From a new pair of headphones to a cutting-edge e-reader, there are plenty of amazing tech gifts to give for the holidays this year—but how do you know what’s worth your hard-earned dollar versus what’s worth skipping?

That’s the general terror of trying to buy a new tech gift for someone: How do you single out the year’s best products from the ocean of sub-par stuff? Luckily, it’s easy—you check out our picks below. Reviewed tests tech all year long and this list is chock full of our most beloved gadgets, including many of those that made our best tech of 2022 roundup, so now’s the time to grab a few awesome gifts before they all sell out.

1. Roku Ultra

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For the binge-watcher

Roku’s fancy Ultra media streaming device has been our favorite for a few years now, and for good reason. Its processing is super snappy and the UI is extremely friendly and intuitive, making it easy to settle in for a night of Netflix (or Hulu, or Amazon Prime, or YouTube, Twitch, or anything else). This box also comes with a fantastic voice remote and a pair of headphones that plug right into it for private listening, as well as an ethernet cable input so you can easily stream 4K/HDR content, if that’s your bag.

2. SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless

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For the typist

If you’re shopping for someone who spends a lot of time on their keyboard, whether they’re typing away through work or spending their after-hours gaming, this is the keyboard you should get them. The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini keyboard is one of the best gaming keyboards we tested in 2022. Its easily accessible secondary and tertiary functions, customizable profiles, and excellent connectivity make it a great fit for Mac or PC users.

3. Amazon Kindle 11th Generation

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For the book lover

Amazon’s newest Kindle took our e-reader testing by storm. It’s easy to use, has a crisp display, and a price point that sits below most of the other options we tested. It boasts weeks of battery life and comes equipped with enough storage to allow you to store and read up to 16 GB of books.

4. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

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For the podcast addict

Apple’s AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are some of the best true wireless earbuds you can buy. The Pro 2 is a major upgrade from the already-good Pros, with what our reviewer called “vastly improved noise canceling” and “excellent adaptive transparency mode.”The end result is an awesome pair of true wireless buds that we strongly recommend.

5. Sony WH-1000XM5

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For the dedicated listener

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are simply amazing headphones—in fact, they’re the best over-ear noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now. Not only do they sound awesome, they’re packed with the most useful headphone features you can get: stunning noise canceling (that automatically listens and adapts to your environment), wireless Bluetooth connectivity, and a plush, comfortable design that lets you wear them for hours. If your giftee is serious about listening to music, these pricy cans will make their day.

6. iRobot Roomba j7+

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For the busy bee

Winter is a busy season for social events and holidays, and if the person on your list often laments their lack of time for home tasks, the iRobot Roomba j7+ might make a great gift. The j7+ is our favorite robot vacuum thanks to its intuitive storage, stellar cleaning abilities, and top-notch navigation.

7. Hisense U8K

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For the home theater enthusiast

If you’ve got a giftee on your list this year who has been hoping to upgrade to a 4K TV with HDR large enough for the living room, the 2023 Hisense U8K is a colorful set that can get intensely bright—and the 65-inch model can be had for $1,000 or less. This mini-LED set packs all of the bells and whistles, including quantum dots, a 144Hz refresh rate when gaming, and excellent local dimming capabilities. Our reviewer was wowed by the value.

8. Garmin Vivosmart 4

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For the fitness lover

If you’re looking for a gift for that fitness-loving friend of yours, consider the Garmin Vívosmart 4, ranked as our most affordable fitness tracker. This nifty health gadget can automatically detect and track workouts, monitor stress levels, and comes equipped with GPS tracking. It also features an extremely slim design so it won’t feel bulky on your recipient’s wrist.

9. Valve Steam Deck

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For the gamer

The Valve Steam Deck is still one of the best handheld gaming devices you can buy. Not only did it get a nod from our editors in our best tech of 2022 roundup, it also seriously impressed Senior Electronics Editor Joanna Nelius, thanks to its easy set-up, comfortable design, and impressive game emulation support.

10. JBL Flip 6

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For the music lover on the go

JBL’s Flip line of portable, waterproof Bluetooth speakers constantly top our list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, and the Flip 6 is the best one yet. These rounded, meticulously designed speakers produce warm audio with plenty of bass and midrange. They’ve also got rubber-capped ends and water-sealed inputs so you can bring your new speaker on hikes, beach trips, or just out to the backyard without fear of damage. If your giftee likes to bring the jam wherever they go, a Bluetooth speaker like the Flip 6 could be the perfect gift.

11. Logitech G Cloud Gaming Console

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For the traveler

Another favorite game console of 2022, the Logitech G Cloud has everything you could want in a portable console—our editor called it a « near perfect device » that has excellent battery life and a fantastic display and user-experience. It’s compatible with Google Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and it paired great with games ranging from Death Stranding to Stardew Valley.

12. Vizio V-Series 2.1 soundbar

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For the movie lover on a budget

Let’s face it: TV audio tends to suck. While we love reviewing TVs, usually listening to them isn’t amazing; that’s why we also review soundbars. One of our favorites is Vizio’s V-Series, a soundbar and subwoofer combo that provides seriously good audio for the price. There’s nothing too fancy going on here, but it’s an easy plug-and-play solution for anyone looking to majorly upgrade their stock TV audio at a reasonable price. You can even bump it up from 2.1 to 5.1 channel sound for an extra $100.

13. Sonos Arc soundbar

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For the one who wants movie theater sound

There are some great affordable soundbars out there, but if you want cinematic, room-filling sound that competes with the bone-rattling audio you’d get at a movie theater, check out the Sonos Arc. This is Sonos’ first-ever Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar, meaning it’s capable not just of great stereo sound presentation, but also of implementing Dolby’s proprietary object-oriented and height-channel-based audio solution, placing sound all around you in a room—even overhead. Naturally, a soundbar this awesome doesn’t come cheap, but if your giftee never misses movie night, this gift will blow them away.

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For the one who wants to get into VR

If you’re shopping for a gamer and they have yet to dip their toes into VR, the Meta Quest 2 is a good starting point. Not only is it still one of the best VR headsets we’ve ever tested Although the Meta Quest 3 is coming out this year, the Quest 2 remains a steal at only $299.

15. Logitech Brio

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For the one who needs a webcam

The Logitech Brio was our favorite webcam of 2022 for a reason—it boasts excellent picture and video and a wide range of resolutions (up to 4K) and fields of view. If the person you’re shopping for over the holidays wants to improve their work-from-home setup or just started streaming from their computer, it’s a fantastic webcam for any and every occasion.

16. SteelSeries Arctis Pro

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For the game soundtrack enthusiast

If your giftee ends up with a Spotify Wrapped that’s populated entirely by game soundtracks, the SteelSeries’ Arctis Pro gaming headset is an awesome choice for their daily listening. The headset is compatible with PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and basically all mobile devices, and it offers some of the most comfortable, plush cups on the market.

17. Google Nest Mesh System

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For the one whose needs more reliable Wi-Fi

Maybe you’ve never heard of mesh Wi-Fi systems—but we have, because we’ve tested lots of ’em. A mesh Wi-Fi system is an excellent solution for essentially blanketing your entire home or apartment with high-speed Wi-Fi. If you’ve got a giftee whose place is full of Wi-Fi dead zones or thick walls, a mesh system might be just what they need. The Google Nest system is one of the best we’ve tested and is an excellent solution for anyone who just can’t seem to stay connected.

18. Apple MacBook Air M2

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For the one who needs a new laptop

Whether your giftee is earning an online degree, working from home, or writing their next creative project, a good laptop is a must. The Apple MacBook Air M2 was the best MacBook we used all year in 2022 thanks to its lightning-fast processor and noticeable improvements over the M1 model.

19. Petcube Cam

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For the one who’s crazy about their pets

You’d better believe we tested to find the best smart pet cameras, and the Petcube Cam is our top value pick. This cam packs a lot of useful features into a device that squarely fits in the palm of your hand. It doesn’t come with fancy extras like treat tossing or laser games like some competitors, but it’s got everything you need to successfully check in with your furry friend from anywhere.

20. Apple TV 4K

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For those seeking luxurious streaming

There are tons of ways to stream content. If the « blech » end of the spectrum is watching hyper-compressed Netflix on your tiny phone during a 12-hour bus ride, the « yay » end of the spectrum is Apple TV 4K. This marvelously zippy, perfectly polished streaming box is for that giftee who loves binging and wants to do it in style. It’s especially good if you already own an iPhone or iPad, as all those Apple devices play very nicely together.

21. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10

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For the shutterbug traveler

If you’ve got someone on your list who loves traveling and taking photos and needs something more robust than a smartphone but doesn’t want a huge, clunky camera, say no more. The longstanding Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10 remains one of our very favorite travel cameras. It’s not cheap, but it’s more affordable than many high-end DSLRs, powerful enough to take excellent photos, and compact enough to slide into a pants pocket.

22. Crosley C6 Turntable

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For the aspiring vinyl record collector

It’s a big debate about whether analog vinyl recordings actually sound « better » or « warmer » than digitally formatted audio files, but one thing’s for sure: the ritual of laying a well-loved record on a vinyl player and listening to it as the musicians and producer intended will always be a special experience. If you’ve got a giftee who might be eager to collect records but needs a viable record player, the Crosley C6 is one of our top picks. It delivers modern turntable fixins with a classic look and feel.

23. Logitech Harmony

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For the one with too many remotes

We all know that one person whose living room feels like a defunct RadioShack. A remote for the TV, the soundbar, the Blu-ray or DVD player, et al. scattered haphazardly about the room. Enough’s enough—gift that friend a Logitech Harmony, one of the best universal remotes we’ve tested. Sure, they might have to do a bit of programming and tinkering to bring all their disparate devices into the Harmony hive-mind, but we promise they’ll thank you for being so thoughtful.

24. Puro Labs PuroQuiet Kids’ Headphones

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For youngsters who love to listen

If you’ve got kids who love listening to music, we think that’s marvelous—but younger kids need to be extra careful about protecting their ears from excessive noise. That’s where these awesome Puro Labs headphones come in. They’re tuned not to exceed volumes that would cause damage while ensuring balanced sound and offering noise cancellation to also deliver beautiful music. The PuroQuiet headphones are the best headphones for kids we’ve tested, so you can be assured of their quality.

25. Apple Watch Series 8

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For the one who wants a smarter wrist

Ranked as our all-time favorite smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 8 surpasses the Series 7 thanks to its outstanding quality, crash-detection features, and impressive incremental improvements on the old model. If your giftee loves staying connected to all their apps and notifications but keeps their face buried in their smartphone, this smart accessory is the best gift.

26. Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

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For the careful driver

If you’ve know someone who likes to be extra cautious while out on the road, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is an awesome gift. It’s one of the more affordable dash cams we’ve tested, but they’ll still get full-HD 1080p video with a 140-degree view; the kind of footage they could use for something like an insurance claim.

27. Anker SoundCore 2

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For those looking to rock out poolside

Let’s face it: the only thing better than swimming in a pool is doing so while sweet tunes fill the air. If you’ve got someone on your list this year who loves hanging in the pool but doesn’t want to risk dousing their smartphone, a good waterproof Bluetooth speaker might be the perfect gift. The Anker SoundCore 2 is one of our favorites, and it’s pretty affordable to boot.

28. Polaroid Hi-Print

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For the one who loves photo albums

If you’re buying gifts for anyone who loves snapping photos and printing them out in tangible form, the Polaroid Hi-Print is the perfect gift. This accessory was named our favorite portable photo printer and we especially love its sleek, colorful design and ability to easily connect to our smartphones. You’ve also got step-by-step instructions with the Hi-Print’s companion app for quick setup as well as basic editing tools to nail the perfect picture before you hit print.

29. Asus ROG Zephyrus 14-inch Gaming Laptop

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For the one wants a gaming laptop

Set the gamer on your list up to win. The 2023 model of our favorite gaming laptop from last year, the Asus ROG Zephyrus, is a 14-inch, 120 Hz gaming laptop with a Nvidia RTX 4060, so if someone on your list is on the hunt for a high-powered machine with excellent portability and robust features (that won’t cost your life savings), you can’t go wrong.

30. Linksys EA7500

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For the one whose Wi-Fi is always too slow

When we tested the best Wi-Fi routers, the Linksys EA7500 really blew us away with its sheer speediness for the cost. This dual-band router outed all the others we tested in terms of combined 2.4 and 5 Ghz Wi-Fi channel speeds.If your giftee needs a boost to their internet juice, this is the router to get them.

31. Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro

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For the pro PC gamer

If you’ve got someone on your list this year who uses their mouse and keyboard for a lot more than browsing the web, you might want to consider gifting them a top-tier gaming mouse. The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is at the top spot in our roundup of the best gaming mice, thanks to its perfect balance of comfort, customizability, performance, and price.

32. LIFX Z LED light strip

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For the one who needs to glow up an office

Our #1-rated LED light strip, the LIFX Z LED smart light strip is a seriously cool way to spruce up a home theater or office. It’s a snap to sync these smart LEDs up with assistants like Alexa or Siri, or integrate the LIFX into an existing SmartThings or Nest ecosystem—from there, it’s up to your giftee’s imagination whether they have ambient, soft mood lighting or a demonic red glow lighting up the room.

33. Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock

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For the one who needs a better alarm clock

When we tested the best sunrise alarm clocks, we were pleasantly surprised by the affordable Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock; it does an awesome job emulating sunrise and sunset and works beautifully for the price. If the person you’re buying for is serious about sleep hygiene, or just isn’t much of a morning person, a sunrise alarm clock can be a great way to greet the day in a more pleasant manner, especially during those darker winter months.

34. Logitech MX Anywhere 3

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For the one who needs more freedom

Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3 wireless mouse is our favorite wireless mouse, and for good reason: As long as you’ve got the USB dongle in tow, you really can use it basically anywhere. It tracks reliably on any surface—even glass—and with roughly a 70-day battery life you could take it on a two-month journey without needing a mousepad or USB-C charging cable.

35. Acer Predator XB253Q

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Our top-rated gaming monitor may seem overkill for the non-PC-gamer crowd, but for anyone hoping to trounce the competition, the 24.5-inch Acer Predator XB253Q is a necessary tool. Testing revealed outrageously smooth performance, not to mention high refresh rates, excellent response times, and a thin bezel design. You’ve even got an adjustable stand so your gamer friend can turn it any which way they want.

36. Seagate expansion card

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For the one who needs more space for games

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles were the biggest launches a few years ago, and having more storage for games is always a must. Seagate’s proprietary expansion card allows you to smartly expand the console’s storage capacity without having to move games back and forth between an external hard drive and the console in order to play them. While it’s a bit pricey, it’s the kind of thoughtful gift that’s sure to pleasantly surprise the gamer in your life.