The Best Tech Gifts to Buy This Year (Before They Sell Out) (2024)

The newest iteration of the iPhone doesn’t include any flashy changes, but everything under the hood has been improved. There’s a better dual-camera system and a faster chip, and Apple says the new battery should last two and a half hours longer than before. It has 5G capabilities, wireless charging, and Apple’s MagSafe technology, which uses built-in magnets to attach accessories to the phone. The cameras have larger sensors for better photos and better image stabilization while recording video.

Stepping up to the iPhone 13 Pro gives you an even better battery life, a third lens, and higher picture quality. Like the 13, the 13 Pro offers Cinematic Mode, allowing the camera to focus on specific objects and add a seamless bokeh effect while recording video. The 13 Pro has an improved screen with a more adaptive and responsive refresh rate; instead of staying at a constant 60Hz, the new refresh rates vary from 10Hz all the way up to 120Hz.

The OnePlus 9 is a midrange smartphone that holds its own against titans like the iPhone and Galaxy phones but at a much lower price. The Verge says it has all the things that matter: “a great screen, excellent performance, good battery life, and a capable camera.” It’s worth noting the camera takes excellent ultrawide shots — perfect for landscape photos — and the phone charges superfast. The OnePlus has a top-of-the-line processor, and you can choose between 8 GB and 12 GB of RAM.

The Verge deputy editor Dan Seifert writes, “The story of folding phones thus far has been one of compromise.” But the Z Flip3 is the first folding smartphone to challenge that. “Its screen runs at a smooth 120Hz, just like Samsung’s other flagships. It has a new, allegedly more durable construction, plus IP water resistance, just like you’d expect on a modern phone,” he says. But most important: “Its starting price is $1,000, $450 less than the launch price of the Z Flip 5G it replaces. That puts the Flip3 on the same price level as many high-end, non-folding phones.”

The XPS 13 is well built with a powerful processor and a vibrant 13-inch screen with almost no bezel — so you’ll have that extra bit of room on your 4K screen to move around windows, browse the web, and play games. The Verge tested it and recorded seven hours of battery life and three hours of light gaming. The keyboard and touch pad feel smooth and responsive, and it weighs only 2.8 pounds.

This inexpensive and underrated smart-home gift “lets you set up simple daily on-off schedules,” says Strategist contributor Kyle Schurman. “You can have the Wyze turn on any time one of your other smart devices is activated. For example, if someone approaches your video doorbell, you could have a lamp in the window automatically turn on to make it look like someone is home.”

This is another inexpensive smart plug that works with Google, Alexa, and Apple’s HomeKit. You can create a schedule for any device connected to your smart plug, and its compact design won’t needlessly block other power outlets.

If you prefer Google, try the Nest Mini. You can easily tuck the little hockey puck into a corner so your smart speaker is less of a focal point in the room.

The Sonos One is a smart speaker with a bit more flash. It’s not overly complicated to set up or use, and since it comes from an outstanding speaker company, the sound quality is much better than what you get with Amazon or Google.

The Eufy RoboVac is designed to be ignored. Just plug it in and set the schedule. It’s smart enough to avoid ledges, it can alert you any time it gets stuck in a certain area, and it adapts to carpets or hard surfaces automatically. You control it with the app or your smart speaker.

The two-meter base kit of Philips Hue Smart Lightstrip allows you to connect the strips to bed frames, behind computers, or underneath a desk. You can easily change the colors of the lights for any mood. You can also sync your games or movies with the lights by using your PC with the Hue Sync app.

These dimmable LED light bulbs are easy to set up, create a warm ambient light, and are a nice home upgrade for anyone looking to be more energy efficient.

This LED light bulb can be set to any color of the rainbow using the accompanying smartphone app with Google or Alexa.

“It has a high-resolution screen, attractive design, and dual-bandWi-Ficonnectivity, which reduces interference with other devices and improves overall performance,” says Strategist contributor Kyle Schurman. “Plus it comes with a remote sensor that lets you base temperature settings on a room other than the one the thermostat is mounted in.” Schurman says the Ecobee has excellent voice-control integration, so you can ask Alexa or Google to change the temperature in your living space.

This smart lock has a proximity feature that unlocks automatically when your Bluetooth- or NFC-enabled phone is within range. It’s easy to share access to your home with other members of the household or visiting guests, and you can use it with your existing deadbolt and keys —but with the August smart lock, you’ll have the option to open the door hands free.

This is the Strategist’s best-sellingsmart gardenand comesrecommendedby several experts. It has space to grow three plant pods at a time, and you can choose from over 50 different types of plants.

Susanna Pollack, president of Games for Change, told us Quest 2 is a great gift for the avid gamer. “It offers a premium consumer experience in virtual reality, with stunning visuals and controls that let you interact naturally,” she says. Polygon calls it the best value you can get in VR right now. Even Neil Patrick Harris is a fan: “I’m fascinated by all of the different ways it can be used for literally any age,” he says.

Not only will the recipient of this gift be able to go head-to-head against other online players, they will also get access to a curated list of classic NES games they can play online.

Apple Arcade comes recommended by Andrew Webster, games editor at The Verge. It offers high-quality games and a more streamlined gaming experience compared with the regular games you find in the App Store. When we interviewed gamers to find alternatives to the frequently sold-out Nintendo Switch, three of them recommended Apple Arcade.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best value when it comes to video-game subscription services. It gives you access to hundreds of games, discounts on future game releases, and an Xbox Live Gold membership, which allows you to play online against others.

Similar to the Xbox Game Pass, the PlayStation Plus membership gives you access to new games each month and lets you play online against friends and other gamers.

When bought as a gift card, Spotify’s hugely popular music-streaming service costs $20 less than normal.

Perfect for that person who is desperately waiting for the new season of Ozark or wants to check out Squid Game.

Or maybe they haven’t gotten a chance to watch Only Murders in the Building.