It’s important to keep the tech nerds on your list happy. Even and especially the naughty ones. You don’t want them to hack into your digital life and wreak havoc. No thank you. So shower them in tech, spoil them with weird lighting, and whatever you do, never gift a hard driver smaller than 2TB.
Photo via Walmart
Good Headphones
Forever in style. Forever in need. Forever a good gift. A nice pair of headphones works for all, not just the tech junkies on your list. And the Apple AirPods Max are worth the splurge. The comfort, the quality, the noise canceling and transparency modes, the minimalist design. Walmart even has some on sale.
Photo via Walmart
Switch It Up
Giving someone a Nintendo Switch says, “Here. I get it. Unleash your inner child. Run. Go. Have fun.” And that’s a really nice thing to give someone. The spark of boyhood excitement, the anticipation of beating strangers on the internet in Mario Kart, the nonsensical thrill of talking trash into a headset with your friends. We digress.
Photo via Birdfy
The Gift of (Almost) Outside
You’re not going to get a tech lover to go outside. But you can get them a window into the great outdoors via their very own smart bird feeder. There’s an app (they’ll love that) that uses AI (even better!) to identify bird types in real time. Plus, unlimited free cloud storage to log all their sightings.
Photo via Teenage Engineering
The James Bond of Audio Recorders
Someone on your list this year has a podcast. Because everyone has a podcast. Blow their minds with this portable recorder from Teenage Engineering. They’re an adored brand in the tech/audio space, and you’ll know why after ordering one of these. Every detail was dialed into perfection. The feel of it is both nostalgic and futuristic. The quality of it is shocking. The features are loaded. Great gift for any journalists on your list, too.
Photo via SanDisk
The Socks of Tech Gifts
Oh, the external hard drive. Make fun of a utility-forward gift if you must. But when done right, it’s a strategy that works. For tech people? It’s hard drives. The SanDisk is favored for its speed, size, and durability. To really make it a gift, we recommend going for at least 2TB of storage.
Photo via Guitar Center
For the Virtual Meeting Expert
For the ones who have the Zoom meeting dialed in. They probably have quality headphones. They might even have their own microphone. Perhaps a ring light. This little device from Lewitt allows them to adjust the quality of their audio. With the press of a button, boom, clearer or warmer audio. Any vloggers on your list? They’ll love this, too.
Photo via MoMA Design Store
Tech from Yesteryear
Tech people don’t just love the latest innovations. No, no. They love tech from every generation. Bless the friend who held on to all their CDs. Throw them a bone this year by giving them a great CD player from the MoMA Design Store. Built-in speaker, bluetooth connected, the whole thing.
Photo via Peak Design
A Pouch They'll Love
Tech people have so many things. Chargers and bricks, hard drives and wires, dongles and headphones, and so it goes. Point is, sometimes, tech people don’t need another piece of gear. They need the smartest way to lug it all around. Cue the Tech Pouch from Peak Design. Three words, pockets for days.
Photo via Govee
Gamer Lighting
Lighting is the secret way to a tech person’s heart. They like their lighting bluetooth compatible, adjustable via app, and on the dance club side of moody. These desk lights come as a pair and they have sixty-some scene settings. They even integrate into voice control.
