Best tech gifts and gadgets to impress loved ones without breaking the bank

This may not seem like "tech" in the traditional sense, but hear me out: The GT160 is a rechargeable air compressor that can bring a car tire up to pressure in just a few minutes. It works on bikes, balls and other items as well, and even has a dual-mode flashlight in case that flat happens at night. (Doesn't it always?)

The tech part is the 7,500-mAh battery that allows this to double as a power bank, meaning you can juice up your phone in emergencies as well. I own something similar, and it works beautifully. Definitely a great gadget for anyone who drives a car.

Running to the microwave every 10 minutes to reheat cold coffee or tea is not my idea of a good time. The Ember Mug, one of my all-time favorite tech products, keeps a beverage at a precise temperature from first sip to last. Might sound like a minor thing, but once you try it, you can't go back.

It's on the pricey side, to be sure, but for anyone who likes to sip a warm drink at a leisurely pace, it's a home-run gift.

Everyone needs to label stuff, but I've had it with those clunky old single-line label makers with the awkward keyboards. The Niimbot B21 is a wireless, battery-powered thermal printer that works with a variety of sizes and styles, and you can create all kinds of custom labels using an app on your phone.

This thing not only works well, it's also really cute. The retro design comes in five colors; I'm partial to the red one but they're all slick.

Many people forget that local TV stations still exist — and still broadcast free of charge. Anyone sick of paying for a live-TV streaming service just needs an antenna.

Most of the products out there are big flat rectangles or something similarly dull, but look at this one: It's a bird! Assuming the recipient lives within range of local towers, it's the most adorable way I've seen to tune in network TV.

Know someone who has trouble sleeping? Many folks swear by white noise as the solution, as it gives your brain a place to rest its attention rather than focusing on sleep-preventing thoughts and worries.

There are phone apps available, but I like having a dedicated white-noise machine for this, as it allows you to choose between a variety of timers and sounds with just the push of a button. The Big Red Rooster (funny name because roosters are supposed to wake you) includes six different sounds (rain, ocean, etc.) and can run off batteries or the included AC adapter.

Anyone who's a fan of retro stuff is sure to love this adorable little Bluetooth speaker, which is available in five different colors and can play up to six hours on a charge. The design isn't just for looks, either: the large dial controls volume and the buttons below are used to play/pause music and skip tracks. It's on the small side, so don't expect big sound, but this might be perfect for a desk, nightstand or the like.

Losing stuff sucks. That's why I recommend a Tile Pro tracker for every keychain, purse, bag and so on. If something goes missing, just fire up the Tile smartphone app to help locate it. 

Even better: If the phone itself goes missing, just double-press the button on the Tile Pro and the phone will ring — even if it's set to silent. (That incredibly useful feature isn't supported by Apple AirTags.) I speak from experience: Tile trackers are indispensable.

Just updated for 2024, the Amazon Fire HD 8 offers amazing bang for the buck, especially if the chief goal is consuming entertainment. A tap or two serves up movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, games and lots more.

All this takes place on a sharp, sturdy screen (Amazon says it's twice as durable as an iPad Mini), and here's the best part: The Fire HD 8 costs only $100. More amazing still, it often goes on sale for even less.

The Echo Show 8 is one of my favorite tech gadgets, and it's an especially good gift for parents or grandparents. In addition to everyday Alexa things (voice-powered news, music, weather, etc.), it can stream movies and TV shows, video-call friends and family and show live feeds from from home security cameras. 

The Show 8 is available in black or white; this 3rd-generation version boasts improved sound and cameras and new smart-home hub features.

The Kindle app makes it convenient to read books on a phone, but the actual reading experience? Not great. That's why I'm partial to an actual Kindle, which has a larger screen that's much easier on the eyes. What's more, it frees the reader from countless phone distractions: TikTok, text messages, Instagram and the like. A Kindle is all about the books, and Amazon's entry-level model is a glare-free gem. 

You're not made of money. So if you want to gift someone a set of Apple AirPods, what's an affordable alternative? The Baseus Bowie MA10 earbuds deliver surprisingly good sound and active noise-cancelling (ANC), all for around $40 (and often on sale for even less).

Read my complete Bowie MA10 review if you want to learn more.

The outside world is stressful. Help someone tune it out with good noise-cancelling headphones. Thankfully, there's no need to drop $350 for Sony's super-luxe WH-1000XM5 model, not when the CH720N delivers the same great sound and noise-canceling for a fraction of the price.

Sure, you lose out on a couple amenities, like wear-detection and a folding design. But these cans have got it where it counts. Read my Sony WH-CH720N headphones review to learn more!

You'd be forgiven thinking there's no way a sub-$100 smartwatch could be any good — but you'd be wrong. The Amazfit Bip 5 packs an embarrassment of riches onto a wrist, everything from a big color display to multiple health monitors to a battery that's good for anywhere from 5-10 days. It's loaded with useful features and can even answer phone calls, Dick Tracy-style. (Your phone needs to stay nearby, though.)

Read my Amazfit Bip 5 review to learn more!

I won't shut up about digital picture frames. They're borderline magical, putting photos (and even videos) front and center in your home instead of hidden away inside phones and albums. That's why I consider this one of the best gifts, period.

This YunQiDeer model is representative of a lot of "off-brand" frames available from Amazon, in that it looks nice, works well and relies on the Frameo app and software. That makes it easy to add photos from your phone or invite friends to do likewise. 

You can find more information, and more great frames, in my roundup of the best digital picture frames for 2024.

If I wasn't lucky enough to have one of these already, this would be at the top of my wish-list. The DJI Neo is a flying video camera, one that can follow you around. It can also zoom out and back in again, orbit you, fly directly overhead and more.

It may not have an impulse-buy price, but it's totally worth it for anyone who wants Hollywood-style video without the need for a film crew. Read my DJI Neo review to learn more!