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20 Techy Gifts for Gadget-Heads

A portable projector. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

These gifts run the gambit — from futuristic (a semi-self-driving car, the best VR headset, an olfactory alarm clock) to reinvented old-school (a classic Nintendo system you can plug into your laptop, a Bluetooth boom box, a turntable that travels). See all the ideas below.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Old-School Nintendo
One of the season’s biggest gifts; just plug into a TV or laptop, and you’ll be head-butting coins in no time.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

The VR Headset to Get
You’ll need a Pixel phone to run Google’s Daydream View, but thanks to its built-in controller and comfortable design, this is one VR headset you won’t be itching to rip off after 15 minutes.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

To-Go Turntable
A portable Crosley record player. There’s even a headphone jack — for listening to EPs on the Metro-North. (For more recommendations on record players and turntables click here.)

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors/©DelMuro

Anti-Distraction Watch
The RE-vibe buzzes the wearer to remind her to stop refreshing her Twitter feed.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Olfactory Alarm Clock
Choose from seven scents to wake up to, including espresso, croissant, seaside, and toast.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Golf Cheater
The DT Smart Putter comes with a built-in surface level that enables a more precise stroke.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Say Anything Boom Box
John Cusack–era on the outside, ability to stream songs via Bluetooth on the inside.

$699
Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Really Cool Robot
The Cozmo is an AI-powered robot that recognizes faces and gets smarter the more you play with it.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Smart Ticker
In addition to the time, the hyperprogrammable LaMetric can display the weather, tweets, email, or news.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors/© Hugo Rodriguez

Tony Hawk’s Walkman
The skater, who’s a tech geek, says the AIWA HS-J500  was “the pinnacle of a Walkman” in 1985.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Underwater Drone
The next frontier for drones will be down, not up. Get a head start with the Aqua-Vu.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Circulation Booster
The Revitive Medic uses electrical muscle stimulation that moves up through the feet and legs to relieve pains, aches, and tired feelings.

$359
Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Portable Projector
The two-inch UO Smart Beam cube uses Wi-Fi to connect to your devices and is a laser projection, so it never needs to be refocused.

Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Fur Phone Case
Nina Cheng’s protector is almost too precious to take outside the house. She buys fur grown free-range from a Yupik Eskimo village in Western Alaska, while the inner jelly case is 3-D-printed in Brooklyn.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

PlayStation 4 Pro
Next-gen console gaming lets you take advantage of playing on a 4K TV with the best possible graphics.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

The Vacuum Cleaner of Hair Dryers
Dyson’s signature airflow enters the beauty world.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Every Instrument
The Artiphon Instrument 1 is a guitar, piano, violin, drum pad, and synthesizer all in one.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Non-Compromising Headphones
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0’s rich bass, warm mid-range, and precise high end are the best in wireless listening.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

Luddite Speakers
The maple here is carved to remove digital signal processing, similar to how architects design concert halls for the experience of live music, while also eliminating the standing waves that cause distortion.

$50,015
Photo: Courtesy of the vendors/Infiniti

A Semi-Self-Driving Car
About the closest we can get to one right now. Infiniti Q50’s Active Lane Control keeps you in the center of the lane, eliminating steering-wheel corrections.

*This article appears in the November 28, 2016, issue of New York Magazine.

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20 Techy Gifts for Gadget-Heads