Nothing beats waking up and unwrapping a cool tech gadget gift that was left under the Christmas tree. Technology makes the world go round, plus it can earn you some major points when it's given to a friend, loved one, or family member. Or even to yourself. Fortunately, cool hardware doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg, and whether your shopping list has iPads and AirPods or air fryers and coffee makers on it, there'll be something worth having.
If you're trying to impress, you don't want to give a family member or friend a simple gift card to Best Buy, so to help you out, we've rounded up some of the best tech gift ideas for 2020. Keep in mind that all prices listed below indicate the product's regular price and don't reflect any fluctuations or discounts. Amazon regularly slashes the prices on its products, so you may find a sweet deal on your gift item when you click through.
Best video game consoles
One of the best gifts to give and get is a video game console. Not only is it a deluxe item they'll never forget; they'll also be able to get a ton of use out of it. Below we've collected the best video game consoles that are readily available. Of course, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are nearly here, but with preorders selling out quickly, there's no guarantee you'll be able to lock one of the new consoles down in time for the holidays.
Best video game controllers
For gamers, no accessory gets more use than their favorite controller, especially when it's a premium pad made to last them a long time. The following controllers are the best you can get for their respective platforms, but if you want to see more options, check out our guides on the best Nintendo Switch controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best PS4 controllers.
Best gaming headsets
The quality of gaming headsets can vary wildly, and if you're not sure which ones are good, then it can be incredibly intimidating to look through all of your available options. We've highlighted some of our picks for gaming headsets below.
Best Bluetooth headphones
Gaming headsets are great, but they're not the best for listening to music, especially when on the go. And cables can get caught on everything these days--doors, benches, and anything else in between home and the destination. That's where Bluetooth headphones excel. Wirelessly connected to any compatible device, your loved one will be able to listen to anything they want in comfort, making Bluetooth headphones perfect for anyone with a long commute or who travels frequently.
Best tablets
A tablet is always an excellent gift for anyone who loves movies, TV, comics, and books. Easy to enjoy around the house or take with you while traveling, tablets are great for entertainment, surfing the internet, or even games.
Best gaming mouse
Choosing the right gaming mouse can make for a tough decision, considering it's something they'll be using a lot if they're a frequent PC gamer. Thankfully, we've tested a lot of different gaming mice from a variety of comapnies, including Logitech, Razer, and more. We've selected a couple for this guide, but if you need more recommendations, you can check out our guide to the best gaming mouse you can buy in 2020.
Best gaming keyboards
Like mice, choosing the right gaming keyboard for someone can be difficult. There are a lot of different options, some better than others in various ways. Thankfully, we've also tested quite the collection of gaming keyboards, so we've chosen a couple that would make any PC gamer happy.
Best Bluetooth speakers
For people who are constantly listening to music, a great Bluetooth speaker is a must-have, especially since so many people's music collections are stored entirely in their phones. There are plenty of great speaker options for home use and for taking on the go, so we've collected our favorites for both.
Best movie & TV streaming devices
For movie and TV junkies, nothing is better than a high-quality streaming device that supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby surround sound. Streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other services as well as buying and renting from multiple storefronts is made easy with one of these handy multimedia devices. Gifting a subscription to one of those services would be another great gift idea--check out our guide to the best streaming services for a breakdown of all current options.
Best smart devices
A good smart device makes for an excellent home assistant, perfect for people who love cooking or listening to music. Most people would appreciate some extra help staying organized and up-to-date, and smart devices can do just that, including adding items to a shopping list, creating appointments on a calendar, reading the latest news, and more, just from verbal commands.
Best smart lighting gadgets
Lighting a house isn't usually the most exciting activity, but Philips Hue's variety of products have made it a lot of fun. Synchronizing lights with movies and games or even setting a room's lights to be a different color, like green or purple, are just a few things people can do with Hue's products, making them great gifts for anyone who enjoys watching movies, gaming, and more.
Best fitness trackers
Fitness is important, especially when gyms are closing down to due to the current pandemic. Fitness trackers make it easy for users to keep up on their goals and challenge themselves every day to beat their previous records. Fitbit makes a number of great options, and these are the best ones.
Best food and coffee gadgets
There are so many awesome gadgets for food and coffee lovers, and since both are something people need every day, anyone will get a lot of use out of these. From slow cookers to coffee makers, there are some really great options out there.