The best graduation gifts

If you've had one of these bad boys on your wishlist for a while, I'd urge you to scoop up this deal while you can. Why? Well, it happens to be a wild 48% off. Roomba and robovacs are pretty much synonymous at this point, and the fact that this one has a three-stage cleaning system that works great on both carpets and hard floors make this markdown one you don't want to miss. It can run for up to two hours on a single charge and recharges itself so you never have to worry about it dying while cleaning.

There’s a good chance that your graduate will be working from a few different locations when they start their first job. Maybe they’ll spend half of their time in an office and the other half in their new apartment, but you can help them stay focused anywhere by gifting them the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. These are our current favorite high-end cans thanks to their excellent sound quality and equally stellar active noise cancellation. Their Adaptive Sound Control feature automatically changes the level of noise cancellation depending on your location and what you’re doing, blocking out as much of the world as necessary without the user needing to do much work. There's also multi-device connectivity, so your graduate can seamlessly go from listening to music on their laptop to taking a call from their smartphone. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

I received this Cartman 39-piece tool set right after college when I moved into my first apartment, and now, over 10 years later, it’s still with me in my home’s garage. I put this thing and all its contents through the ringer hanging pictures, putting together Ikea furniture, changing light fixtures and even repairing a broken door lock late on a Saturday night after coming home from a party (ah, youth). It includes all of the essentials one would need to do what I listed above, and much more, without much hassle: a measuring tape, hammer, screwdriver with 20 different bits, pairs of pliers and scissors and more. The plastic case that comes with all of the pieces has spaces designed to fit each tool and, while it’s a little flimsy, mine lasted a number of years before I accidentally broke the handle (totally my fault, too). The fact that it comes in a few different accent colors is icing on the cake; my “pink toolset” was a running joke in my family for a long time, but we were always laughing with the tools rather than at them because I used them so much. This is one of those gifts for graduates that isn’t flashy, but it’s necessary — and they will thank you for it. – V.P.

Losing stuff is a bummer for anyone, grads included. I tried out Apple’s AirTags, Tile trackers and Chipolos for our Bluetooth tracker guide and ended up picking the Chipolo One as the best option for most people. That’s because it simply does what it’s supposed to do without hassle: help people locate their keys and let them know when they’ve been left behind. Chipolo One doesn’t have the massive, community-enabled (and potentially creepy) location tracking of Apple’s FindMy, but it rings loud with a tap from your phone and sends alerts about forgotten items faster than any other tracker we tried. – Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

One of the things I remember most about being a new mom was staring at the willow tree outside my front window. For hours every day, I was pinned to a rocking chair, feeding a human or not moving because that human had finally fallen asleep. Scrolling through my phone was disorientingly unpleasant and I never had two hands free to turn the pages of a book.

E-readers existed at the time, I just didn’t have one. I wish someone had thought to give me the Kobo Clara Colour. It’s compact enough to turn pages with one hand and the adjustable screen is sharp and clear. Plus the addition of color makes book covers and graphic novels look extra appealing. I named it the top pick in our e-reader guide because it’s simply a delight to use (and ebooks cost the same on a Kobo as they do on a Kindle). Don’t get me wrong, that willow tree was beautiful, but I’d have welcomed a trip to the moon. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

The Beats Pill is a stylish portable speaker that sounds balanced for its size and can last more than 20 hours on a charge. It’s well-built and water-resistant with an IP67 rating, plus it supports higher-quality lossless audio if you connect via a USB-C cable. There are plenty of cheaper options out there, including some that hold up better at maximum volumes, but what’s here was still good enough to earn a spot in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. If your grad wants a speaker for smaller get-togethers, enjoying music at their desk or playing podcasts in the shower, it’s a fine choice. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter

If your giftee thought they had a lot of logins to keep track of in school, just wait until they get into the workplace. A password manager will be a must-have, and you can easily give them a 1Password digital gift card so they have no excuse not to use one. Our favorite password manager is easy to use, even for those who have never had a password manager before, and it provides top-notch security. It uses industry standard encryption, a “secret key” that only your giftee knows along with their one password to keep all of their other information safe. In addition to login credentials, new graduates can keep other information like credit card numbers, banking information and sensitive notes in their 1Password vaults for safekeeping — and they can easily access it all on their phone or laptop whenever they need. At minimum, it’s much more secure than a tattered sticky note for keep tracking of their most important passwords. At best, it could be a crucial service that your grad decides to keep paying for long after they’ve used up their gift card. – V.P.

That first domicile after college isn’t always ideal — mine was above a heavily-trafficked LA boulevard, which didn’t result in the cleanest indoor air. We tested out the Levoit Core 300s air purifier and found it cleared out both VOCs and particulate matter (PM) quite efficiently, particularly for its size. It runs quietly and can automatically increase the fan speed when it detects the air is getting murky. Plus the replacement filters are much more affordable than other models, something any recent grad will appreciate. — A.S.

I’ve been testing power banks for our guide for a few years now and Anker’s un-creatively named Laptop Power Bank with built-in and retractable cable is one of the best so far. It has not one but two USB-C cords built in, so there’s no need to remember to grab a cable on your way out the door. One cord creates a handy carrying handle while the other neatly retracts into the body of the battery.

In my tests, it refilled an iPhone, a Galaxy phone and an iPad speedily and could recharge the handsets around four times each and the tablet nearly three times. It even gave a MacBook Pro enough of a bump to keep it running for many hours after the 10 percent warning. The handy built-in screen displays the wattage funneling to each device as well as how long before the battery is drained. Despite the hefty 25,000mAh capacity, it doesn’t feel particularly bulky either. That capacity also means it’s TSA compliant for carry on luggage, making it good for travel. — A.S.

Google’s TV Streamer tops our guide to the best streaming devices, but the runner-up is arguably better for recent grads. Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K not only converts just about any screen into a smart TV, it also opens up access to an endless flow of free content and live programming (most of which is also free). Even if they don’t pay for every streaming service under the sun (or any), they’ll still find loads of stuff to watch. We like Roku’s uncluttered interface and playful illustrated robot motif. Plus the dongle hides neatly behind the screen, supports 4K content with Dolby Vision and has a long Wi-Fi range. – A.S.

If your grad needs a new tablet for checking emails, reading e-books, writing essays or just binging YouTube videos, the iPad Air is the best mix of price and long-term performance within Apple’s tablet lineup. The top pick in our guide to the best iPads, it has a fast M3 chip, a (still) comfortable and elegant design, wide accessory support and the extensive app library you get with any iPad. It’s also available in two sizes: a traditional 11-inch model or a more laptop-like 13-inch version. You don’t get the Face ID, louder speakers or terrific 120Hz OLED display of the iPad Pro, but the Air gets close enough for most at a significantly lower price. That said, no iPad is really a bad buy, so the entry-level iPad (A16) is still worth a look if your grad uses their tablet more casually. — J.D.

Even after price increases, Xbox Game Pass remains a great value for any grad who owns an Xbox or gaming PC. The subscription’s library includes big-name hits like Call of Duty and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle alongside more experimental gems like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, and it still gets you access to first-party Xbox games on day one. Everything is available to download on-demand. The Ultimate tier includes perks like cloud gaming and online play, but there’s a cheaper option for just PC play as well.

If your graduate plans to play more on PlayStation or the Nintendo Switch (or Switch 2), there are similar services you can gift: PlayStation Plus for the former, Switch Online for the latter. These will almost certainly be appreciated if you’re buying for someone who games frequently, though they’re not quite as strong a value as Game Pass in terms of cost or included games. — J.D.

With a larger crystal-clear display, features like Fall and Crash Detection and the powerful S10 chip driving it all, this is one of the most powerful Apple Watches yet. At nearly $70 off, this is among the best deals we've seen for the model. This brand-new watch only debuted earlier this fall, so nab it on sale while it's still in stock.

Someone fresh out of college may be more likely than most to appreciate a practical gift they’ll use daily. An older version of Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro charger pad topped our list of the best wireless chargers thanks to its speed and overall convenience. This latest version adds a few more features. It delivers up to 15 watts of power to any iPhone series 12 or newer through its MagSafe-compatible, Qi2 tech. The pad converts to a stand that lets you view the screen as it refills but folds down into a space-saving puck for travel and charging while flat. — A.S.

Being a human in the year 2024 is not easy, and the Headspace app can add some peace to a loved one’s day. It features a wide variety of guided meditations, including sessions for beginners as well as specific exercises that focus on reducing anxiety, learning breathing techniques, increasing your compassion and so on. It goes beyond meditation, though, with personalized content to help manage your stress levels throughout the day via different check-ins, meditations and video content.

There are also yoga and fitness sessions, and parents can also check out a “mindful parenting” category as well as play back stories for their kids. Plus, there are sleep tools like soothing music and "sleepcasts,” while other audio programs center on focusing, moving more and starting your day. For $13/month or $70/year, Headspace can be a great tool to bring someone much-needed peace of mind. — N.I.

If your grad plans on working remotely, a webcam that keeps them looking sharp and in focus during video calls is a wise investment. The Anker PowerConf C200, a recommendation from our webcam buying guide, is a great choice: It shoots crisp 2K resolution video, autofocuses quickly and does well to keep its subjects visible in darker settings. It can’t swivel from side to side, but it’s a cinch to set up and has a built-in lens cover for extra peace of mind. At $60, it’s relatively affordable to boot. — J.D.

Mechanical keyboards can be pretty noisy, so they may not be the best gift if your grad has to work in an office all the time. But if they won’t have any coworkers or roommates around during the workday, a good keyboard like the NuPhy Air75 V2 should be a welcomed upgrade. This wireless, low-profile model puts the more gratifying feel of mechanical switches in a design that’s flatter and thinner than most enthusiast keyboards. For something so compact, it’s a joy to type on, with crisp keycaps, a wealth of different switch options and no annoying rattling on the larger keys. It works across Windows and macOS, and its playful design is just plain cute. Plus, if your grad ever wants to go wild and customize it with new switches and keycaps down the road, doing so is straightforward. — J.D.