Gifts for the Tech Fan

We’re suckers for games featuring the world’s most intrepid plumber and friends, but this one’s unique in that instead of embracing virtual reality, Nintendo actually strips away a dimension, forcing you to use 2-d shapes and cutouts in clever ways.

Photos spend too much time cooped up in drives. This solid-state drive can take a licking and keep on storing memories. The chassis is made from aluminum and silicon for shock-resistance and durablity.

Our favorite indestructible outdoor speaker, this water bottle-sized device is waterproof and pairs up to 100 feet away. And thanks to mega-sized drivers, it can actually be heard that far away, too. 

There’s lots to love about the Oculus ecosystem, but this battle royale style game might just be the first major hit. Just like other similar games, you and your team are dropped into a playground of sorts, with various caches of weaponry and power-ups stashed away for the grabbing. What’s different here is you can actually climb up buildings, billboards, or anything you want—and elevation is the key to getting the jump on your opponents. 

Ultralight and boasting a high-resolution screen, this laptop is the perfect device for toting around the house during quarantine. The scalloped bottom not only helps dissipate heat (on the lap, or on a table), it also makes it grippy for transport. And the touch screen is a dream to use. We’re wondering why more laptops don’t join the revolution. 

For the photographer in your life who appreciates design and function equally, our gift pick is the Fujifilm X100V. This elegant compact camera with its retro rangefinder was recommended by professional photographer Robert Kerian who deems it the perfect companion for road-trip shoots. The fixed focal length of the included lens reminds the user to give more thought to composing shots, making the shooting experience more elevated and personal than a smartphone camera. The aluminum top and bottom body plates are satin finished and come in both black and silver options. With a hybrid optical viewfinder and the ability to record 4K video and capture RAW, the hardest part now is deciding which look to choose.

A clean home is a happy home, but lugging out the vacuum is no fun task. Enter Dyson’s V7 cordless vacuum. Skip the smart vacuums that get stuck on the rug and nab this super-handy vacuum that easily swaps from a floor vacuum to a handheld cleaner, perfect for fixing any kind of mess in a pinch. The V7 comes in multiple models, ranging from a focus on pet owners to designs made for hardwood floors you don’t want scratched.

Nearly everyone should be dreaming about owning a great air purifier, especially if you or your loved ones live near wildfire zones. Molekule is known for their sleek air purifiers, but they’ve retailed on the better part of a grand. However, their new Air Mini model is made to focus on small spaces, like bedrooms, offices, and playrooms, with a more accessible price point.

If you’ve got a friend or family member worrying about how Fluffy is doing when they’re at work, a Petcube pet cameras is just what they need. They can keep an eye on their pet all day through their phone, and the device also has a two-way microphone and speaker to tell Fido to hop off the couch. Petcube comes in two new models, the Petcube Bites 2, which can dispense treats for your pet, and the Petcube Play 2, which lets control a laser pointer in the camera to entertain your pet from afar. With that in mind, is it a gift for the owner, or a gift for the pet? You decide.

Got a coffee or tea lover on your list? This sleek mug will keep their drink of choice at the perfect temperature all morning long, so there’s no rush to drink their cup of joe. This copper beauty is one of Ember’s new models, giving the mug an extra-smooth finish. Bonus: the size has been upgraded from 10 to 14 ounces.

Vancouver-based Vitruvi has become a home decor favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The stone essential oil diffuser is beautifully minimalist, and comes in a variety of colors while filling your home with scents like grapefruit, lavender, spruce, and more. Give this to the person on your list who’s always lighting candles; this option is fire-hazard free.