Tech Gifts People Actually Use: A Holiday Guide by Who's on Your List

Every year, a certain number of tech gifts end up in a drawer by February. Usually it is not because they were bad products. It is because they solved a problem the recipient did not have, needed an app on a phone they do not own, or asked for one more thing to charge and remember.

This guide sticks to gifts that tend to stay in use: things people reach for every day without thinking about it. It is organized by who you are shopping for, and it covers six products from brands most people already recognize. It is a researched guide, built from manufacturer specifications, the Amazon listings and published reviews (every outlet is named below). We did not test these ourselves, so we stick to what those sources document.

Quick picks

• Best for the commuter or frequent flyer (splurge): Bose QuietComfort Headphones.
• Best for the reader (mid-range): Kindle Paperwhite 16GB, the version without lockscreen ads.
• Best for the person who loses their keys (stocking stuffer, iPhone only): Apple AirTag (2nd generation).
• Best for the phone that is always at 10 percent (stocking stuffer): Anker Nano Power Bank with built-in USB-C cable.
• Best for the nightstand or kitchen counter: Amazon Echo Show 5.
• Best for grandparents and far-flung family (mid-range): Aura Carver digital picture frame.

For the commuter or frequent flyer: Bose QuietComfort Headphones

The QuietComfort Headphones are Bose’s mainstream noise-cancelling over-ears, a step below the QuietComfort Ultra. The listing here is the black version with USB-C charging and a rated 24 hours of playtime.

The reason they make good gifts is comfort. TechGearLab ranked them among the coziest headphones it has tried, said most people could wear them for up to 10 hours, and called them excellent for glasses wearers. Battery results bracket Bose’s claim: SoundGuys measured a little over 27 hours, while TechGearLab got about 23. TechGearLab measured roughly 27 dB of average noise reduction, and SoundGuys found the cancelling cuts low engine and street rumble substantially, with custom noise-cancelling presets in the app.

The criticism is just as consistent. TechGearLab rated call quality poorly, and SoundGuys disliked the heavy sub-bass and the limited EQ, arguing the tuning was not an improvement over the previous model. For the full picture, see our Bose QuietComfort review roundup.

Who should get them: commuters, travelers and open-office workers who listen for hours at a time. The caveat: not the pick for someone who lives on phone calls. If your budget is more stocking stuffer than splurge, our Soundcore Q20i vs JBL Tune 770NC comparison covers two well-reviewed budget-friendly noise-cancelling options, and the Soundcore P20i earbuds roundup covers an inexpensive pair of earbuds. Check the current price on Amazon.

For the reader: Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (2024)

The 2024 Paperwhite has a 7 inch, 300 ppi glare-free screen, 16GB of storage, USB-C charging and IPX8 water resistance. Amazon rates the battery at up to 12 weeks based on half an hour of reading a day, and says page turns are 25 percent faster than before. The display can shift from white to amber for reading at night.

The configuration to buy: this listing is the black model Without Lockscreen Ads. Amazon also sells an ad-supported version that shows promotions on the lock screen. For a gift, the ad-free version avoids a small annoyance on the recipient’s side.

Pocket-lint gave it full marks and an Editor’s Choice, praising the larger, crisp screen, the responsive page turning and the waterproofing that makes bath and pool reading low-stress. Its main complaint was that the wider body can be awkward one-handed for smaller hands, and that the upgrades over the previous Paperwhite are modest.

Who should get it: anyone who reads regularly, especially someone without an e-reader or with a much older Kindle. The caveat: it lives in Amazon’s book ecosystem, so it suits people who are happy to buy or borrow books through Kindle. Check the current price on Amazon.

For the person who loses their keys: Apple AirTag (2nd generation)

The second-generation AirTag looks almost identical to the original but improves the two things that matter when you are hunting for keys. Apple says the speaker is 50 percent louder and that upgraded Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth chips extend the range for finding items. Macworld’s tests found Precision Finding worked from about 40 percent farther away than before, and measured the alert getting noticeably louder. Precision Finding now also works from a recent Apple Watch.

The configuration to buy: this is the single AirTag. Apple also sells a 4 pack, which makes sense for a household or someone who travels with checked bags.

Macworld’s criticisms are practical: you still need a holder or keyring accessory to attach it, the CR2032 coin cell is not rechargeable (though it lasts around a year), and the design is unchanged.

Who should get it: iPhone owners who misplace keys, wallets or luggage. The caveat, and it is a big one: Macworld notes it needs an iPhone 11 or newer on a current iOS version, and it does not work with Android. If the recipient carries an Android phone, pick a tracker made for Android instead. Budget for a holder, too. Check the current price on Amazon.

For the phone that is always at 10 percent: Anker Nano Power Bank

This is the 10,000mAh Anker Nano with a built-in USB-C cable, which is the whole point: there is no separate cable to forget. Anker lists 30W from the built-in cable or the USB-C port, 22.5W from the USB-A port, 24W total when charging several devices, a small color display showing the remaining charge, and a weight of about 215 grams. It works with both iPhones that charge over USB-C and Android phones.

Tech Advisor found it delivered enough for roughly two iPhone recharges and took an iPhone 15 to about half in 30 minutes. It can also give a MacBook Air a modest top-up in a pinch. The one complaint was a housing that picks up scratches.

Who should get it: students, commuters, travelers and anyone whose phone battery is visibly aging. The caveat: the built-in cable is USB-C, so an older Lightning iPhone needs a separate cable, and a fixed cable cannot be swapped if it wears out. Check the current price on Amazon.

For the nightstand or kitchen counter: Amazon Echo Show 5

The current Echo Show 5 (the listing calls it the newest model, in Charcoal) is a small 5.5 inch smart display with a 2MP camera for video calls, a physical camera shutter and a mic/camera off button. It shows the time, weather and photos, plays music, and controls compatible smart home devices.

Tech Advisor liked the bright, sharp display and how far it now dims at night, which makes it a better bedside alarm clock than earlier versions, and found the sound fuller than before. It also noted there is no Netflix app and that little changed from the previous generation. Android Police was tougher, scoring it 6 out of 10 for laggy, glitchy software and rotating on-screen cards that it found distracting, and suggested a plain Echo Dot for people who only want voice control.

Who should get it: someone already using Alexa, or a relative you want to video call easily. The caveat: if the recipient dislikes screens that push suggestions, or does not use Alexa, skip it. Check the current price on Amazon.

For grandparents and far-flung family: Aura Carver

The Aura Carver is a 10 inch digital picture frame, and this listing is the Gravel (black) color. Family members send photos and videos to it from the free Aura app on iPhone or Android, and the listing also mentions email, text, iCloud and Google Photos. Aura says there is no subscription and storage is unlimited.

The gifting angle is unusually strong: Aura’s listing says you can preload photos, videos and a message before you wrap it, and Digital Camera World noted the gift setup option. That review praised the app and software, the sharp, colorful picture and the easy setup, and called it a stylish choice. Its criticisms: the 1280 x 800 frame only sits in landscape (Aura pairs portrait shots side by side to compensate), it requires Wi-Fi, and there is no USB or SD card slot.

Who should get it: grandparents and anyone who wants to see family photos without scrolling a phone. The caveat: the recipient needs reliable home Wi-Fi. Check the current price on Amazon.

Gift-giving tips

Check the phone ecosystem first. This is the most common way a good gift goes wrong. The AirTag is iPhone only. The Echo Show 5 and Aura Carver work through apps on both platforms. Headphones and power banks work with either, but check the recipient’s charging port.

Ask for a gift receipt. Amazon lets you mark items as gifts, and a gift receipt makes an exchange painless if you guessed wrong on color or platform.

Know the return window. Return policies vary by seller and product. Check the return details on the listing before you buy, especially if you are shopping early.

Check what is in the box. Many gadgets now ship with a cable but no wall adapter. If the recipient does not already have a USB-C charger, consider adding one. Replacement CR2032 batteries for an AirTag are a thoughtful extra.

Set it up (or don’t). Preloading photos on a frame is a lovely touch. For a Kindle or Echo, let the recipient sign in with their own account.

How to choose

1. Match the habit, not the hype. The best tech gift fits something the person already does daily: reading, commuting, losing keys.
2. Platform compatibility. iPhone versus Android rules out some gifts entirely.
3. Charging burden. A frame or smart display stays plugged in. Headphones and power banks need charging; AirTags need a coin cell once a year or so.
4. Subscriptions and ads. Prefer gifts without ongoing fees, and consider ad-free configurations where offered.
5. Home setup needs. Smart displays and photo frames need Wi-Fi and, for the Echo, an Alexa account.
6. Tier. AirTags and power banks are stocking stuffers; the Kindle, Echo Show 5 and Aura frame sit in the mid-range; the Bose headphones are the splurge.

The bottom line

For a stocking stuffer, the Anker Nano is the safest universal pick and the AirTag is the best one for iPhone owners. In the mid-range, the Kindle Paperwhite suits readers and the Aura Carver suits family. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are the splurge for people who spend hours on planes and trains. Check the current price on Amazon for each, and browse more ideas on the Shop Llama blog or in tech deals.