The 33 best tech gifts to buy this year, handpicked by our gadget experts

Amazon brought its Alexa-based alarm clock back from the digital recycling bin this year, this time in a new circular design available in black, white and a cute blue that I wish my review unit came in. You can easily program it to wake you to whatever song you’d like to wake up to, with different alarms for whatever days you need — such as something more soothing on weekends and another more powerful track during the week. This might seem like an unusual gift, but we all know someone who’s been trying to stop using their phone at night; what better way to detach from your most intimate screen than to stop using it as your alarm clock? — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

This isn’t the ergonomic keyboard you may be familiar with. Logitech’s Wave Keys keyboard ditches the split-keyboard look for a more natural-looking design, and its built-in wrist rest helps enable a more comfortable experience. In the month and a half since I got my testing unit, I haven’t even thought about going back to my pricey mechanical keyboard once. It even helps you make your own keyboard shortcuts. My F5 key is all I need to click at the end of the day, and the F6 key will open all the apps I need in the morning. It also pairs with up to three devices, which is great for those of us who have a secondary computer or tablet nearby. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

Our favorite budget tablet, the newest Fire 7 is a great stocking stuffer for anyone getting their first tablet. It’s got access to all the key apps you need, it offers long battery life within an attractive design and it’s loaded with perks for Amazon Prime members. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

If you’re shopping for someone looking to stay on top of their health, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great choice. In addition to providing advanced features like heart rate and sleep tracking, the Charge 6 is also essentially a cheaper Pixel Watch — complete with handy apps like Google Maps, Google Wallet and YouTube Music for getting places and listening to music without grabbing your phone. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Years of slow, minor updates to the Kindle lineup found long-time reviewers like myself wondering when Amazon would do something truly impressive. The 2024 version of the popular waterproof Kindle Paperwhite is that exact evolutionary leap forward, as Amazon’s display tech changes now offer a much faster page turn time. On top of that, it’s got new Jade green and Raspberry pink color options for its back shell. It's a great gift for the die-hard Kindle user and those who have always thought E Ink screens would always be too slow to truly feel modern. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

A no-brainer stocking stuffer (especially for loved ones who always lose their stuff), Apple's AirTag can be attached to anything from your bag to your wallet so that you can easily track those items down via the Find My app in your iPhone. We found the AirTag’s tracking to be very accurate in our testing — just make sure to pick up an attachment accessory so you can actually affix it to your belongings. I personally keep one on my dog's harness to for peace of mind when I'm away. My colleague Henry T. Casey keeps an AirTag in his fanny pack, and it’s saved him from losing the bag countless times so far (if only he did that with the bag he left in Asbury Park, NJ). — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Now at a lower price that often drops even further during sales, the 10th-generation iPad is an easy recommendation as the best tablet to gift most people. It's got access all the apps you want it to have, whether you're gifting it to an aspiring artist who wants to doodle with an Apple Pencil or the little one in your life that just wants to play Roblox (as the uncle of the latter, I can confirm that this model is perfect for that). It has the best assortment of color options of any iPad, a big and vibrant 10.9-inch screen and its A14 Bionic processor is plenty fast for everyday multitasking. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

If the Apple fan in your life is an avid reader, sketcher or just likes their tablet on the small side, the new iPad Mini is one of the company's best yet. You get the same crisp 8.3-inch display and perfectly portable size, now with better Apple Pencil support and a faster processor that'll let the gamer on your list play console-quality titles like Resident Evil 4 and Death Stranding: Director's Cut. I've found this particular iPad hard to put down in my testing; it's just the perfect size for catching up on my comics or playing yet another round of Balatro. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

We all know at least one person who is two or three items deep into the Apple ecosystem, and Twelve South’s HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand is perfect for that. Unlike most similar charging stations, it’s pretty slim, so it doesn’t take up much space on your desk or dresser. From its MagSafe charging puck stand wrapped in vegan leather to its Apple Watch fast-charger to hidden third Qi charging bay in the back, the HiRise 3 Deluxe keeps your tech nearby and refueled. Oh, and the MagSafe charger can be tilted up and down, which is perfect for iOS 17’s StandBy smart display mode, helping you keep a clear line of sight at the time, photos or other widget you chose. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

The MacBook Air M2 is our former best laptop pick and a great choice for nearly anyone on your list. It’s thin and light enough for travelers, comes in 13-inch and 15-inch variations, is powerful enough for casual users and budding creatives alike. After nearly two years of testing other notebooks, the 15-inch Air is still my go-to laptop for personal use. You could pick up the MacBook Air M3 for even faster speeds, but the M2 option is still more than enough laptop for most people — especially since it's seen a price cut and now starts with a more expansive 16GB of memory. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Seeking an inexpensive gift for the traveler or music fanatic in your life? Go with the Sony XB100, the latest version of what’s long been our favorite portable Bluetooth speaker. This small cylinder pumps out an impressively big sound, with plenty of clarity, detail and thumping bass for your road adventures and shower singalongs. It’s tiny enough to throw in any bag or strap to your bike, comes in a range of gorgeous colors (we especially love blue and orange) and is IP67 rated to handle any spills at the pool or beach. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

The AirPods Pro 2 might be the definitive earbuds these days, but that doesn't mean they're the right option for everyone. Maybe you don't have $200 to $250 to blow on the audio lover in your life — or maybe they don't like silicone earbuds that go all the way into your ear (lots of folks at Underscored don't). If that's the case, the new $129 AirPods 4 are a great choice. These buds have the same open-ear design as previous standard AirPods, but with improved comfort and the same advanced sound quality and immersive Spatial Audio you'll find on the Pros. And if you step up to the $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, you'll get to drown out the chaos with ANC that I've found to be shockingly good for a pair of open earbuds. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

While the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones may not swing every iPhone user — I tested them extensively for my Bose QC Ultra Headphones vs. Apple AirPods Max face-off — they’re damn good. So good, in fact, I’d say they’re one of the very top pairs of cans any Android user would love to own — and a pair that even this AirPods Max owner loved when testing them out. Bose’s sound and active noise canceling remains on par with all rivals, if not better. Plus, a new set of Immersive Audio settings means you can opt for a more compelling sound. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

If you’re willing to splurge on someone who wants the best of the best, the AirPods Pro 2 are the way to go. They have some of the best active noise cancellation we’ve ever tested, along with superb sound and a more durable case that you can even attach to your lanyard. Better yet, they now come in a USB-C variation that you can charge with the same cable you use for your MacBook and iPad. I've tested nearly every major set of earbuds that's come out over the past two years, and none of them have been able to dethrone these as my everyday pair. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

I'm always singing the Meta Quest 3's praises, but I realize not everyone can splurge $500 on a virtual reality headset for their techy loved one. That's why I was thrilled by the arrival of the Meta Quest 3S, which has all of the same core features of our favorite VR headset for a much more attainable price. I've spent extensive time with the 3S, and can say that its excellent software library — which lets you suit up as Batman, battle zombies in your real-life living room and even have fun working out — plays just as well here as it does on the original model. You won't get quite the same visual fidelity or overall storage space as the Quest 3, but those are small trade-offs to what's otherwise the best entry point into VR yet. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

I often tell people that the Nintendo Switch OLED is the model to buy, and that Mario Kart 8 should always be one of your first game pickups. As such, this bundle that throws the two together with a full year of Nintendo Switch Online is a no-brainer for any loved ones that have a new Nintendo console on their wishlist. This is the first time the Switch OLED gets the Mario Kart 8 bundle treatment, meaning you effectively get the essential racing game and Switch Online's multiplayer perks and excellent retro game library for free. It's a great value for anyone getting their first switch or upgrading to OLED — especially since we now know that your Switch games will carry over to the next generation. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

Perfect for the gamer in your life, the Backbone One is by far the best mobile gaming controller we’ve tested. This handy attachment turns your smartphone into a Switch-like gaming machine, with console-quality controls and a handy companion app that lets you access your favorite mobile games (and cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna) all in one place. The Backbone comes in both iPhone and Android variants, and there’s a handy new USB-C model that’s perfect for playing high-end games like Resident Evil Village on your iPhone 15 Pro. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

It’s a classic conundrum: You want to binge trash reality TV, and your partner wants to play their PS5. Instead of arguing over who gets the big screen, just get them a PlayStation Portal. This unique handheld gaming device lets you stream your PS5 games to a vivid 8-inch screen, complete with the same substantial controls and immersive haptics of the standard PS5 DualSense controller. I've gotten some good use out of the Portal when I wanted to binge some Tekken 8 or practice my Mortal Kombat 1 combos while still watching football on TV. It's a great gift for a gamer; just don’t be surprised when they’re suddenly playing their PS5 games in bed all night. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

If the gamer on your list practically lives at the arcade like I do, why not save them some quarters and bring the arcade to them? Arcade1Up makes great replicas of classic arcade titles like Pac-Man, Street Fighter and Galaga that largely look and feel like the real thing, all while offering multiple titles per machine and extra perks like online play. I've been testing and loving the company's NBA Jam Deluxe 2-Player cabinet, which provides a quick hit of basketball nostalgia whenever I need it — and doubles as a sleek piece of arcade ambiance that fits surprisingly well into my tight one-bedroom apartment. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor

You can’t control the latest price hikes for your favorite streaming services, but you can make sure your binge watch goes as smoothly as possible with the new Roku Ultra. This is why I always give my parents the latest Roku Ultra whenever the company decides to upgrade its high-end streaming box. On top of all the video and audio standards you deserve at this price, this model packs a better remote, faster processor and improved Wi-Fi, along with the Ethernet port that other Roku devices don’t offer. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer

Samsung’s Freestyle projector has long been a favorite of ours, and for good reason. This projector lets you beam up to a 100-image screen onto any surface, all within a sleek, cylindrical design that’s a breeze to throw in a bag and bring to your next camping trip or rooftop party. The new second-generation Freestyle’s Gaming Hub also lets you stream tons of big-name games from services like Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna, meaning you can fire up a game of Halo or Mortal Kombat anywhere — even the roof of your tent. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

For those willing to splurge on a special someone — or themselves, we don’t judge — the Sony Bravia XR A95L is our new favorite high-end TV. Available in 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch variations, this stunning OLED set offers beautiful picture quality, snappy performance, impressive built-in speakers and even an included webcam that lets the TV adapt to where you’re sitting. It’s also a great pick for gaming, with HDMI 2.1 support that allows it to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer