The best tech gifts and gadgets
Marshall Emberton II
Amazon Echo Show 15
Sonos Ray
DJI Mini 3
Audeze Maxwell
Any tech lover will appreciate the Marshall Emberton II speaker, and not just for its good looks. The latest version of the compact, rectangular speaker has 10-watt full-range drivers and passive radiators that help deliver balanced sound that’s signature to the brand. Its 360-degree sound makes it a great choice for small get-togethers as well as tiny desk concerts while they’re working from home. Marshall improved the battery life on this model too, bumping it up from 20 hours to 30, and it has a more durable IP67 rating as well. And if your giftee ever decides they want to expand their sound system, Stacked Mode will let them pair multiple Emberton II speakers together.
Amazon Echo Show 15
If the tech geek in your life is into smart home automation, this gift might help bring it all together. The Echo Show 15 serves at least five different purposes: a display for video doorbell feeds, smart home control deck, widget-driven bulletin board, compact smart TV and home for Alexa’s soon-to-be-chattier assistance. The 15-inch screen is big enough to accommodate all of the above and can be wall-mounted in portrait or landscape orientations. And, while it comes with a remote, it can also be operated via touchscreen or just by talking. — Amy Skorheim, Commerce Writer
Sonos Ray
Giving the tech-lover on your list a way to get better sound out of their TV will be a welcomed treat. While soundbars can be unwieldy and expensive, the Sonos Ray is neither. The compact gadget earned a spot on our list of best soundbars thanks to its relatively small size, which will fit nicely into most living room setups. It will also provide a noticeable bump in audio quality, whether they’re watching action movies, suspenseful dramas or live sports. The Ray also supports AirPlay 2 and can be used to stream music, audiobooks and other content from various services even when the TV is off. And if your giftee decides to expand upon their audio system over time, the Ray will pair seamlessly with other Sonos gear. – V.P.
DJI Mini 3
If you want to gift a true tech toy to the gadget lover in your life, you can’t go wrong with a drone. DJI’s Mini 3 is very similar to the Pro model that sits above it in the lineup, sans forward and rear obstacle detection and ActiveTrack. It also weighs only 249 grams, so most countries do not require users to have a special permit to fly it. The DJI Mini 3 can shoot 4K 30fps video and take 12-megapixel photos, and its camera can flip 90-degrees to offer vertical photo and video as well. DJI’s QuickShots are also supported here, which makes it easy to take short, social media-friendly videos without much human intervention — the drone does most of the work on its own. We recommend springing for the package that includes DJI's RC controller; your giftee will thank you – it’s a lot easier to use than their smartphone. – V.P.
Audeze Maxwell
The Audeze Maxwell is the best wireless gaming headset we’ve tested for those who spend lots of time gaming with friends online. First and foremost, it sounds great, with impactful but not overblown bass and a generally high level of detail that should keep your loved one enveloped in a multiplayer battle in Halo Infinite or a tense stealth scene in The Last of Us.. The detachable mic sounds clear and does a superb job of subduing background noise. It’s definitely on the bulky side, but the cushy design looks far less obnoxious than most gaming headsets. Battery life is good at roughly 80 hours, plus there are models for both PlayStation and Xbox (or PC). — Jeff Dunn, Senior Commerce Writer
Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank
Chances are, the person who’s into all things tech already has a spare battery pack or two, but Anker’s Prime bank is a little different. First, the 20,000 mAh size is big enough and the 100W ports are powerful enough to juice up even a laptop. There’s a display that tells you how much charge the battery has left, as well as how much it’s pumping out per port. But the best part is the recharging base. Instead of the (admittedly minor) hassle of plugging the power bank in to recharge, just set it on the base and it’ll always be ready to go. Unfortunately, the base is a separate and not inexpensive purchase, but it makes for a haute portable charging experience. — A.S.
Peak Design Tech Pouch
There’s a good chance that, when your tech-loving companion travels, they bring along the gear that means the most to them. Peak Design’s Tech Pouch will give them a way to organize all of their small gadgets and keep everything neatly in one place. The origami-style pockets can accommodate things like phones, wireless chargers, power banks, adapters, cables and more. Plus the outside shell is water resistant. The bag can stand upright even when open, which will make it easier to find what they need in a pinch, and the exterior pocket has a passthrough opening that will allow them to connect to a power source and charge up items still inside the bag. The Tech Pouch is roomy without being too big or cumbersome, making it an easy gift for anyone who’s constantly on the go. – V.P.
