20 cool gifts that teens actually want in 2025

The next time they want to record a TikTok or snap a few selfies, they can stick their phone to any mirror, window or smooth surface with this nitfy mount. It has 24 powerful suction cups that'll keep in place, so they can better focus on the task at hand.

Our resident tech expert Rick Broida declared these his pick for the best budget noise-cancelling headphones. The stylish cans play for a whopping 55 hours on a charge, or 40 if you use ANC. Just five minutes of USB-C quick-charging nets you up to four additional hours. (That's for wireless play, by the way; Soundcore also supplies a stereo cord for wired listening, which requires no battery at all.) Apple's pricey AirPods Max need to recharge after just 20 hours.

This Amazon favorite not only looks way pricier than it is, but it makes for an excellent night light — and you'll kind of want one for your own bedroom, too. It even has a remote that your teen can use to make it switch colors.

This portable speaker is a real powerhouse: It's waterproof, has 12 hours of play time and features JBL PartyBoost for multiple speaker pairing. Sure it has crystal-clear sound and deep bass, but the best thing about this speaker is its rugged portability. Plus it's Bluetooth connected and comes in 11 colors. "I've had several portable speakers over the years, and this is by far the best for the money," writes one Amazon customer. "I would more than likely buy it again because it fits easily into my backpack when I travel."

With this gift, she'll be able to wear her personality on her purse. Dress up even the most basic bag with these clip-on cherries, which rival a similar Coach style that is nearly 10x the price.

She always insists on carrying a purse — even if it's practically empty. This Lululemon bestseller is just the right size for all of her everyday essentials, plus she an wear it around her waist or across her body for easy access.

If your teen is a Swiftie, they'll probably want to make their own friendship bracelets to swap with friends. This kit includes everything they need to get started: over 5,000 clay beads, clear elastic, clasps, scissors and more.

This glow-in-the-dark football will give them the edge they need in their next nighttime game. Or at the very least, it'll help light their way from kickoff to touchdown. It comes loaded with batteries and ready for play — get 30 hours of playtime per set! 

Flying paper planes are usually a hard no, but this high-tech version is as educational as it is fun. Attach a Bluetooth module to the front of the plane to maneuver it through the skies using the PowerUp app. Planes can fly as fast as 20 mph for 10 minutes straight on a quick charge — that sure beats the old-school method, wouldn't ya say?

This No. 1 bestselling roll-up drum kit is a convenient way to create music. The seven pads, variety of timbers and rhythms, and volume control make this a great gift. Plus, it's portable and plays for 10 hours without a charge!

LED lights are huge on TikTok, and these — which pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant — are an excellent way for teens to personalize their space with fun colors, and they're so easy to install (and eventually remove). Even if they don't have a smart speaker in their room, they can control the lights via an app or the remote control that's included.

Ask any teen (including your own!) and they'll tell you that Sol de Janeiro makes their favorite scents. Cheirosa 62 is the brand's biggest seller — it's sweet, nutty and as warm as the Brazilian sunshine it was inspired by. Snag this trio of travel-friendly minis, including the cult-favorite Bum Bum Cream, so she can experience the signature scent from head to toe.

Getting your hands on a Labubu blind box is nearly impossible these days, but your teen will get the same thrill when they unveil their scented stuffie. You can't pick their plushie for them. Nope, they'll have to rip open the foil bag to reveal their newest squad member. 

Bubble tea, or boba, is trendy with everyone from tweens to 20-somethings. Now they can save their cash and craft their favorite drinks at home. This kit contains everything needed to make 10 delicious servings of bubble tea, including brown sugar boba pearls, three kinds of milk tea and straws.

Hey, Gen Xers, take your young adult back to your own teen years with actual paper photos. The sticky-backed photos printed from this wireless compact printer are smudge-proof, waterproof and tear-resistant — perfect to decorate bedrooms, lockers, mirrors and more. Simply connect to the printer via Bluetooth and use the Kodak Step Prints app to print vibrant 2 x 3" photos.

She's not exactly carrying around a wallet or car keys just yet, so this pint-size pouch will do the trick. It's teeny tiny, but reviewers say it's still big enough to hold a small hand sanitizer, lip balm and hair tie, aka everything she needs while out and about. She can even clip it to her backpack zipper for easy access during the school day. 

If you wore these plastic claw clips in the 90s, chances are your teen wishes you'd saved them. But fear not, you can grab these flower-shaped ones in various colors and styles, at a price point that makes us think we're actually in the 90s again.

Teens love Laneige — and the brand's buzzy lip treatment is the real MVP. The brand claims that one lip mask is sold globally every two seconds, which makes perfect sense. Get four minis in this fruit-forward set — flavors range from berry to peach iced tea.

Help creative teens express themself with a high-quality art set that includes six black markers and two sepia-tone ones. They'll get a mix of pen styles — fine tips are perfect for outlines and small details, while the broader brushes will help them fill between the lines. 

These Nerf Blasters take laser tag up a notch with the ability to play in the dark — the Laser Vision option illuminates enemy targets. The blasters have a range of up to 300 feet and battery life that will provide up to four hours of play. We love that this set comes with four blasters so friends can enjoy a fierce game of laser tag together.