For the tech-obsessed
Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air outdoor projector
This projector not only earned our top pick for the best outdoor projector overall but also snagged a CNET Editors’ Choice award. It’s compact yet delivers great image and sound. The built-in battery lasts 2.5 hours, and your giftee can watch shows and movies from top streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus.
Meta Ray-Bans (Gen 2)
If you know someone who appreciates a good tech gadget, they’ll be a big fan of these smart glasses. CNET’s Scott Stein says the Meta Ray-Bans are practical and, oddly, transformative. He’s gotten so used to them that sometimes he’ll start talking to himself and tapping the glasses to take pictures before realizing he’s wearing his regular ones. “I suddenly miss the extra features like a phantom limb,” he says.
He also loves that AI is a "whimsical bonus" with the Meta Ray-Bans. “These are glasses first and cameras/headphones second -- and pretty good ones at that.” For instance, the glasses can take photos and then analyze them with generative AI and respond back in audio. All in all, they’ll make an amazing gift.
Backbone One on-phone game controller
Someone who enjoys gaming probably already has the latest Xbox or PlayStation. But they might not have the Backbone One, which will let them easily go mobile and turn their phone into a handheld gaming console. This nifty controller offers responsive analog triggers, clickable thumbsticks and tactile buttons, making it ideal for cloud-based gaming. If you prefer playing games installed directly on your phone, it handles those effortlessly too.
Oura Ring 4
For a unique wellness gift, the Oura Ring 4 fits the bill. All your giftee has to do is wear it and the ring will do the rest, from tracking their activity and fitness metrics to their sleep, which they can check in the Oura app. They can also set various health targets. “Unlike other wearable health apps, Oura doesn't just generate a stream of trends and metrics to scroll through. It tries to make meaningful observations about what's happening in your body, but without verging into medical advice territory,” CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco writes in her review of the Oura Ring 4.
For the homebody
Plufl human dog bed
What's better than getting cozy in a cocoon of comfort, surrounded by soft fabric and padding? Help your giftee get as cozy comfortable as their pup with this human-sized dog bed. It comes in a variety of colors — including beige, light gray, black and pink — and is perfect for napping or lounging in. It's so comfortable that CNET's David Watsky notes, "One problem you'll have with the Plufl is that a quick rest can turn into an hours-long nap without warning."
Govee Floor Lamp
We all have those friends or family members who like to experiment with their home lighting and smart home gadgets, and now they can even more with the Govee Floor Lamp. CNET’s James Bricknell calls it the "coolest smart lamp" out there, thanks to its low profile: “You can barely see it, just a small base and a thin line of metal. The focus is on the light rather than the structure.” Plus, you can sync it with your other smart lights to really set the mood. The lamp uses RGB LEDs to offer a wide variety of colors and it can be easily controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant or a single app. Be sure to click on the on-page coupon to score the extra discount.
S’mores Bowl
If you’ve always wanted to make s’mores indoors, now’s your chance, especially with this compact S'mores Bowl. It’s a mini gel-fueled firepit that can be used indoors since the gel is odorless and smoke-free. Perfect for entertaining, no matter the weather.
Casofu Burrito Blanket
This fleece novelty blanket is big enough for the whole family, so your giftee can make a really big burrito and stay warm all winter long. This version is 71 inches, although it comes in five different sizes, from 47 to 90 inches. It’s also double-sided, which is another plus. No doubt, it’ll make a funny — yet functional — gift.
Now bamboo essential oil diffuser
Covering up to 400 square feet of space, this diffuser is perfect for those who love a spa-like scent to envelop the room, whether it's their bedroom, bathroom or office. The LED lights and bamboo make it stand apart from other diffusers on the market, which helped it make CNET's list of best essential oil diffusers. Buy a few bottles of essential oil to go with it for a great gift.
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
Solo Stove makes some of the best smokeless fire pits available, which is why the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 made CNET's list of the best fire pits for 2024. Though the original Solo models were tough to clean, CNET's David Carnoy notes that the removable ash pan in the newer 2.0 range solves this issue. These upgraded models, are available in three sizes: Ranger 2.0 (small), Bonfire 2.0 (medium) and Yukon 2.0 (large).
Masdio smart flowerpot
For those who struggle to keep a plant alive, try a smart flowerpot. It monitors your plant's condition and lets you know when it needs water or more light with cute faces on the exterior screen. A friend of mine has one and it makes me smile each time I see it. The built in AI assistant Ivy has more than 49 different expressions and she can also be connected to a smart home device, like Amazon Alexa. Note: The plant itself is not included.
Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper
A mattress topper makes all the difference in the world in improving the quality of your sleep setup. CNET Editorial Director Katie Collins is an expert on sleep solutions and swears by this Helix mattress topper. "If you're like me and seeking a Band-Aid solution to your current mattress situation and you want hip and shoulder support, you will be happy with the Helix ErgoAlign," she writes.
For the foodie
Ooni Koda 12 gas-powered pizza oven
What do you get the serious home chef who likes to tinker in the kitchen any chance they get? Some extra bells and whistles, of course. The Ooni Koda pizza oven has a devoted following, and for good reason. It can reach up to 950 degrees, cook a 12-inch pizza in 60 seconds, and can even cook steaks, fish, vegetables, anything really. That alone makes it a culinary gadget to covet.
Cuzen Matcha Maker starter kit
The best gifts are the most frivolous ones, and you could argue the Cuzen Matcha Maker falls into that category. That is, unless you're shopping for someone who loves matcha drinks. Rather than buying powder in a can, they can use this gadget to grind their own matcha leaves into a fine powder, which is then automatically added to water to create a hot brew. They'll never be able to drink matcha any differently after getting this.
GrowlerWerks uKeg carbonated growler
Impress the beer drinker who already has everything in your life with this high-end growler. The double insulated walls will keep their beer cold all day, while the pressure gauge maintains carbonation so it tastes like a freshly poured glass each time. Its compact size makes it easy to bring to barbecues, beaches or camping trips. It's the ultimate beer-head gift.
Ninja Creami
An ice cream maker is something that’s cool to have (no pun intended), yet some people would never buy one for themselves, which is where you come in. CNET’s David Watsky is a fan of the Ninja Creami, as it’s not only easy to use — you can churn out a batch of ice cream in just 2 minutes — but makes gelato and sorbet too. It also made our pick for best ice cream maker. (And after trying it out, we can now see why it’s gone viral and lives up to all the hype.)
Dreamfarm Fluicer
If someone you know prefers fresh-squeezed lemons and limes, the Fluicer is the gift to get them. Not only will it squeeze out more juice than a typical handheld juicer, it's also easier on their wrists. CNET's David Watsky says, "For a citrus lover, the new Fluicer is a must-have kitchen tool and makes an excellent gift, too."
Fellow Ode Brew grinder
Coffee enthusiasts know that buying beans whole and grinding them yourself creates the freshest, most flavorful cup of coffee possible. So gift the java nut in your life the cafe-quality Fellow Ode Brew grinder. It has 31 grind settings, allowing you to get the perfect grind for everything from cold brew to espresso. The design is also sleek and iconic, transforming the grinder from "counter clutter" to "kitchen eye candy."
Cuisinart butter wheel
This simplifies how butter is added to everything, from slices of bread to corn on the cob. It's almost certain that your giftee doesn't have this, but it will likely soon become one of their favorite kitchen gadgets. They just place the butter wheel on a griddle and the butter will melt in no time at all, making it easy to butter nearly anything. The device is also portable, so they can take it to barbecues to make buttering foods easier.
For the traveler
Twelve South AirFly Pro Deluxe 2 wireless adapter
The AirFly Pro Deluxe makes a great gift for the travelers in your life. With it, they can plug the wireless adapter into a 3.5mm headphone jack on a plane, train or long-distance bus. Then they just connect their AirPods (or other Bluetooth earbuds) to it and sit back, relax and enjoy their journey. The adapter also helps eliminate ambient sound, so your giftee’s listening experience will be top-notch. You can read more about the AirFly Pro Bluetooth transmitter in our review, and the Deluxe version is only a few dollars more and comes with a nice suede case and international headphone adapter.
Insta360 X4 waterproof action camera
This action camera is ideal for the adventurers in your life to capture their experiences. It's not only waterproof, but its top-notch image stabilization will also get them amazing 360-degree photos, videos and aerial shots that they can then edit right on their phone with the Insta360 app. In 360-degree mode, it shoots in 8K resolution, and in single-lens mode, it shoots in 4K. It also has an all-new 5nm AI chip that enables 5.7K resolution and 60 frames per second, as well as 4K resolution and 100 frames per second in slow motion. This model features a removable lens guard and 135 minutes of battery life too, which is impressive.
Audible audiobooks
If you know someone who enjoys reading, but doesn't always have the time to hunker down with a book, consider giving them an Audible subscription. Anyone who needs some hands-free entertainment will appreciate being able to listen to a book they've been meaning to read. A one-month gift subscription costs $15, and your recipient gets one book credit to start them off. Or you can get three months with three credits ($45), six months with six credits ($90) or 12 months with 12 credits ($150).
Platypus Platy 2-liter water bottle
This collapsible water bottle is a real space saver and is ideal for your gym-going and frequent-traveler friends. Once it's empty, you can roll it up and stash it pretty much anywhere. Plus, because it doesn't have any hard sides, it's also easier to squeeze into tight spaces when filled.
Personalized gifts
Crown Awards Oscar statue
This Oscar award lookalike is one of my go-to gifts and people love it. Whether you get it engraved with "Best Boss," "Best Friend," "Best Husband," you name it, your gift recipient will appreciate it. Soon, people will be saying, "And the award for Best Gift goes to…"
Mpix accordion mini photo book
A variation on making someone a photo book is making someone this miniature accordion-style brag book. You can choose up to 12 photos, as well as a personalized cover design. The nice thing about these is how small they are, which makes them space-savers and portable, say, if you want to take them with you on vacation or to work. Prices start at $20.
I Wrote a Book About You
This is an easy, fun and thoughtful fill-in-the-blanks book about your significant other, best friend, work wife or anyone else you think would appreciate it. It includes prompts such as, "One of the very most wonderful things about having you in my life is getting to see you _____" and "If I made you a T-shirt, this is what it would say: _____."
Lego mosaic maker
If you know a Lego fan — and, come on, isn't everybody one? — then you'll want to get them this mosaic maker. With it, they’ll get to see themselves in Lego-like form, all pixelated. All they do is upload an image of themselves to the Mosaic Designer app, download it and then use it as a guide as they piece together a mosaic of themselves using the 4,702 pieces in the set. In the end, they’ll have a memorable keepsake, a cool one-of-a-kind portrait of themselves. (Or they can disassemble it and make a new one.)



