This time of year has a lot of merry and bright things to be excited about, but it can be stressful if you’re stumped on what to get your mom, dad, best friend, coworker or kids’ teacher as a holiday gift.Whether you enjoy or dread buying gifts for people, it’s safe to say we all want to give our loved ones things they will enjoy and appreciate.But there’s a lot of noise, junk and bad deals disguised as good deals to sift through as we get closer and closer to the holidays.Allow us at Engadget to help you through it.
Here, you’ll find all of our holiday gift guides collected in one place, so you can more easily find the best Christmas gifts you need this year.Are you looking for white elephant gift ideas? Are you struggling to come up with a good gift for the father figure in your life? Are you just looking for a good board game to pick up for your own family? We’ve got you covered with gift ideas for all of those scenarios and more.We'll update this post as more of our gift guides hit the internet, so check back for even more gift ideas throughout the season.Table of contentsBest white elephant gift ideasBest board game giftsBest gifts under $25Best gifts under $50Best tech gifts and gadgetsGifts our editors wantBest self care giftsBest gifts for gamersBest retro gaming giftsBest gifts for coffee loversBest gifts for tea loversBest cooking giftsBest tech toys for kidsBest gadgets for your petsBest travel giftsBest gifts for remote workersBest gifts for book loversBest gifts for music loversBest gifts for photographersBest gifts for cyclistsBest outdoor giftsBest gifts for momsBest gifts for dadsMore coming soon!Best white elephant gift ideasA tantalizing white elephant gift ideaKFC Limited-Edition 11 Herbs & Spices Fire Starter Log by Enviro-Log$34 at AmazonAccording to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to courtiers who had upset them.
The recipient had no choice but to simply thank the king for such an opulent gift, knowing that they likely could not afford the upkeep for such an animal.It would inevitably lead them to financial ruin.This story is almost certainly untrue, but it has led to a modern holiday staple: the white elephant gift exchange.
These gift ideas will not only get you a few chuckles, but will also make your recipient feel (slightly) burdened.Read more: The best white elephant gift ideasBest board game giftsA choose-your-own-adventure board game for the whole familyFreelancers$60 at AmazonWe could all use more time away from screens of all types and sizes, and board games are a fun way to do that and bond with friends and family.You can find plenty of unique sets out there now, from word puzzles to whodunnits to calming playthroughs that showcase the beauty of the little things in life.From games with giant monsters to those with haunted mansions, we’re sure at least one of our suggestions will be a hit with you and your loved ones.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best board games to gift this seasonBest gifts under $25A fan, flashlight and power bank in oneJISULIFE 3-in-1 Handheld Mini Fan$14 at AmazonThe most hyped tech is often also the most expensive: flagship smartphones, ultra-powerful gaming laptops, immersive VR headsets and the like.
But it would be wrong to assume that those are the only pieces of technology worth gifting.You don’t have to drain your wallet to get someone a cool gadget that will both be useful and make their lives easier.We’ve collected our favorite pieces of tech under $25 that make great gifts and help you to stick to a budget.Read more: The 12 best gifts under $25Best gifts under $50A gift that keeps on giving in the form of phone powerAnker 10K 3-in-1 Portable iPhone Charger$30 at AmazonWe wouldn’t blame you if you try to do all of your tech shopping around the holidays.
That’s when you can typically get the best sales, both on relatively affordable gear and (more importantly) on big-ticket items.But it would be wrong to think that only the most expensive tech is worth gifting.Since we at Engadget test a plethora of gadgets every year, we know that there are some hidden (and not so hidden) tech gems at lower price ranges — you just have to know where to find them.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best gifts under $50 that make great stocking stuffersBest tech gifts and gadgetsA spatial-audio speaker to up their listening gameSonos Era 300$449 at SonosTrying to find the right gift for an unabashed gadget lover during the holidays can be difficult, especially if you don’t keep up with tech industry news yourself.
Fortunately, you’re reading Engadget.com, a site entirely staffed by people who spend all day figuring out what new stuff is and isn’t actually good.So allow us to help.We’ve rounded up some of our favorite gadgets and gear that just might satisfy the avid geek in your life.Read more: The best tech gifts and gadgetsGifts our editors wantA portable projector to be smitten withNebula Cosmos 4K SE Projector$1,000 at AmazonWe at Engadget spend a lot of time thinking about the best tech gifts for anyone and everyone in your life.
But during that process, we often can’t help but think about the things like to receive as gifts.Here, we’ve compiled a list of gadgets on our staffers’ wishlists with the hope that it may inspire you to splurge a bit on yourself this year.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best tech gifts on our editors' wishlists for the holiday seasonBest self care giftsA splurge gift to help them look and feel their bestDyson Airwrap$600 at DysonThere are plenty of things you could get for someone that not only shows how much you care about them, but also remind them that it’s worthwhile to take time for themselves.And while there’s nothing wrong with an aromatherapy candle, it’s more fun to go beyond the obvious choices and look at what tech products could help your loved ones feel their best.
Our picks include things like styling gadgets and grooming devices, but also less techy options like a hair turban and face masks.Read more: The best self care giftsBest gifts for gamersA comfortable, near-universal controller 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock$48 at AmazonThis year may not go down as one of the best years in gaming like 2023 did, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of great new releases.Between titles like Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there were plenty of games to keep even the most dedicated of gamers busy in 2024.And if you’re shopping for one, especially as a non-gamer, it can be tricky to navigate what’s worth buying.
We've got you covered with these recommendations.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best gifts for gamersBest retro gaming giftsA gift for the Game Boy fanaticAnalogue Pocket$220 at AnalogueA million new video games seem to come out every week, but for some of us, nothing beats the classics.If you know someone who is way into retro gaming but don’t feel like hunting through eBay and local shops for gear to add to their collection, we’re here to help.We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite gift ideas for the nostalgic gamer in your life, from video upscalers for old consoles to retro-themed books and artwork.Read more: The best retro gaming gifts for the holidaysBest gifts for coffee loversA coffee fan's on-the-go companionAeroPress Go Plus$60 at AmazonWhen it comes to making a great cup at home, coffee nerds are constantly learning and love to try new things.
Whether the person you’re shopping for is a newly indoctrinated pour over lover or obsessive over every brewing parameter, we’ve compiled a list of the best gear for coffee geeks that you can get this holiday season.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best gifts for coffee loversBest gifts for tea loversA superior tea (and everything else) kettleFellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle$165 at FellowForget coffee — for billions of people around the world, a freshly steeped cup of tea is the best part of waking up.But with so many varieties and methods of preparation out there, it can be difficult to find the right gift for the tea lover in your life.So to help you out, we’ve put together a list of our favorite products, from kettles to samplers.Read more: The best gifts to buy tea loversBest cooking giftsA frozen-treat dream machineNinja Creami ice cream maker$200 at AmazonThere are few things more rewarding than making good food for your friends and family.
But after a while, it’s easy to get bored with the same tried and true recipes.And what better way to inject some fun into your favorite home chef’s routine than with a brand-new kitchen gadget? To help you find the right gift for the cook in your life, we’ve put together a list of our favorite kitchen gadgets across a wide range of prices and categories.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best cooking giftsBest tech toys for kidsA screen-free audio friend for the little onesToniebox$70 at AmazonWe’re all having a bit of a budget crunch this year, but the good news is that when it’s time to bestow presents on the young ones (or young at heart), you don’t have to break the bank.Our list of our favorite tech, science and design toys is stacked with items under $100, with plenty of reuse packed in so the fun can extend far beyond the holiday season.Read more: The best tech toys for kidsBest gadgets for your petsAn easy-to-use cam for pet parentsPetcube Cam$27 at AmazonIn Engadget’s Slack rooms, our pets are high on the list of stuff we chat about — just behind work-adjacent tech stuff, insane current events, video games and food.
We’ve bought plenty of high- and low-tech stuff to keep our furry friends fed, occupied, safe and happy and we’ve put together the best of what we tried here.Perhaps you’re shopping for your own very good boy or girl, or maybe you have a dutiful pet parent on your list — either way, the gadgets gathered here will make great gifts, according to the enthusiastic tail wags (or aloof meows) of our own fur babies.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The best gadgets for your petsBest travel giftsA handy duo of plugs for any international tripBeshon travel adapter plug - 2 pack$13 at AmazonSince the dawn of humanity, we have traveled.We’ve come a long way from on-foot journeys laden with animal hide satchels.
But the goal of good travel gear is the same: Get you and your necessities to a destination in the highest level of comfort available.If you know someone who is always catching a flight, rides the train to work or is bravely embarking on a cruise, some new tech may just help them out.Read more: The best travel giftsBest gifts for remote workersThe superior noise-cancelling headphonesSony WH-1000XM5$298 at AmazonThere's a pretty good chance you know at least one person who works remotely in some fashion.While the WFH life has its perks — nobody likes a long commute — it comes with its own set of challenges, from lacking pro-level equipment to dealing with household disturbances.
If you’re looking to give a gift to someone who spends much of their time in their home office, we’ve rounded up a few techy gift ideas that should make their days a little more delightful, or at least easier to manage.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The 19 best gift ideas for the remote worker in your lifeBest gifts for book loversA gift for those who can't get enough storiesAudible subscription$90 at AmazonThere are few things better in life than getting lost in a good book — as any book lover will tell you.We have a few heavy readers on staff at Engadget and we all have opinions on the gadgets and subscriptions we think make the experience of reading even better.We've got gift ideas for those who prefer e-reading, as well as for the print-faithful — and of course, some book recommendations, too.Read more: The best gifts for book loversBest gifts for music loversAn easy-to-use audio interfaceFocusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen$120 at AmazonEveryone needs a hobby, and chances are there’s at least one person on your holiday shopping list who fancies themselves a musician.
Whether they’re a casual synth noodler, a guitar virtuoso or a singer-songwriter we’ve got recommendations covering a range of price points.Some of these even make a great gift for music lovers who have been considering making the jump to music maker.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementRead more: The 16 best gifts for music loversBest gifts for photographersAn excellent (and affordable) drone for beginnersDJI Neo Mini Drone$199 at AmazonWhether that special person on your gift list is a photographer or content creator, a camera or accessory is always highly appreciated.And with technology in areas like autofocus and video quality constantly improving, it’s a great time to own a new camera.
However, it can be confusing to sort through the latest models or find the best memory cards, backpacks, tripods and more.Fortunately, we’ve done the research and selected the best cameras at a wide range of prices, along with accessories that will help your loved one get the most out of their gear.Read more: The best gifts for photographers and videographersBest gifts for cyclistsA small but mighty safety accessoryKnog Blinder Rear Light$45 at AmazonOther than a bike, helmet and a few emergency maintenance essentials, there aren’t many things a person needs to enjoy a bike ride outside.But having the right accessories can go a long way towards making the experience more fun, more safe and, ultimately, more rewarding.
Our list of recommendations cover the gamut of things you can give to the cyclist in your life, from must-have safety accessories like bike lights, to more techie gadgets like bike computers.Read more: The best gifts for cyclistsBest outdoor giftsA small, strong way to keep mosquitos at bayThermacell EL55$44 at AmazonThe great outdoors can be enjoyed all year round, so we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for the backyard lounger, patio napper or woodland hiker on your list this holiday season.We even offer help with items to improve your tailgate or next beach trip.With everything from grilling gadgets to drinkware and hammocks to splash-proof speakers, there’s something for everyone – no matter how long or how often they venture outside.Read more: The best outdoor giftsBest gifts for momsA gift that keeps their beverages piping hotEmber Mug 2$110 at AmazonWe don’t speak for all moms, but a brief and unscientific survey has confirmed one gift most moms will love across the board: Time.
Unspoken for, unstructured, zero-obligation time.While we couldn’t find extra hours on sale anywhere online, we did find some gadgets and gizmos that help save time and others that make precious down time more enjoyable.Read more: The 13 best gifts for momsBest gifts for dadsA gift to up their grilling gameMeater Pro$100 at AmazonMany Dads aren’t known for being forthright about what exactly they want for the holidays.(No, “peace and quiet” is not an acceptable answer in this case.) If you’re shopping for a father who likes gadgets but you aren’t sure what to get, let us help jog your brain with these gift ideas.Read more: The 15 best gifts for dads