Best Tech Gifts for the Whole Family
With the holiday season in full swing, I am always wondering what presents to get for my family. I have racked my brain and put together a go-to list for myself, and I wanted to share my top 10 tech-related gift items for families!
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A protective case for a family member's iPhone or Android is a safe bet when considering a holiday gift. With phones getting more and more expensive each year, protecting them becomes more and more important. Try going with well-known brands that offer superior protection, such as this OttterBox case linked above!
I'm sure we all have at least one family member who is into video games. Purchasing a new controller, like the Xbox One above, will make their year. Or, buying an accessory like this docking station to charge said controllers will help keep a living room more organized after a gaming session.
No matter your role in the family, sometimes we all want to jam out to our favorite music. Whether it is when you're home alone or sharing your favorite song with friends and family, a high-quality, portable Bluetooth speaker is critical. This Anker one specifically has a long-lasting battery and IPX5 waterproofing and is under $30!
Not all of us like to have our music blasting 24/7, so getting someone a quality pair of headphones or earbuds is also a great idea. Airpods are pretty pricy, but other great options exist, such as these budget-friendly noise-canceling headphones from JBL, older generation AirPods, or AfterShoxz headphones for the runner in your family!
With new hands-free driving laws going into effect in recent years, the safest way to help you navigate unfamiliar roads with Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze is to have a phone holder in your car. This device points your phone towards you while driving to show you upcoming directions and even charges your phone simultaneously! For the adventurous buyer with a larger budget, consider a dedicated screen that runs Apple Car Play or Android Auto to level up the driving experience!
Sometimes, a typical alarm clock isn't enough to wake the heavy sleepers in our lives. This smart alarm clock simulates the sunrise in the time before your alarm is set. Clocks like this one help me wake up before sunrise feeling rested and relaxed instead of being jolted out of bed by the loud alarm I need to set on my phone. This alarm clock can play various types of ambient noise, such as white noise, to help you fall asleep, and you can set two different alarms simultaneously.
If there's one thing I can always be sure of, it's that someone in my family will always be asking me, "Hey, I lost my cable to charge my phone; can I borrow yours?" Specifically, these multi-use charging cables have been a lifesaver for me, allowing a single USB-A wall adapter to charge any device that takes Lightening, USB-C, or USB-Micro B. I have at least 5 of these cables buried in my backpack because I use them so often and end up letting people keep them because they are so helpful. However, if all you need are Ligthening cables to charge iPhones, you can opt for a bulk pack for cheaper.
Second only to the charging cables are the wall power adapters. These little blocks always seem to have a mind of their own and wander off. When looking for your laptop charger, all you can find are phone chargers; conversely, when looking for phone chargers, all you can find are laptop ones. This two-pack of 40W chargers can power your phone and laptop simultaneously while allowing you to charge up to 4 devices simultaneously, albeit slowly. Because of their versatility, these chargers are my go-to when traveling or keeping in my backpack. Suppose you're looking for a higher-power, dedicated laptop charger that can double as a phone charger. In that case, you can opt for 60W or 100W variants from reputable manufacturers, such as Anker, Hyper, or Nimble.
Like many others, I can NEVER seem to remember where I left my keys, backpack, camera, or doodad. I, unfortunately, tend to take all of my essential items and place them into one keychain. It makes it easy to find any key I need, but it also makes it very easy for me to misplace the keychain and be locked out of literally every lock. AirTags have been an amazing help, combined with an AirTag holder, allowing me to quickly locate my keys no matter if I left them in a car or if they are burried in the bottom of my backpack. AirTags integrate perfectly into the Apple ecosystem and have a very long battery life.
I am not a huge fan of smart assistants like Alexa or Siri, but my family has LOVED having Alexa do simple tasks by just using your voice. Making a grocery list is as simple as saying what you need out loud. Playing music is easy as can be with a linked Amazon Music subscription. If you opt for an upgrade and get one with a screen included, you can play videos and even remotely call your family, all by just speaking!
An Aside on Charging Cables and Chargers
There are many, many different types of chargers and cables suited for various different circumstances.
1) Charging a phone or small tablet
Cables: Lightening or USB-C
Power Adapters: 4 pack of 2-port adapters
Power Banks: Light and Portable or Increased Battery
2) Charging a medium/large tablet or small laptop
Cables: Lightening or USB-C
Power Adapters: Single Port or Multi-Port
Power Banks: 100W output or Increased Battery
3) Charging a power-hungry laptop
Cables: USB-C
Power Adapters: Single Port or Multi-Port
Power Banks: 140W Output
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