When it comes to buying tech gifts during the holiday season, it’s easy for shoppers to feel daunted by the ever-increasing whirlwind of gadgets and options. Nobody wants to overspend, but you want to be sure you have found a gift that will work well and offer the features your loved one craves. This year, we’re taking the guesswork out of your high-tech holiday shopping with this list of 5 great gifts sure to bring smiles to anyone lucky enough to receive them.
Phillips’ Hue Connected Bulb
This little light bulb will thrill both geeks and handymen alike. The Phillips Hue Connected Bulb is a color-changing LED light bulb that can be controlled from a smartphone. Now, lucky recipients can easily change their mood lighting with the push of a button, or turn off the lights for a long winter’s nap without leaving the couch.
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10
This Lenovo 10-inch Tablet PC is a fantastic find for anybody on your gift list. The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 is a highly affordable tablet with superior battery life and tons of features sure to excite any gift-ee. It has a sleek new design and is very comfortable to hold, but one of the greatest new features to this tablet is the kickstand which allows users to enjoy hands-free viewing at a range of angles. Not only is this a great gift for your wandering media lovers, but the easy-access microSD card slot, integrated Bluetooth, and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and GPS make it easy to get work done on-the-go, too.
Fitbit Force
The Fitbit Force is a great techy gift for the fitness lovers in your life. This handy little gadget is worn on the wrist and features a wireless Bluetooth connection to help keep track of calorie intake, steps, and even sleep. It also synchs with a number of popular phones and notebooks, and the bright screen makes keeping up with fitness goals a breeze.
Chromecast
Chromecast is an affordable gift that will bring tremendous entertainment value to anybody you meet under the Christmas tree. Users simply plug this little media stick into their HDTVs, then sit back as they stream media from Google, Netflix, YouTube and more.
Logitech Washable Keyboard K310
Why didn’t they think of this sooner? If you have ever opened up your computer keyboard, you know well the shocking amount of material that can become lodged beneath your keys. The Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 features UV coated keys that won’t fade and drainage holes that allow for safe and easy washing and drying. No more crumbs!
180s TEC Fleece Earmuff Headphones
When the temperature starts to drop, runners, walkers and other mobile music lovers can have a hard time staying warm and accommodating headphones at the same time. With the 180s TEC Fleece Earmuff Headphones, your loved one will be able to keep his ears both warm and happy—these stereo headphones feature a detachable cord and a super cozy fleece lining so wearers can rock on in snugly comfort.
The real key to great Christmas gifting is a balancing act: you want to make sure you aren’t breaking the bank, while at the same time you are giving a gift that will be truly useful and appreciated. With these techy gifts, you can be sure to hit a holiday home run. Careful, though: your superior gifting skills will surely be noted, and you won’t be able to fall back on fruitcake and mittens next year without seriously damaging your reputation as Santa’s ultimate helper.
Jennifer Thayer
Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer who enjoys writing about gadgets, apps and the latest tech news. Follow her on Twitter.