The holiday shopping window is closing fast, but there’s still time to pick up a few things that will arrive in time for your favorite nondenominational gift exchange. Whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers or still have a few names on your list you need to cross off, we’ve rounded up our favorite fire-and-forget gift ideas for all the procrastinators out there.
The collection we’ve put together here includes small-ish gifts that will travel well, like the Apple Watch Series 8, as well as presents that don’t even need to be gift-wrapped, such as a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. If you’re looking for more gift suggestions, our deals team has also put together a vast selection of thoughtful ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list, from gamers and fitness enthusiasts to dedicated homebodies and that special paternal figure in your life.
Writer’s note: most of the Amazon picks included here will only arrive in time for Christmas if you’re an Amazon Prime member, however, we’ve also included retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo, both of which will ship items in time for the holiday without a premium account.
The best last-minute tech gifts
Smart home
- Amazon’s latest Echo Dot doesn’t look drastically different from older models but is the best version of the orb-shaped smart speaker thanks to better sound and responsiveness. The fifth-gen model is available and will ship in time for Christmas when you buy it from Amazon (if you’re a Prime member) and Best Buy for $27.99. Read our review.
Google Nest Hub Max
The Nest Hub Max has a 10-inch screen and an integrated camera for making video calls. It is Google’s largest and most complete Google Assistant smart display.
- If you’re looking to upgrade your home Wi-Fi network, the Google Nest Wifi Pro is available at Best Buy for $199.99 as well as B&H Photo. The one-pack comes with a pair of Wi-Fi 6E-compatible routers that are Thread-enabled and Matter-compatible to support the latest generation of smart home devices. Read our review.
- You can give your kids a nightlight they’ll brag about with the Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangles Smarter Kit. The Smarter Kit includes five modular light panels and is available for $49.99 at Best Buy.
- The TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug is a simple and inexpensive option for adding voice controls and automation to any device in your home. Currently, you can pick up a pair on Amazon for $19.26 instead of $19.99 and get it in time for the holidays if you’re an Amazon Prime member.
- Tile’s platform-agnostic Bluetooth trackers take many forms, but all of them can help you keep track of stuff you don’t want to misplace. The standard Tile Mate is perfect for your keys and is currently available for $17.99 on Amazon and Best Buy (in-store), while the $24.51 Tile Slim is designed to be tucked away in your wallet or behind a luggage tag. You can buy the latter from either Amazon (if you’re a Prime member) or Best Buy (in-store).
Amazon’s second-gen Echo Show 8
The Echo Show 8 is the midsized smart display in Amazon’s current Echo lineup and can be used to display the weather, news, calendars, grocery lists, and more. You can also use it to control your smart home devices, stream videos, or listen to music. It even supports video calling via Zoom and Amazon’s Alexa calling service.
- One of our favorite robot vacuums, iRobot’s Roomba i3 Plus EVO, is available for $399.99 ($150 off) at Best Buy. This is the best auto-emptying robot vacuum you can buy, one that comes with advanced mapping features as well as support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Google’s Nest Smart Thermostat is a good smart thermostat that’s compatible with Matter and is on sale for $89.99 instead of $129.99 at Best Buy.
- You can still buy loved ones embedded in Apple’s ecosystem the Homepod Mini, which is on sale at Best Buy for $79.99 ($20 off) until the end of today, December 21st. The compact smart speaker works well with Apple devices and is fully compatible with both Siri and Apple Homekit. Read our review.
Gaming
- Our favorite controller for the Nintendo Switch isn’t Nintendo’s first-party Pro Controller but the 8BitDo Pro 2. You can currently find the Pro 2 at Amazon and Best Buy for $39.99 ($10 off). While the controller works perfectly well with the Switch, its Bluetooth connectivity also allows it to be used with Windows, macOS, and even mobile devices. Read our review.
The 8BitDo Pro 2 offers many of the same features as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller but at a lower price point and with a DualShock-style layout. It features extra triggers, hand grips, remappable buttons, and back paddles and can pair with Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, and mobile devices via Bluetooth.
- An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is still one of the best gifts for Xbox and PC gamers since it provides unlimited access to a massive library of games in addition to deals on titles you want to keep. Right now, you can pick up a three-month subscription at Amazon for $38.24 instead of $44.99, or Best Buy and GameStop at its full price.
- The Nintendo Switch OLED is still the best Nintendo handheld you can buy and is the only place to experience awesome titles like Splatoon 3, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Readily available for $349.99 at Target, the Switch OLED has a brighter and slightly larger screen than the standard Nintendo Switch, in addition to better speakers and an improved kickstand, allowing you to play games on the go or on your TV. Read our review.
Verge Deals on Twitter /
Join our over 50,000 followers, and keep up with our best daily tech deals with @vergedeals
- The 128GB Meta Quest 2 is $399 at Best Buy. Despite the $100 price hike it received this year, the Quest 2 is still the best way to experience VR. Read our review.
Logitech G333 earbuds
Logitech’s gaming-focused G333 are a wired pair of earbuds that come with a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter for use with Android phones or newer iPads that no longer have a headphone jack.
- The most stylish shooter for the Nintendo Switch, the digital version of Splatoon 3 is currently available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Nintendo for $59.99. Read our review.
- Elden Ring, an open-world souls-like and one of the best games of the year, is available for both PlayStation and Xbox consoles at for $59.99 at Best Buy. Read our review.
- TMNT Shredder’s Revenge might be the best co-op experience of the year. The re-imagined arcade classic is currently available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation consoles, and Xbox systems at Amazon and Best Buy (in-store) for $34.99.
- Marvel’s Midnight Suns is the perfect game for anyone that’s wanted to star in their own superhero fan-fiction. You can currently find the turn-based strategy title for PC at Steam, Best Buy, and GameStop.
Headphones and earbuds
- Sony’s WF-1000XM4 are some of the best noise-canceling earbuds we’ve ever used. If someone you know is in the market for a new pair of wireless earbuds, you can currently pick them up for around $180 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo (normally $249.99). Read our review.
- Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale at Best Buy for $249 instead of $299. The comfortable wireless earbuds offer terrific sound quality and noise cancellation, though they lack other niceties like multipoint Bluetooth support. Read our review.
- If you’re looking to gift a pair of earbuds more rooted in the Apple ecosystem, the Beats Fit Pro are on sale for around $160 instead of $199.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The Fit Pro earbuds are currently one of our favorite pairs of workout earbuds thanks to their comfortable fit and integration with Apple devices. Read our review.
Sony WH-1000XM5
With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price.
- Bose’s QuietComfort 45 headphones, which are remarkably comfortable and offer excellent noise cancellation, are down to $249 ($80 off) at Best Buy. Read our review.
Laptops
MacBook Air with M2 (2022)
The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip. The M2 model also touts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging.
- The HP Spectre x360 14 is a slick convertible laptop that’s available at Best Buy for $1,749.99. This configuration is equipped with a 1TB SSD, a 12th Generation Intel CPU, and 16GB of RAM. Read our review.
- A capable 15-inch laptop with an RTX 3050 Ti, the Dell XPS 15 may not look like a gaming laptop, but it sure plays like one. Currently, you can pick up its 512GB configuration at Best Buy on sale for $2,049.99. Read our review.
- Microsoft’s latest Surface Laptop 5 is on sale at Best Buy with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an Intel Evo i5 processor for $899.99 ($100 off). The 13.5-inch laptop offers solid performance and a light, thin chassis that makes it highly portable. Read our review.
Tablets and e-readers
- Apple’s latest iPad Air is equipped with an M1 processor, has excellent battery life, and is compatible with all the newest Apple accessories. You can currently find the 64GB, LTE-enabled configuration on sale at Amazon for $649 (normally $749) from Best Buy. Read our review.
- You can also buy the 11-inch, M2 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage at B&H Photo for $729 ($80 off). The latest model offers a better display and performance than its predecessor and other iPad models, save for its 12.9-inch variant. The M2 model also offers with a feature wherein you can “hover” the second-gen Apple Pencil over the display to prompt different actions. Read our review.
- If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, you can buy Amazon’s new Fire 7 tablet for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. So long as you don’t mind its low-resolution display, it’s an otherwise decent entertainment device with good battery life. Read our review.
Smartwatches
Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS)
The latest smartwatch from Apple features watchOS 9 along with Crash Detection and temperature sensors that enable menstrual cycle tracking — something you won’t find on any other model.
- The Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung’s latest wearable, is on sale in a couple of different sizes right now. The 40mm model is available for $239.99 at Best Buy (normally $279.99), while the 44mm version is on sale for $269.99 (normally $309.99). Read our review.
- The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a no-nonsense fitness tracker that’s currently available for $79.95 from Fitbit, Target, and Best Buy. Read our hands-on impressions.
Streaming devices
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports all the major streaming services, as well as HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision. It is also compatible with all three voice assistants: Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
- The 2022 Apple TV 4K is available for around $124-$129.99 in its 64GB configuration at Best Buy and Target, but you can also get the 128GB version for around $149.99 at Best Buy. The latest version of the Apple TV 4K has HDR10 Plus support and better performance than previous models thanks to Apple’s A15 Bionic CPU. Read our review.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2021)
Amazon’s latest streaming stick offers improved performance and support for Wi-Fi 6. It continues to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and an easy-to-use interface with the benefit of Alexa voice commands.
- Google’s 4K-enabled Chromecast is on sale for $39.99 ($10 off) at Best Buy. The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) nets you access to all major streaming services and is equipped with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR support. Read our review.
Miscellaneous
LG C2 OLED (42-inch)
The LG C2 is available in a 42-inch configuration and is both lighter and brighter than its last-gen predecessor, the C1. It also boasts a “dark room” setting to reduce eyestrain as well as the ability to log in to different user profiles.
- You can buy the compact Theragun Mini for $149.99 instead of $199 at Best Buy. It’s small compared to other massage guns, but the three-speed device is still powerful enough to provide muscle relief while on the move.
- Vizio’s M-Series 5.1.2 soundbar is one of our favorite models, one that is currently on sale for $399.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy. The Bluetooth-equipped soundbar comes bundled with two up-firing rear speakers, a six-inch wireless subwoofer, and a backlit remote.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 is the best instant camera for most people. While it lacks more advanced features, the simple instant camera takes good-quality shots quickly and easily and offers a built-in selfie mode.
- Ember’s temperature-controlled smart mug, the Ember Mug 2, can keep your beverages warm all day when it’s resting on its plug-in coaster (or for up to an hour and a half via the mug’s built-in battery). Right now, the 10-ounce model is on sale for $89.99 instead of $129.95 at Best Buy.