If you’re struggling to come up with creative and useful gift ideas this holiday season, here’s a piece of advice: you can’t go wrong with a gadget. With that in mind, we’re sharing our top picks for the best tech gifts to give in 2024, ranging from the helpful and handy to the downright frivolous and fun.
Amazon Canada
Cupping therapy is a great way to fight muscle tension, aches and pains, and circulation issues, but it can be tricky to nail at home. This petite gadget will ensure a smooth and painless process, thanks to built-in features that’ll prevent them from accidentally overdoing it. Heat and vibration add to the therapeutic experience, and they’ll get three heads to customize their treatments. Reviewers reported near-instant pain relief and tension release, so consider gifting this to your most stressed-out friends.
HP
This versatile laptop is loaded with storage space and boasts a super-speedy processor that’ll let your pal multi-task like a total pro (we’re talking video editing, gaming, movie watching, and more). It also happens to have several futuristic AI features, like Help Me Write (a creative writing aid), Help Me Read (which can read web pages out loud), and Magic Editor that’ll make touching up pictures a total snap. Add on a full 10-hour battery life, and they’ll have the perfect companion for long flights, busy school days, and multi-meeting workdays.
Douglas
What’s better than the gift of great sleep? Using a remote, they can adjust the head and foot sections when they’re reading, watching a movie, or just trying to ease some aches and pains. And when they need a little extra stress relief, they’ll be glad the bed is equipped with a massage function to help melt away their tension.
@myivation/Instagram
No one likes struggling with a particularly difficult cork, and now, no one will have to. This high-tech kit comes with a powerful electric corkscrew that reviewers say is almost laughably easy to use. But the fun doesn’t stop there: they’ll also get a foil cutter, aerating pourer, wine stoppers, and an electric preserver that’ll suck the oxygen out of the bottle and keep their vino fresh for longer.
Victoria Kuglin/Daily Hive | @nanoleaf/Instagram
These touch-reactive panels are fully customizable through the app, making them just the thing for adding a little je ne sais quoi to any decor (without taking up any precious real estate). They also have tons of lighting effects, so your pal can even set them to mimic a flickering fire or a trickling waterfall.
@dysonbeauty/Instagram
They may be skeptical about the “wet-to-dry” function of this high-tech straightener, and for good reason. But if they’re having flashbacks to frying their hair in the early aughts, let them know that this version actually uses no heat (meaning no damage!). Like the brand’s other cult-favourite styling tools, it relies on the power of air to dry and smooth down tresses in one go, resulting in sleeker, shinier, and softer hair.
Amazon Canada
It’s time to ditch the phone camera and go analog! This point-and-shoot camera photographs in half-frame, meaning they’ll get double the number of photos per roll (and have more chances to collect memories). When they’re working in low-light settings, they’ll love that it has a built-in flash they can turn on and off to suit their needs. And don’t forget to tuck a few rolls of film into their stocking.
@steameryofficial/Instagram
It’s a minimalist’s dream on the outside, but everyone knows it’s what’s inside that counts. In this case, that’s six razor-sharp blades and high rotations that’ll make fabric pills and fuzz nothing but a distant memory. Fully charged, it’ll give them two hours of shaving time.
Victoria Kuglin/Daily Hive
These neat tags are a must-have for anyone who travels (or is just plain forgetful). They’ll let them keep track of their most precious belongings and will even notify them if they’ve left anything behind. The battery will last over a year and they can also ping the tags right from their phone to track down things like keys, TV remotes, or even their purse. You can also get them a single tag if you think a four-pack might be overkill.
Amazon Canada
A deep tissue massage, but make it ~thermal~. That’s what they’ll get from this petite device, thanks to a heat-conducting steel head that’ll pound away aches and sore spots while soothing and relaxing tense muscles. Depending on their needs (or preferences), they can switch out the head’s silicone sleeves for more targeted or generalized treatment. As a bonus, it’s small enough to bring on the go, too.
Best Buy
Deliver them from tepid drinks and gift them this smart cup. Using the companion app, they can set their preferred drinking temperature — the mug will do the rest. When placed on the charging coaster, it’ll work its magic all day long (once removed from the coaster, it’ll work for about an hour and a half). Other cool features to note are the auto shut-off feature that prevents drinks from overheating, an LED light to indicate when the drink is ready for sipping, and customizable presets via the companion app so they can set it and forget it.
Best Buy
We are truly living in the future, and this sleek pair of shades is proof of that. They have a 12MP camera built right in, making live streaming and video calls easier than ever (and allowing them to do it hands-free). If they’re in the mood for some tunes, the integrated speakers will let them listen to their favourite tracks when they’re out and about, or they can take advantage of voice commands to make calls, dig up info, or just take pictures. On top of that, they also offer pretty serious sun protection.
Amazon Canada
Any adventurous and outdoorsy friends on your shopping list will love this water- and dust-proof speaker. Reviewers say it has a very generous playtime and pairs easily with all their tech while being durable enough for camping, kayaking, or just remaining intact in bustling households. The integrated carabiner clip simplifies the process of toting it around, easily fastening it to sporting equipment, backpacks, and furniture. Despite its size, they can expect excellent sound quality.
@bartesian/Instagram
The cocktail aficionados in your life will love unwrapping this clever appliance. It uses a pod system to whip up bar-quality sippers in literal seconds, saving them from having to do it themselves. Here’s how it works: when they insert the capsule for their desired drink, the machine reads the top barcode and draws the appropriate booze from the mounted canisters. The pod contains all the aromatics and additional ingredients needed for the cocktail, so once it’s done mixing, the only thing left to do is enjoy🥂.
Amazon Canada
No matter what hair they’re dealing with, this groomer will help them tackle it. It can be used wet or dry and will let them keep things long or go down to the skin (and even trim in the shower). Its interchangeable shave heads are skin-safe, meaning they won’t break a sweat while trimming downstairs (or other sensitive bits). Each charge lasts up to 60 minutes, and it has a built-in headlight so they can see what they’re doing. It comes with three trimming combs, a power adapter, a cable, and a travel pouch.
Amazon Canada
Was this the year they vowed to get hydrated? You can help them stick to their resolution by gifting them this low-maintenance bottle. It does all the usual stuff, like keeping whatever’s inside at the ideal drinking temperature, but it’s the invisible feature that makes it truly unique. A sanitizing UV light is hidden in the cap that activates every two hours to blast germs and odour-causing bacteria in literally one minute, so things are always clean and stink-free. The mechanism is, of course, rechargeable, with one full charge lasting for a month. Reviewers say they’ve noticed a major improvement in the taste of their drinks after using it, too.
Amazon Canada
“Award-winning” might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to air purifiers, but it’s definitely a boon when you’re shopping for gifts. Skip the unsightly air purifier options and go for something sleek and stylish that easily masquerades as a planter. It also happens to be ultra-quiet and equipped with real-time monitoring tech that lets it adjust power and flow depending on the current conditions. It’s perfect for new parents, city dwellers, WFHers, or anyone who wants their air to be a touch cleaner.
@ouraring/Instagram
Their wrists deserve to be free of clunky wearables, but if they’re really reluctant to forgo the fancy (and helpful!) aspects of wearable tech and fitness trackers, they’ll probably love that this sleek ring option can actually keep tabs on just about every detail, including stress, heart rate, and more. One of its coolest features, though, is its dynamic approach to activity levels. Goals are set according to their day, which means it takes into account times when they’re feeling low energy or extra stressed.
Amazon Canada
There’s a good reason you’ve likely seen this minimalist pair all over town. They’re cushioned to high heaven and (of course) deliver major noise-cancelling power, making them ideal for working or just chilling out to their favourite tunes. Reviewers love that they can easily switch between noise cancellation and hear-through modes and can be easily paired with all manner of Bluetooth devices. They come in several candy-coloured shades, meaning you can pick the one that best suits your friend’s style.
Casper
It’s the ideal snoozing companion, but you can let them figure that out for themselves. When they’re trying to doze off, it’ll slowly dim, lulling them naturally into their REM cycle. And when it’s time to wake up, it’ll do the opposite, gradually brightening just like a sunrise. They can also manually adjust the lighting settings just by giving it a light twist.
Amazon Canada
Think of this as the ideal digital notebook. They can doodle, draw, make lists, and even convert handwritten notes into digital assets so they’re easier to organize and reference when they need ’em. They can also import files and PDFs to annotate them or make quick edits, all while still being able to read their favourite novels. Reviewers say they’ve ditched their other e-readers entirely!
Amazon Canada
No complicated setup here! This petite model has a smart focus function, so they won’t have to fiddle around with settings to get a crystal-clear picture (no matter where they put it), and its built-in 5G WiFi means they won’t get a signal drop midway through their flick. They’ll also be able to easily connect it to their Fire Stick, laptop, USB keys, phone, speakers, or any other gadgets, with reviewers adding that its built-in speakers deliver seriously good sound to boot.
Meta
VR is having a major moment, and this is the perfect gizmo to get anyone looking to dive headfirst into it. The experience is more immersive, thanks to a boost in image resolution, enhanced audio, and more precise controls that reviewers say outdo other headsets by a large margin. The updated model is also slimmer and offers a more customizable fit while also improving battery life for longer gameplay.
Amazon Canada
This nifty WiFi calendar will let them keep track of the entire family’s schedules! It’ll automatically sync up everyone’s digital calendars, with each member assigned a separate colour for easy reference at a glance. Reviewers say it’s a must-have for busy households and are especially fond of the chore feature that allows them to track and assign tasks around the house.
@beasthealth/Instagram
It looks small, but this appliance is absolutely loaded with clever features: it’s capable of adjusting its blade speed and monitoring internal temperature to prevent overheating while crushing everything from nuts to ice in mere seconds. Add on clever safety features, like a one-minute auto shut-off timer and a sensor that won’t allow the blade to run ’til all parts are snapped on, and you’ve got yourself a helpful kitchen accessory you’ll likely find yourself reaching for on the daily. Reviewers were shocked by how powerful it was and said cleaning it is easy-peasy, too.
Amazon Canada
Twice as nice! Double baskets give them extra control when they’re whipping up a meal, allowing them to cook two different dishes simultaneously. Perhaps its niftiest setting is the Smart Finish feature, where you can program two foods to finish at the same time. Reviewers are raving about its ease of use, as well as the many clever cooking features (like boiling, baking, roasting, and the like) that make meal prep a total breeze.