Best Tech Gifts 2023 – Forbes Vetted

Apple packs its latest AirPods Pro with a slew of upgrades, including new touch-sensitive controls, enhanced audio quality, better noise cancellation, more immersive spatial audio (with dynamic head tracking) and a longer battery life. These earbuds (which work best with any Apple device) make everything sound great. Plus, they’re water-resistant and super comfortable to wear, making them a gift someone can use and enjoy every day.

Affordable yet well made, these earbuds are perfect for the music aficionado who’s also into exercise. They are water-resistant and fit securely into the ear, staying put even as you jog, cycle or push through those reps at the gym. And with a reliable 33-foot Bluetooth range, you don’t have to be tethered to your phone to let the jams (or podcasts) play.

For someone who has headphones and a smartphone with Qi wireless charging, this two-in-one desktop stand offers a convenient way to display and charge those headphones along with one other device. The sturdy stand has an attractive modern design that fits well on a desk or nightstand. Best of all, it works with both iPhone and Android smartphones, in case you’re not sure which device your loved one uses.

This battery-powered Bluetooth speaker fits in a hand, is waterproof and goes just about anywhere. The speaker weighs less than a pound and easily fits in a backpack, yet it produces high-quality audio. It supports AirPlay 2 for Apple devices (as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity to your other equipment) and can last up to 10 hours per charge. When you pair two Sonos Roam speakers together wirelessly, you can get true stereo sound.

This low-profile sounder from Majority can dramatically improve your movies’ and shows’ audio by filling your watching space with rich, crystal-clear audio. A built-in subwoofer creates deep, full bass while the dual drivers set at either end of the soundbar broadcast out audio that will fill the room much as if you had a dedicated surround sound system. And for those who are seeking an affordable gift, or put a financial cap on gifting, it’s less than $75.

The new GoPro Hero11 Black camera is perfect for the adventure seeker in your midst. It’s waterproof, rugged, small and able to capture breathtaking content where other cameras can’t go. The GoPro captures stills at 27 megapixels and video at up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second. The camera has specialty shooting modes and features that allow it to be used in bright sunlight, low light, or even underwater. It also supports live streaming and wireless connectivity to any mobile device. Buy from GoPro to get bonuses, like a one-year GoPro subscription and accessories (worth an extra $350).

While the Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation) doesn’t offer all the more sophisticated advancements of the new Apple Watch Series 9, the SE provides a vast collection of features which cover the basics and beyond. That includes Apple’s new Crash Detection feature to summon help if you’re in a vehicular accident. This is a powerful, multi-purpose smartwatch for iPhone users that’s good on any wrist—and it tells the time too. (If you’re not crazy about this one, check out our complete list of best smartwatches.)

For the avid reader in your life, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is a mid-priced e-reader with a waterproof chassis. This model uses a 6.8-inch Paperwhite display, so it’s easily usable in any lighting situation with little or no glare. It’s extremely thin and lightweight (just 7.3 ounces), which makes it easy to hold in one hand during extended reading sessions. Plus, the battery will last up to 10 weeks between charges. The e-reader comes with 32GB of internal storage—enough to hold literally thousands of e-books or hundreds of Audible audiobooks.

Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs uses this device daily and says, “I love that I can adjust the backlight to warmer settings so I can read with less blue light at bedtime. The battery also lasts for weeks so I can read for hours—even weeks—without worrying about recharging.”

The new version of the Steelseries Nova 7P wireless gaming headset features a bright white exterior. The gamer in your life can get up to 38 hours of battery life on a single charge, and if it runs low, a quick 15-minute charge gets you up to six more hours of gaming. The headphones also feature built-in noise canceling so you can tune out the world around you and focus on beating that boss. We love this headset so much that it’s made our best gifts for gamers list, too.

Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs tested the headphones and says, “I connected the Nova 7P wireless headset while traveling with my Nintendo Switch. Games like Don’t Starve and Little Nightmares II felt detailed, and I loved how the audio gave me jump scares during the latter because it sounded so immersive.”

For anyone who already uses an Android-based smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is a wonderful tablet companion. It has a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, an 11-inch display and 128GB of storage. This package includes Samsung’s S Pen stylus for writing directly on the screen. Samsung has several holiday deals on the S8 series. On the S8 specifically, you can currently get enhanced trade-in credit, or get $100 off right now when you purchase one.

Once in place on the home, these Govee outdoor lights will last for years, letting you change your home’s whole vibe at the tap of a screen. You can create orange and purple color schemes for Halloween, classic white or red and green for Christmas or light up the house with patriotic colors at the 4th of July. Permanent outdoor lights can mean the annual chore of stringing up and taking down lights is a thing of the past, and those that love to decorate their spaces will appreciate the fun flair these can add to their home.

The PlayStation 5 gaming console tops every gamer’s wish list. For an enhanced gaming experience, snag one of these PS5 wireless controllers while you can. The DualSense Wireless Controller gives better control and greater accuracy, as well as adds haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for use with supported games. This is the perfect companion for the PS5 gaming system.

These headphones will truly immerse you in your music, movies or games. The active noise cancelling is hard to beat, while the audio quality is so precise you’ll hear every note of the song, every word an actor says and every footstep or whisper in your favorite game. Soft earfuls add comfort, an amazing battery life lets the good times roll and it comes at a price tag that’s affordable, too.

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best way to play a vast selection of video games starring some of the world’s best-known characters—among them Mario, Luigi, Zelda, Donkey Kong and, of course, all the Pokémon. This system offers the widest selection of non-violent and character-driven games suitable for the entire family. The Switch OLED Model is the top version of Nintendo’s bestselling game console, with a beautiful 7-inch OLED touchscreen for vibrant animations and graphics, plus improved battery life. You can connect it to a TV to play it in console mode, prop it up with a kickstand for use on any surface, or keep everything in your hands for gaming on-the-go.

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to enhance a room’s ambiance is to add smart lighting. The Nanoleaf Canvas starter kit makes doing so easy, with nine square light panels you can easily attach to a wall using removable adhesive. With the Nanoleaf mobile app, you can choose a color scheme and animation style to match your mood or activity with a few on-screen taps. The pack includes nine panels that you can shape to your preference.

Got a friend who regularly misplaces his backpack, suitcase, keys and so on? Give him the peace of mind that, so long as he doesn’t lose his phone, too, he can always track his stuff down once he clips a Pebblebee Rechargeable Item Finder on. As the name suggests, this tracker can be recharged (unlike an Apple AirTag) and holds that charge for a full six months, so lost items can be tracked down long term. You can also check out our top choices for best luggage trackers if you are considering an Apple AirTag or a Tile.

Wear the Oura Ring Horizon 24/7 on your finger. It automatically tracks movement, breathing, blood oxygen level, body temperature and more. With its smartphone app, it provides comprehensive feedback and guidance while serving as an accurate sleep monitor and sleep coach. The ring can even predict when you’re getting sick and warn you of anything unusual based on its ongoing readings. It’s a great gift for anyone who is health and fitness conscious or who wants to better understand how their body reacts to their daily living, sleep, stress level and activity habits.

This brand-new action camera from Insta360 shoots 72-megapixel still images and 4K video at up to 60fps. It also captures stunning 360-degree still images and 5.7K 360-degree video, for creating you-are-there vistas. You can hold the vertically designed X3 in one hand, or you can mount it on a selfie stick or tripod. It’s waterproof, temperature resistant and durable. Whether you’re shooting from a first- or third-person perspective, the X3 is easy to operate and versatile.

Ideal for a household that wants to enhance security and monitor who approaches their doorway, the Google Nest Video Doorbell is a low-cost, versatile option. It works with the Google Home app and is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. Named as one of our favorite video doorbells, its camera offers a 145-degree field of view with a 6x digital zoom. It displays and records video at 960 x 1,280 resolution and has built in night vision. Two-way audio allows the user to speak with anyone who approaches their door from their smartphone, table, or Google Home hub.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 is not only portable, it is also waterproof and extremely durable. It’s ideal for reliable data storage and creating backups on-the-go, regardless of where you are. This drive has a speedy 2,000MB per second read/write speed over the supplied USB Type-C cable. Choose among 1TB, 2TB and 3TB capacities.

Your techie friend with electronic gadgets aplenty and a tendency toward disorganization will love this clever charging station from Satechi. It can be used to charge five devices at once, with both USB-A and USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad at the front. It’s small enough for a desktop or nightstand yet can do the duty of five different chargers at once.

Whatever your chosen beverage—coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or some other wintertime concoction—this 14-ounce smart mug from Ember keeps your drink at a consistent temperature. You can select a temperature between 120 and 145-degrees. The internal battery lasts for up to 80 minutes, but the included charging coaster keeps the mug operational all day. Control it using an iPhone or Android mobile app. It also comes in multiple colors so you can choose your loved one’s favorite shade.

Ideal for a child’s bedroom, kitchen or dorm room, this 24-inch smart TV offers 720p resolution and is ready to stream content from almost any video streaming service thanks to its integrated Amazon FireTV operating system. It comes with an Alexa-enabled voice remote. Best of all, the TV comes in at well under $100.

The Netvue Birdfy Feeder Cam is the ideal gift for a bird watcher or nature enthusiast. This weatherproof bird feeder has a built-in 1080p camera so they can watch activity live or see recorded footage via their smartphone or tablet. Best of all, the camera uses artificial intelligence to immediate identify over 6,000 bird species. An optional $5 monthly subscription unlocks additional features. The feeder holds up to 50 ounces of food and is easy to fill from the top.

The Apple AirPods Max get our nod as Best Wireless Headphones For Apple Users. However, they also work well with any Windows computer or Android mobile device. Apple users, however, get to unlock extra features since these headphones seamlessly integrate with Apple’s iOS and MacOS operating systems. What we love about these headphones is the spatial audio with dynamic head tracking which makes most music, TV shows and movies sound truly immersive—as if the audio is happening all around you, even if you move your head. The sound quality is top-notch. Battery life is up to 20 hours. If you’re looking for a premium gift for an Apple fan in your life, the AirPod Max headphones are it.

What sets the Amazon Echo Studio smart speaker apart from other Echo smart speakers? This one fills a room with high-quality, 360-degree streaming audio and makes it sound amazing. Of course, with the Alexa digital assistant built-in, this smart speaker also responds to voice commands and answers questions. Plus, it can control other smart equipment within a home. Its conical shape houses five speakers which together create traditional stereo sound and Dolby Atmos spatial audio (which presents a wider sound stage). It’s also compatible with a variety of streaming audio services—from Amazon Prime Music, Audible and Spotify, to Tidal, Pandora and Apple Music—so it’s great for listening to music, audiobooks and podcasts.

The tenth-generation Apple iPad features a beautiful 10.9-inch touchscreen with up to 500 nits brightness. While it’s not Apple’s top-of-the-line iPad, this is a great “starter” tablet for adults or students, with 64GB of storage onboard (256GB is an extra-cost option). The tablet has Apple’s A14 Bionic chip inside, a step up from the previous generation, but not as powerful as the pricier iPad Air or iPad Pro. The rear camera gets an upgrade, while the front camera gets a new location for improved video calls.

This handy little device lets iPhone gamers experience control over their favorite mobile games as if they’re playing a PlayStation, complete with the enhanced control of analogue triggers, tactile buttons and clickable thumbsticks. It also allows them to play any games offered by the PS Remote Play, Xbox Game Pass, Steam or Apple Arcade online gaming services (plus other online gaming networks too). The Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller for iPhone supports any iPhone, including the latest iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models. This device’s design is similar to the popular PlayStation DualSense controller. While we’ve highlighted the Backbone for iPhone, you can also get it for Android devices, making it a great gift for mobile gamers.

Not only is the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker stylish, waterproof and extremely rugged, it’s one of the few with this shape to make music sound superb—complete with a solid level of bass. It’s also great for streaming podcasts and audiobooks from an Internet-connected mobile device or computer. The battery lasts up to 15 hours. And if your recipient lives at the pool during the summer, the Boom 3 floats.

The Xebec Tri-Screen 2 is the perfect gift for multitaskers. It attaches to almost any laptop—without magnets or glue—and provides two additional 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel pull-out screens for additional screen real estate. The super thin unit weighs under two pounds and fits in a laptop bag. The displays have a 60Hz refresh rate, adjustable brightness and 180-degree rotation.

Ultra slim and lightweight, this 15.6-inch HD portable monitor can be set up anywhere, from a table at a coffee shop to shared workspace to your kitchen counter, creating a dual monitor setup that so many people require for work these days. And when it’s not in use, this 1.7-pound screen will easily tuck away into a backpack or suitcase or slide into a drawer for storage.

The Attop X-Pack 18 is an easy-to-fly portable, foldable drone suitable for pilots over the age of 12. It comes with a convenient carrying case, plus two batteries. Each battery offers enough juice for a 20-minute flight. The built-in 1080p camera provides a 120-degree field of view, so you can capture stunning wide-angle video or still images during flights—all while piloting the drone from a smartphone that’s connected to the supplied controller. The drone is also compatible with most VR glasses.

Regardless of your TV’s size, if you want to improve sound quality—and make the dialogue easier to understand—the compact Polk Magnifi Mini delivers big sound to fill a small to mid-size space. The soundbar even comes with a wireless subwoofer that helps make anything you’re watching sound more immersive and lifelike. It works with any TV, cable box, or satellite TV setup and offers virtual surround sound. However, if you want genuine surround sound, you can buy the Polk SR2 Wireless Surround Sound Speakers separately ($199). This soundbar includes two 0.5-inch (round) tweeters and four 2.25-inch (round) midrange drivers that generate 150 watts of audio power.

The Ring Light Min is perfect for content creators who want to optimize their footage’s lighting. It creates soft but bright light that perfectly illuminate a subject’s face, letting them share their latest fashion tips, dance routines, original songs or whatever else it is they create while looking their best. It’s a perfect gift for the content creator who likes to work from the studio and on the road.

The Victrola Journey+ brings together classic audiophiles and those on the cutting edge of tech. It can play physical records that you’ve picked up during Record Store Day or you can use it as a Bluetooth speaker. Plus, like any good record player, it looks cool even when it’s not turning out the tunes, making it a welcome addition to a room’s decor.

For anyone who wants an affordable and versatile tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 8 fits the bill—and it is a good choice if you use Amazon’s digital media services. It has pre-installed apps to handle a wide range of tasks—from listening to music and streaming video, to shopping and managing email. This basic model comes with 32GB of internal storage, and can expand to up to 1TB using an optional memory card. The eight-inch display offers 1,280 x 800 pixels. The tablet itself supports wired or wireless charging and has up to a 12-hour battery life.

You can attach this affordable Govee light strip to the back of any TV and use the device’s camera to match the colors and brightness in real-time to what’s being watched on the TV screen. This creates a more immersive viewing experience that works perfectly on any TV with a screen size between 55 and 65 inches. You can also control the lights using a mobile app or voice command via Alexa or Google Assistant.

For people who don’t always have time to charge their smartphone via an electrical outlet, this portable power bank from Scosche comes to the rescue. This model is MagSafe compatible for use with iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. It also works with any Qi wireless charging device, and if they’re an Android user, it uses a USB Type-C port for charging. Inside sits a 5,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery.

For those that want the absolute best way to block out outside noises while listening to music, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the some of the best wireless earbuds on the market right now. They can last up to four hours with ANC on, and while that may seem short, our review cements just how well they block out noise. Plus, with rich, deep audio, you are getting some of the best audio on the market, to boot. You can check out our review here.

Tech-savvy kids between the ages of eight and 12 will love this easy-to-use yet powerful smartwatch. It requires a $10 per month cellular service plan to allow for phone-free texts, voice messages, safety and tracking features. Instead of allowing a child to make calls, it offers voice and text messaging between a child and up to 20 pre-approved people. And while a parent can check the location of their child anytime, it also allows a child to quickly call for help. The Do Not Disturb feature prevents the wearer from using most watch features during school or at night.

The iSteady Mobile+ gimbal stabilizer offers a low-cost way to create professional-looking video footage using a smartphone. It’s ideal for vloggers and vacationers who want to eliminate shaking in their footage and create smooth and steady content. This device offers face and object tracking, along with 600-degree rotation at the touch of a button. It weighs just over one pound and is compact. The 3-axis gimbal also doubles as a tabletop tripod. The internal battery lasts for up to 13 hours of continuous use.

Available in eight colors, the Courant Catch:3 offers an elegant way to wirelessly charge a Qi-certified mobile device, such as a smartphone. Made from premium Italian leather, this charger looks great on a desk or nightstand. It also helps eliminate cable clutter. On the left is a wireless charging pad and on the right is a shallow, catch all tray for placing your wallet, keys and other small items.

This Ring Alarm security system is ideal for small homes, condos or apartments and can easily be installed without calling the professionals. It includes all the features you need to secure your space—a base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion sensor and range extender. It works with any Amazon Alexa smart speaker to arm and disarm it using voice commands. When triggered, it’ll send an alert to your smartphone. You can add professional, 24/7 monitoring starting at $4 per month. For an additional $30 each, add new Ring Panic Buttons that can summon emergency help with a single three second press. This gift offers security and peace of mind 24/7.

Mujjo offers a full-line of beautiful leather cases for most iPhone models. This one for the iPhone 14 Plus and 15 Plus offers a slim profile that wraps around the back and sides of the phone for protection, while making the phone itself look stunning. It’s available in black, blue or tan. One cool feature is the raised lip on the back that surrounds and protects the cameras, without blocking the lenses or flash. It’s a beautiful case with a slim, simple and sophisticated design. If you aren’t sold on this option and want to check out other options for iPhone 15, we also rounded up the best iPhone 15 cases for your loved one.

The new Sony ZV-1F camera is the perfect gift for a vlogger or content creator. Made for vlogging, this camera is chock full of features that content creators will truly appreciate—like autofocus tracking and the ability to defocus the background with a single button push. There’s also a soft skin effect that makes people look their best and image stabilization for shooting while in motion. The Product Showcase feature allows the camera to focus on an item the content creator holds up and then refocus on them when they put it down. Check out our full review of this powerful camera.

While the Amazon Kindle e-readers offer a plethora of great features, one reason to go with the Kobo Clara 2E is that this e-reader makes it very easy to borrow e-books and audiobooks from your local library, directly from the device. Of course, you can also purchase individual e-books and audiobooks from the Kobo Store. It offers a glare-free, six-inch E-Ink display and has dark mode, a front light with adjustable brightness and color temperature and blue light reduction—so it’s easy on your eyes in any lighting situation. The Clara 2E is also waterproof (IPX8 rated). It comes with 16GB of storage—enough to hold thousands of e-books or hundreds of audiobooks.

This 4K projector has amazing image quality as you’d expect with any good projector in our day and age; what really sets it apart is the audio quality. The built-in Dolby speakers can fill a space with sound of a quality commensurate with the superlative image resolution. The system easily connects to myriad devices and can stream all your favorite platforms like Netflix and Disney+.