Ask any gadget-obsessed friend what they actually use from a pile of holiday presents and you’ll hear the same thing: the little useful things beat flashy toys nine times out of ten. Between staff picks and pandemic-era impulse buys, three recurring truths show up in every list I read — reliable chargers, better ways to tidy and monitor your home, and a few unexpected devices that somehow make life easier (or more fun).
Below I distilled recommendations from consumer editors, deal writers, and longtime nerds into a single, sane guide. No one-size-fits-all list — instead, quick, real-world picks that cover work-from-home essentials, smart-home peace of mind, tiny indulgences, and a couple of projects for the tinkerer in your life.
Small things that punch above their weight
- Tecknet ergonomic mouse — Cheap, comfortable, and a revelation if your wrist aches after a long day. Editors who spend hours at a desk swear by swapping an old mouse for an ergonomic one before chasing fancier upgrades.
- Rocketbook reusable notebook — Write, scan with the app, then wipe it clean. It saves paper and keeps your notes searchable without losing the tactile joy of pen-on-paper.
- Balabala velcro cable ties — Thirty seconds to tidy a nest of cords is one of the highest-ROI habits you can form. Cheap, reusable, and underrated.
- Strebito or Xiaomi electric precision screwdriver — For anyone who opens laptops, consoles, or old toys, an electric precision driver saves time and the tiny heartbreak of stripped screws.
- MagGo-style magnetic battery packs and charging stations — If your recipient has a newer iPhone, magnetic MagSafe power packs are game-changers for cable-free top-ups. (If you want the broader laptop/Apple ecosystem, consider an Apple MacBook combo as a splurge-worthy gift.)
- Compact multi-port chargers (Nano-style power bricks) — A travel-sized charger with multiple USB-C ports will do more for most people than an expensive single-brand adapter.
- Govee thermometer/hygrometer — Useful for keeping a home comfortable for humans and pets, and it ties into automations if you want it to trigger routines.
- Blink cameras — Affordable, battery-operated, and simple. Caveat: they’re sensitive. Tune motion detection to avoid constant alerts (and battery drain).
- Ultraloq Bolt smart lock — Fingerprint, codes, and app controls make guest access easier than leaving a hide-a-key. Great for families and rentals.
- Anker Soundcore earbuds and mini speakers — Solid sound, reliable battery life, and a price that doesn’t trigger buyer’s remorse. Great for commuters and casual listeners.
- Amazfit smartwatches — A surprisingly strong budget alternative to name-brand wearables for step tracking, notifications, and multi-day battery life.
- Apple AirTags — Perfect for keyrings, luggage, or anything you habitually lose. Don’t use them to track people or animals without consent. If you want to pick some up for everyday items, Apple accessories like AirTags are easy to find and make thoughtful stocking stuffers: Apple AirTags.
- Raspberry Pi 5 kits — Tiny computers with endless projects: emulators, media centers, home automation hubs. Great for curious teens and grown-ups who like to tinker.
- LEGO Boost and themed building sets — They’re toys, sure, but the programmable LEGO sets introduce coding concepts with real tactile reward.
- Bambu Lab and Bambu A1 mini 3D printers — If your recipient has room and patience, a compact 3D printer opens up a world of custom parts and tiny projects.
- Portable retro handhelds and mini arcades — Nostalgia and inexpensive joy; perfect for stocking-stuffer-level thrills.
- Fujifilm X100 series — For the photo-loving friend who’d prefer a camera they carry everywhere. It’s not cheap, but editors who shoot on one say it turns photography into a habit.
- DJI Mini drones — Small, legal in most places without heavy paperwork, and excellent for travel shots.
- Nixie-style desk clocks and magnetic under-cabinet lights — For the person who loves small, satisfying gear. The thin magnetic lights double as closet and gear-cabinet illumination and are shockingly useful.
- Avcoo TENS unit — A compact pain-relief device that’s genuinely useful for chronic aches if recommended by a clinician.
- Ultrasonic cleaners — Great for aligners, jewelry, watchbands, and anything small that benefits from a deep clean.
- Phone sanitizer with UV-C — More novelty than miracle, but handy for germ-conscious folks and frequent travelers.
- For the person who wants fewer gadgets, buy one small convenience they’ll use daily: a comfy ergonomic mouse, a magnetic phone charger, or a familiar set of wireless earbuds.
- For the homeowner or pet parent, prioritize home sensors and an easy camera system.
- For the maker or kid, give a Raspberry Pi kit or a LEGO Boost set — both teach and entertain.
Chargers, power and pocket-sized convenience
Anker shows up on almost every list for a reason: they make dependable, well-reviewed charging gear that doesn’t feel cheap. Two favorites:
Smart home and peace of mind
Home-focused picks are where usefulness meets low drama.
If you’re nursing an older smart thermostat or want to revive legacy devices, there are community-built solutions that bring older hardware back online — handy context if you’re building a smarter home without replacing everything. For more on that maker spirit, see how hobbyist firmware is breathing life into old Nest thermostats revive-old-nest-thermostats.
Audio, wearables and pocket tech
For the maker, kid, or creative person
Camera, drone and desk indulgences
Low-cost helpers that punch above their price
Gifts for gamers and TV-room setups
If you’re buying for a gamer, consoles and immersive lighting are perennial winners. Nintendo’s next-gen machine and its ecosystem continue to dominate conversation — if a big-ticket console is on your list, the Switch family still matters in 2025; retailers and Nintendo’s strategy are evolving, and you can read more about the console outlook and sales momentum at the site’s Nintendo coverage Nintendo Switch 2 sales surge.
Smaller but excellent: controller stands, accessory lockers (Minecraft-themed organizers are a cute choice), and ambient lights like Philips Hue for a next-level gaming room vibe.
How I’d pick one thing for most people
There’s a reason the same handful of sensible tools keeps appearing across editors’ gift guides: the best tech gifts aren’t the fanciest, they’re the ones that fold into life without friction. Tidy the cables, secure the door, make charging painless — those tiny improvements add up.
If you want to splurge on one headline-grabbing item that will still be relevant next year, pairing a capable laptop with sensible accessories remains a reliable play. For deals and timing, the holiday cycle still yields worthwhile discounts on laptops — editors’ tracking of MacBook deals can point you to sensible price windows if you’re considering a bigger gift MacBook Air deals deepened.
Happy hunting. If you want, tell me the recipient’s habits and I’ll narrow this down to three perfect choices.