“As with any gift, knowing it is really what the recipient wants makes a big difference,” says Jodi RR Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Coaching. “As we know, not all phones, tablets, computers, etc., are equal. Purchasing a curved monitor for someone who is hoping for a triple-screen portable monitor is a big miss.” So we’re here to help get your gears turning when it comes to figuring out which tech gifts you should even consider, because there’s a lot more out there than phones and computers. Check out some of our favorite products for gifting across a wide budget range, from splurges to daily items that many people might not think to buy themselves. Here are the best tech gifts. Price at time of publish: $100 Price at time of publish: $100 Price at time of publish: $379 Price at time of publish: $219 Price at time of publish: $149 Price at time of publish: $144 Price at time of publish: $249 Price at time of publish: From $299 Price at time of publish: $99 Price at time of publish: $300 Price at time of publish: $255 Price at time of publish: $600 Price at time of publish: $349 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $80 Price at time of publish: $37 Price at time of publish: $99 Price at time of publish: $125 Price at time of publish: $99 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $110 Price at time of publish: $300 Price at time of publish: $229 Price at time of publish: $179 Price at time of publish: $30 Price at time of publish: $749 Price at time of publish: $165 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $80 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $200 Price at time of publish: $83 Price at time of publish: $399 Price at time of publish: From $400 Price at time of publish: $135 for 3-pack Price at time of publish: $140 Price at time of publish: From $569 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $640 Price at time of publish: $279 Price at time of publish: $180 Price at time of publish: $130 Price at time of publish: $249 Price at time of publish: $274 Price at time of publish: $150 “The amount you spend on any gift is dependent on a number of factors, including your budget and your relationship with the recipient. You might spend more on your niece or nephew than on your first cousin once removed,” says Smith. She also notes that the occasion might change the budget: Once-in-a-lifetime events such as a graduation likely merit a bigger budget than a birthday. But you should consider situational circumstances, too, such as precedent. “If you have a squad of five besties, then what you spend on one of your BFFs should be what you spend on the other four BFFs,” says Smith. And finally, consider going in on a group gift for larger purchases. “For all group gifts, the best way to handle them is to have a recommended contribution, but allow for any amount,” says Smith. She offers some sample text for pooling funds for a teacher’s gift, like: “The suggested contribution is $50/family. Any and all amounts are welcome. Please give what you are able.”
What are the best places to buy gift cards for tech gifts?
Gift cards might seem impersonal, but given the price of many tech products, they’re a way to meaningfully contribute to your recipient’s fund for a splurge item. “Tech gift cards are perfect when you know someone is saving up for a specific item, such as a gaming computer. Your budget may not be able to cover the entire amount, but your gift card will certainly help make the item a reality,” says Smith. She advises speaking to the recipient about their preference for which specific store. It might ruin the surprise, but it’s better to buy a gift certificate that they’ll use.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Stefanie Waldek, a contributing writer for Real Simple with eight years of experience writing about home and three years of experience reviewing products. To come up with these recommendations, Stefanie first researched different types of tech products to come up with a list of overall categories. She then researched the best products in each category across a range of prices. Stefanie also tapped Jodie RR Smith of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting for tips about gifting tech.
