Smart Kitchen Gadgets

From precision cookers to smart air fryers, connected kitchen tools help home cooks level up their meals without the stress. Many new devices offer app-controlled timers, recipe suggestions, and automatic temperature adjustments, which can be ideal for busy families or anyone looking to simplify weeknight dinners.

• Dreo ChefMaker 6QT Combi Smart Air Fryer: It combines multiple cooking modes (air fry, steam, slow cook, etc.), features a cooking probe for precise temperature control, and uses smart cooking technology to cook proteins like steak or chicken with minimal effort.
• Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 6.5-quart PRO Pressure Cooker Air Fryer: A versatile “pressure cooker that crisps.” It blends multiple cooking styles into one machine: pressure cook, air fry, bake, steam, etc. Perfect for busy households or those who want one pot to manage many types of meals.

5. Wellness Tech

Self-care is trending harder than ever, and wellness tech is keeping up. Popular picks this year include smart water bottles that remind you to hydrate, compact massage guns for athletes, and sleep-tracking devices that help decode your bedtime patterns. It’s a thoughtful category for anyone prioritizing health going into the new year. A couple of options include:

• Oura Ring 4 Smart Wearable Tracker: Sleek “smart ring” style wearable that tracks 30+ biometrics (sleep, heart-rate variability, activity, temperature trends) and delivers insights via an app. Great for anyone who wants subtle, continuous wellness tracking without a bulky wrist device.
• Fitbit Sense 2 Advanced Health Smartwatch: More traditional smartwatch form factor, with strong sleep tracking, stress management tools, and overall health monitoring. Good for people who want lots of data, daily feedback, and integration with phone notifications.

6. Creative Gadgets

Digital drawing tablets, portable photo printers, and mini 3D printers are fueling creativity in fun, accessible ways. These gifts are perfect for kids discovering new hobbies, students working on projects, or adults who want a creative outlet beyond scrolling on their phone.

• HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer: Lets you turn smartphone photos into physical prints right away: fun for scrapbooks, gifts, or sharing memories. It’s compact, easy to use, and makes digital memories tangible.
• Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Drawing Tablet: A leading pen tablet for digital artists and graphic designers. With a precise stylus and customizable controls, it’s ideal for drawing, editing photos, creating digital art, or working in design software.

Tech gifts don’t have to be complicated; they just have to make life a little more fun, smooth, or surprising. Whether it’s for the minimalist, the maximalist, or the person who insists they “don’t need anything,” there’s a gadget out there ready to become their new favorite thing. Happy Holidays!