Delving into the world of tech in order to procure a gift is a difficult thing to do. There are just so many questions to consider. Is the gift compatible? Does it fall in line with their hobbies? Do they already own it?
And let’s not forget the pitfall of impulse purchasing when gift shopping, which is the reason I now own a countertop electronic S’mores maker. But, if you’re willing to brave the hurdles with me, I’m sure we can find something you hadn’t thought of that will, if nothing else, spark inspiration.
I’ve examined the choices, read the reviews, and investigated compatibility for you in order to deliver the very best gifts for tech lovers. I’ll tell you up front that there are no silly S’mores makers, but there may be an adorable robot assistant. You were warned.
1. Infinity Orb Magnetic Levitating Speaker
Why do we love things that float, hover, or fly? We could examine that question, or we could just accept it as fact and take advantage. I suggest the latter. Since we as humans have a fascination with floating, hovering, or flying objects, our overall winner for the most exciting gifts for tech lovers is the Infinity Orb Magnetic Levitating Speaker, for obvious reasons.
There are two components to this futuristic Bluetooth speaker: the base and the speaker. The base facilitates the hovering, but also provides the strip of color-changing LED lights that perfectly accent the all-black design. Going a step further, the makers of the Infinity Orb made sure the speaker was usable with or without the base, making it a portable speaker solution.
2. Rocketbook Smart Notebook
The Rocketbook Smart Notebook is the next step in environmentally-friendly, digitally-organized, and life-hacking tech. If your tech lover has been flirting with the idea of a reusable notebook, or even if they’ve never considered it, this is the perfect device. With a budget-friendly price point, it’s a great tool to experiment with the next generation of notetaking.
This reusable notebook comes in varying sizes and colors. Each notebook comes with 36 pages of synthetic, dot-grid pages, meant to perfectly simulate the traditional writing experience.
Using the included Pilot Frixion pen, users can take notes, draw doodles, map plans, and jot down thoughts on the page. Afterward, they can mark the desired cloud-enabled location for the note, scan the page, and send it directly to the marked location.
When they’re done, using a dampened microfiber cloth (included), simply wipe the page clean and reuse. Some more inventive users have even used permanent pens to create templates on the page for a constantly reusable, personal purpose.
3. WATOTGAFER Sleeping Headphones for Side Sleepers
You could argue that the high-tech sleeping mask is a remarkably niche area, but if you’re looking for a gift that gives a restful, comfortable, audio-enhanced sleeping experience, this is definitely the way to go.
First and foremost, these sleep headphones were specifically designed with side-sleepers in mind. Anyone who has ever tried to sleep with headphones in, or with a mask precariously balanced on their face, will appreciate the thoughtfulness of the design. Taking it a step further, and responding to customer feedback, the mask incorporates 3D ergonomic technology to block out 100 percent of light.
But what about the speaker? The Bluetooth headphones ensure stable connectivity and even allow for taking phone calls!
The Bluetooth control is located on the center-front of the mask, meaning it will in no way inhibit either function or sleeping comfort. (Unless you often sleep on your face.) The device is even washable (after removing the electronics, of course).
4. Anki Vector Robot
Tech lovers crave the latest, greatest technology. AI assistants are on the cutting edge of the modern home and leading the charge is the Vector Robot from Anki. This mini robot helper, whom Anki lovingly refers to as a “he”, measures under four inches in all dimensions.
He’s designed to see, think, hear, communicate, and feel. Puttering around on two tank-like treads, the Vector Robot responds to sight, sound, and touch. He is also able to self-charge and self-navigate.
Imbued with personality, the Vector Robot is on hand to help with anything you need. Incorporated with Amazon Alexa, he can add to shopping lists, run timers, take photos, set reminders, and even control the home through smart home technology.
Full transparency, Anki has ceased production development on the Vector Robot, but they ensure that support will remain for the existing functionality.
5. SNAPTAIN SP650 1080p Drone
We cannot list the best gifts for tech lovers without mentioning a drone, right? The SNAPTAIN SP650 Drone with 1080P HD Camera is a perfect place to start when considering drone ownership. This easy-to-learn camera drone delivers all of the fun of a drone with the precision and detail of a photographer.
The SP650 is referred to as a “versatile” drone. Able to perform stunts such as flips and high-speed rotations, even a novice drone pilot will feel accomplished. Furthermore, the SP650 uses voice and gesture control to create a fluid drone experience. The adjustable-angle 1080p HD camera means the accompanying video and/or photos are sharp and saturated with color.
Usable with either the included remote or an app, the SP650 is designed to be easy to fly by using Altitude Hold, a single button to take off or land, and headless mode which responds directly to remote input. Finally, the One Key Return means the drone flies backward automatically to return to the user.
Measuring 10.6″ square and 4.4″ tall, the two Li-ion batteries deliver around 24 minutes of flying time and can be used up to 240-feet away.
6. CAMXSW Hidden Pen Camera
Yesteryear’s fictions are today’s reality. Old school spy tech never goes out of style. Hidden inside this everyday pen is a camera and USB storage device. So, even though this spy pen camera is one of the most interesting gifts for tech lovers, remember that it may be used against you.
Disguised within the pen, the 1080p HD recorder delivers up to 70 minutes of non-stop recording, or motion-sensor activated recording. Additionally, the spy pen can take photos, record videos, or even be used as an HD webcam, all while delivering a reliable writing experience.
Using simple plug-and-play technology, the pen can simply be plugged directly into a computer for an immediate relay of video and photos. That also means, if nothing else, the pen can be used as a USB storage device to supplement their external hard drive.
7. APEMAN Projector NM4
This lightweight, pocket-sized projector comes with everything a techie needs to turn any flat surface into a high-quality, front row entertainment experience.
Included with the projector is a tripod and tripod mount to make setup and projection as easy as possible. Designed to deliver up to 2.5 hours of playtime on one charge, the NM4 claims to deliver a 70 percent brighter and 50 percent sharper image using advanced DLP technology.
The APEMAN Projector NM4 is able to connect to laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices. However, there are specific instructions on how to connect to different devices, so we advise you to read carefully before buying.
8. Handmade Pentode Radio Tube USB
You could argue this was just a USB, but you’d really be missing the point if you did. This USB device, which at its most basic is a SanDisk USB 3.1 flash drive, delivers the convenience of a USB in a unique, steampunk design.
The distinction of this USB lies in the vintage 1981 USSR radio vacuum tube which glows when plugged in. The price of the device is completely dependent upon the desired size of storage, ranging from 8GB to 256GB. Taking the design a step further, this unique USB comes with its own wooden stand. You may still lose it, but at least you’ll notice when it’s gone.
9. Tap Strap 1
Step up your typing game with the unique plug-and-play Tap Strap 1. The Tap Strap is five connected finger-sized bands that, when used together, create a symphony of gestures and movements to replace traditional typing and mouse functions! Even able to be used in mid-air, this device means your keyboard is literally at your fingertips.
If this concept of relearning typing sounds daunting, the manufacturers developed a game to teach the gestures which boast results within 90 minutes.
10. Mini Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad (Budget Winner)
Designed to make the smart TV user experience even more effortless, this backlit mini keyboard and touchpad deliver user input without the headache.
This mini keyboard has numerous thoughtful features, guaranteed to respond to each user’s needs, but at its most basic it delivers easy usability to anyone stymied with remote fatigue. Simply use the touchpad to navigate the mouse around the screen and the keyboard to type “Tiger King” into the search bar.
Energy-saving seekers will be relieved to see the sleep/wake function. The system compatibility on this machine is so varied I’m not even going to try to list it.
It’s agile enough to be used for casual Netflix vegging, aggressive gaming, or even computer/tablet/phone navigation. And all of those features are power-packed into a remarkably small frame measuring around 6″x9″.
Which One Will You Go With?
There are just so many different directions to look when considering exciting, interesting gifts for tech lovers. We honestly haven’t even scratched the surface! If nothing else, get batteries.
Oh, man. I need batteries. I’ll ask my Vector Robot to put it on my shopping list.
If you’re looking for tech gifts for your mom or dad, check out our specific buying guides on those:
