If you’re shopping for someone who loves tinkering, automating, or just making life smarter, this list is for you. These are my favorite tech gifts of the year — a mix of practical tools, smart gadgets, and a few splurges.
If you already know your recipient’s setup, try my HomeTechHacker Technology Advisor to find more personalized ideas. And before you start shopping, check out my guides on online shopping tools and cybersecurity tips for safe online shopping this holiday season. A few precautions can save you money — and protect your data.
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Table of Contents
Smart Home Upgrades
Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) — Alexa’s newest display is sharper, faster, and doubles as a household control center. It’s perfect for kitchens or family rooms.
- Better inside and out – Entertainment is more immersive with spatial audio and an 8″ HD touchscreen. Video calling is crisper with high-quality sound and a 13 MP camera. And your home is more connected than ever with the built-in smart home hub.
SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum — I’ve tested and reviewed several SwitchBot devices, including the K10+ Pro. This tiny self-emptying vacuum shows just how far they’ve come. It’s quiet, quick, and surprisingly capable.
- The World’s 1st Mini Robot Vacuum: SwitchBot K10+ Pro robot vacuum is a compact, palm-sized vacuum that achieves nearly 100% cleaning coverage with no missed spots. It easily navigates under sofas, between chairs, and into tight corners, ensuring a spotless home, eliminating hard-to-reach cleaning challenges
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300 — Six individually controllable outlets plus power monitoring. Great for entertainment setups, charging stations, or workbenches.
- 6 smart outlets: Independently control 6 smart outlets, and charge 3 devices with built in USB ports; Ideal for controlling electronics in your home, home office, or small business
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit — Still one of the best smart-lighting ecosystems for effortless ambiance and automation.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX: Includes one Hue Bridge and two Hue white and color ambiance LED smart 60W A19 E26 base light bulbs suitable for most fixtures; perfect for general lighting anywhere in your home
Brilliant Smart Home Control Panel — A wall-mounted touch switch that lets you control lights, locks, and scenes. I reviewed an earlier version in this article, and it’s one of the most elegant upgrades you can make.
- EASY SMART HOME CONTROL FOR EVERYONE: Brilliant touchscreen panels with built-in Alexa make it easy for everyone at home to control popular smart devices, lighting, cameras, locks, thermostats, intercom, scenes and more by simply replacing a light switch.
Wyze Cam OG Security Camera — Compact, weather-resistant, and simple to automate. I’ve used Wyze cameras myself, and they’re great for easy, affordable home coverage. Be sure to check out our Surveillance Camera Advisor for more options.
- Live Streaming with Color Night Vision – Keep an eye on your home 24/7 with our security cameras, featuring 1080P HD video and vibrant color night vision, ensuring you never miss a moment, day or night. (5g not compatible)
DIY & Maker Essentials
Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit — The newest Pi makes a perfect home server or automation hub for tinkerers.
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
Shelly Plus Smart Plug — Compact, power-monitoring plug with great Home Assistant support. I use Shelly devices throughout my setup.
- The Shelly Plus Plug US is a next-generation, ETL-certified Wi-Fi smart plug with power monitoring and an integrated countdown timer for automated on/off control. It enables automatic monitoring and management of lighting, heating, and other connected appliances, supporting up to 1800W at 15A. Additionally, it functions as a Bluetooth gateway, enhancing connectivity within your smart home ecosystem.
Beelink EQI13 PRO Mini PC — I reviewed and use this Beelink model as a Proxmox host. These mini PCs are fantastic for Proxmox, Plex, or local Home Assistant installs.
- 【Powerful Performance】Beelink EQI13 PRO mini pc is powered by 13th Generation Intel Core i7 13620H Processors(10 Cores 16 Threads,max turbo to 4.9GHz,L3 24MB Cache),which can be widely used for office/design(PPT, AI, PS, PR,3DMAX),home(video,music and web browsing) and games (such as Genshin Impact,Fall Guys,League of Legends).
SwitchBot Meter Pro CO₂ Sensor — Tracks temperature, humidity, and air quality. I tested it myself and it’s rock solid.
- 5-in-1 Multi-Functional Display Screen: SwitchBot Meter Pro CO2 features a 92-millimeter large screen that simultaneously displays CO2 levels, temperature & humidity, time, date, and comfort level. This indoor air quality monitor makes it easy to monitor your environment and decide when to ventilate for a healthier living space.
Kaiweets Digital Smart Multimeter — Every DIYer needs a dependable multimeter for troubleshooting and measuring. This is one I use and have reviewed.
- Auto & Manual Mode: The KM601s digital multimeter features a SMART mode that automatically measures voltage, resistance, and continuity. It identifies what you’re testing and selects the optimal range for precise and quick measurements. In manual mode, it accurately measures AC/DC voltage, resistance, continuity, current, capacitance, frequency, diodes, duty cycle, temperature, NCV, and live wires
WLED-Compatible LED Strip Kit — Perfect for adding accent lighting or building a custom project. For ideas and a guide on putting together beautiful displays, check my WLED hardware guide.
- 【Pure Gold Wires】High-quality LED Chip. Instead of others’ alloy chip wire or copper chip wire, This WS2812B RGB LED use Pure Gold Wires inner, which more stable, have exceptional quality, ultra bright, less light decay and longer life.
Gadgets for Everyday Life
Pebblebee Clip Rechargeable Bluetooth Tracker — A rechargeable tracker that plays well with both iOS and Android. I use it regularly to keep tabs on my keys and bags.
- One of A Kind: The Pebblebee Clip Universal is the first smart tag key finder that works with either Google Find Hub app or Apple’s Find My app. Note that you can use only one network at a time. Google and IOS certified. Find your missing item using billions of gps trackers within Google Find Hub network or Apple’s Find My network
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw — Fast, reliable, and perfect for home offices. I reviewed it and still recommend it for its consistent print quality. This is my current home printer and you should check out my review of the 3301sdw,
- FROM AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED PRINTER BRAND – Perfect for small teams printing, scanning and copying professional-quality color documents and reports. Print speeds up to 26 ppm black/color.
Monarch Money Premium Subscription — A modern budgeting app that syncs accounts securely. I reviewed it and I use it to automate my personal financial tracking. Use this referral link for a 50% discount.
Google TV Streamer 4K— Compact streaming powerhouse that integrates your favorite apps and voice control. I use this device in my own home and wrote a review of it.
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe — Sleek charger for iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch — keeps desks clean and travel bags light.
- 15W Ultra-Fast Charging: Unlock the power of high-speed 15W charging, backed by Qi2 certification. Seamlessly compatible with MagSafe, it’s high-speed charging redefined.
Luxury Tech Splurges
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ — Premium robot vacuum and mop with automatic dirt disposal and smart mapping.
- OUR BEST PICKUP PERFORMANCE. The super-powered Roomba j9+ effortlessly banishes dirt from carpet and hard floors with 100% stronger suction* so you can focus on…not cleaning. *Compared to Roomba Combo i Series robots
Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen Portable Projector — A palm-sized projector that transforms any wall into a movie screen.
- POINT & PLAY: Pick a spot, place it, tilt it and watch content come to life with the smart theater that makes it simple; The cradle stand gives you floor-to-ceiling flexibility with a rotation of 180 degrees – always giving you the best view*
EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station — Reliable backup power for projects, outdoor work, or emergencies.
- Fuel up 80% in Only 43 Mins. With DELTA 2 Max’s upgraded tech, combine up to 1000W solar input with AC for world-leading charging speeds. In only 43 min get an 80% charge. Or stick with AC for an 80% charge in a speedy 1.1 hour.
LG UltraFine 5K Monitor — Gorgeous display that suits pros and enthusiasts alike.
- 5K UHD 5120 x 2880 Resolution with 16:9 Aspect Ratio – 500nits Brightness
Livtab LT90 Pro Smart Table — I reviewed this party-ready smart coffee table and it’s as fun as it is functional — built-in fridge drawers, Bluetooth speakers, and LED lighting.
- Built in Fridge: This smart coffee table with Dual-temperature refrigerated drawers (93L cooling space), easy to set temperature with a digital panel, range from 37 to 60°F, and ultra-quiet when running. The right drawer off the cooling function is also a storage space, make your life smarter and more convenient
Editor’s Note: The ultimate tech splurge may be giving someone tips on setting up a guest-friendly smart home for the holidays.
Books That Make Great Gifts
Books are timeless, and the right tech book can make someone smarter, safer, and more efficient.
- Life by Design — Learn how to reclaim your time and focus by using tech intentionally.
- The Personal Cybersecurity Manual — A step-by-step guide to protecting your digital life.
- The Home Network Manual — Everything you need to build a fast, secure, and reliable home network.
- The Smart Home Manual — The blueprint for creating a smart home that actually works for you.
If you want signed copies or bundle deals, buy direct from me and save.
Final Thoughts
The best gifts don’t just impress, they empower. Whether it’s a smart switch, a robot vacuum, or a book that helps someone automate their day, thoughtful tech makes life smoother and a little more fun.
For even more ideas, see my earlier list of 8 Gifts for the Tech Lovers in Your Life.
