Apple, Anker, Bose: Tech Gifts That Will Make Their Lives Easier
A thoughtfully picked gadget that makes it easier to do an everyday task or handle the hassles they encounter regularly will land just as well as — maybe better than — the shiniest new phone. It shows you were paying attention and thinking about what they might actually need. You can get them a portable charger to extend the life of their aging phone, a digital notebook to let them sync their notes right to their computer, or a case to turn their phone into something more like a Kindle. Using my own experience testing tech products for eight years and combing through our archives and doing some additional research, I’ve rounded up all the life-improving tech your recipient will be talking about well into the New Year.
Updated on December 19, 2025
I’ve added a couple more gifts, as well as checked the stock and price of everything listed, and noted which ones won’t arrive in time for Christmas.
For the teen who’s a habitual snoozer
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This alarm clock does have a snooze button, but its alarm sounds are more pleasant, and its built-in sunrise light provides a gentle nudge into the morning.
For the parent who’s tired of vacuuming …
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This robot vacuum is small enough to fit into a corner and powerful enough to sweep up most hair.
… or the pet parent who’s sick of scrubbing their floors
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Roborock Qrevo Slim
If they need something more heavy-duty, this robot vacuum has a mopping function to keep their floors squeaky-clean.
For the girlfriend who uses her Kindle daily
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This e-reader accessory helps reduce strain during long reading sessions; her hands will appreciate the help.
For the friend who likes to mellow out after work
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Storz & Bickel Venty
Get the stoner in your life this portable vaporizer. It adjusts its temperature depending on the strength of your inhale, so they’ll always get the perfect high.
For the in-law whose phone barely holds a charge
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They can carry this pocketable charger that has a built-in USB-C cable and enough juice to get them through the day.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas.]
For the co-worker who relies on their iPad for work
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Now they can use it as a second monitor.
For the gym rat who doesn’t want a smartwatch
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Oura Ring 4
They’ll be able to track anything from a run, bike ride, or kickboxing workout to their sleep quality and stress levels.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas.]
For the dad who still writes everything in longhand but wants to go paperless
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A digital notebook with practically unlimited pages and an eye-catching e-ink screen to write all their notes on.
For the boyfriend who leaves the house to write
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He’ll love this mobile workstation that comes with a stand to bring his laptop’s screen to eye level, plus a wireless keyboard and track pad.
For the dad who complains about his repetitive-stress injury
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An ergonomic mouse his wrist will thank you for.
For the girlfriend who listens to podcasts on her runs
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Apple AirPods Pro 3
This year’s AirPods Pro have better sound quality and noise cancellation than previous models and, for the first time, built-in heart-rate tracking.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas if you order from Amazon, but it can still arrive on time if you order from Best Buy.]
For the brother with all Apple gear
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He can charge his iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods without plugging in any of them.
[Editor’s note: This gift may not arrive in time for Christmas.]
For the dad who plans every camping trip
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Rechargeable lights he can stick in the ground or hang over the campsite.
For the sister who’s always traveling
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No more shoddy airline-provided earbuds whenever she wants to watch an in-flight movie. This dongle will let her use her favorite headphones (or earbuds) instead.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas.]
For the boyfriend who likes his tunes with extra bass
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Despite having enough bass to keep a party going, this speaker is surprisingly portable so he can take it wherever he wants. It even works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control.
For the parents who can’t hear the TV unless it’s cranked to 11
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A high-quality soundbar that’s clear enough to make sure they hear every line of dialogue.
For the uncle with a dozen home projects …
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WiZ 60W A19 E26 Smart Bulb
Get him a few of these and he can make a weekend out of configuring them to his liking.
… who wants a few more
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Wyze Plug
Let him turn any gadget into a smart-home device he can control with just his voice.
For the co-worker who can’t stand office chatter
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Top-notch headphones that can block it all out.
For the mom with an old iPhone
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She can use the Lightning connector now and switch to the USB-C connector when she eventually upgrades.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas.]
For the bookworm who reads on their phone …
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Boox Palma 2
This has been my go-to reader for nearly two years. It’s as pocketable as an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and its screen is easier on the eyes.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas.]
… and wouldn’t have it any other way
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Their phone will feel like a Kindle every time they drop it into this case. It can even be set up to open their favorite reading app automatically.
For the globe-trotter
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This tiny charger has adapters for outlets in the U.S., U.K., and E.U., plus two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for charging up to three devices at a time.
For the mom who forgets about her coffee
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Ember Mug 2 - 14 Oz.
A mug that’ll keep it warm all day.
For the sister who misses home
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Aura Carver 10”
Aura’s Mason has been our favorite digital picture frame for years, and for good reason. Its screen makes every photo pop, and the ability to send photos to others’ frames makes it feel like a family-exclusive Instagram.
For the brother-in-law who always runs the grill
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He can get the perfect cook every time and check the meat’s temperature without having to open the grill.
For the grandpa who’s always misplacing things
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Enough AirTags to keep an eye on all his essentials.
For the cinephile who lives in a small apartment
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A portable projector that looks as good as the image it produces.
For the brother whose check-engine light is always on
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His tires probably need some air too.
For the sister who’s cutting back on screen time …
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Light Phone III
This minimalist phone has only the basics — navigation, music, alarm, etc. — so doomscrolling isn’t an option.
[Editor’s note: This gift won’t arrive in time for Christmas, but it often goes out of stock and requires a preorder.]
… but can’t ditch her iPhone
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For the parent who’s resisting hearing aids
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They’ll finally be able to hear what everyone’s saying with these prescription glasses that have hearing aids built right in.
For the dad who doesn’t have CarPlay
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He still shouldn’t have to look down to check his navigation. This car mount — which uses MagSafe — works as a wireless charger, too.
For the aunt who rocks out while she cooks
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Amazon Echo Studio
A high-quality speaker she can control with her voice.
For the runner friend who complains AirPods don’t stay in her ears
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Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
These will stay put (plus, there’s heart-rate monitoring).
More Christmas Gift Ideas
- If You’re Planning on Buying an Advent Calendar This Year, Get It On Sale
- The 59 Best Gifts for Every Type of Boyfriend
- The Best Gifts for 6-Month-Olds, According to Experts
- 56 Gifts for Moms (at Every Price Point)
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
