Gift giving is an art form. But picking a truly wonderful gift that the recipient is sure to love for years to come? Now that’s a science.
Of all the products we’ve tested and loved this year, the following 15 are the ones that we’ve deemed as a Gift of the Year. Everything on this list was rigorously tested in a real world, at-home setting by a member of the Mashable staff. These are the products that sit at the top of our “best of” lists, the ones we gift to others — or may be coveting for ourselves.
In the world of tech gifts, you’ll find our favorite headphones, a laptop that won’t wipe out your gifting budget, and the season’s must-have gaming device. We have gifts that make your home smarter, your dinner faster, and your music louder. For the kids on your list, we’ve chosen the toys that will evolve and grow with them as they get bigger, and for the smartphone obsessed teen there’s the one piece of tech that will help them find some much-needed balance.
Read on to discover which products made the cut for our inaugural Gift of the Year awards and consider this your must-have shopping list when it comes to Christmas gifts, Hanukkah presents, and beyond.
Best Tech for Teens Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Originally designed for summer campers who want a digital camera to capture camp memories, the Camp Snap is screen-free. However, the Camp Snap has attracted an audience beyond summer campers, thanks to its nostalgic-looking photos. The photos the camera takes are reminiscent of photos from a disposable camera, just digitized. It looks like film, but it has the convenience of digital. Don't expect crisp, detailed photos; everything has a slight fuzz to it, but that's part of the style to just embrace. —Samantha Mangino
Best Audio Player for Kids Gift of the Year
Why we like it
There is perhaps no device more universally beloved in my house than the Yoto Mini. Great for a wide range of kids, my 6-year-old and 3-year-old are particularly smitten. The Yoto is a screen-free audio player that puts the power into the hands of the kids. Compatible cards power up everything from chapter books and shorter stories to music and learning-based content and are available to check out at many local libraries. There’s also an ad-free, kid-friendly radio station built-in, as well as a daily podcast, plus others that are accessible via the compatible app. Custom cards allow you to create your own content, including mix tapes, books, family messages — whatever you can come up with. It’s great for little hands, will adapt and grow as kids get bigger, and is both rugged and travel-friendly. We love that this is the kind of device that keeps kids engaged and entertained — without a screen — and will adapt to the whims of our family for years to come. —Nicole Cammorata
Best Toy for Preschoolers Gift of the Year
Why we like it
As our kids have grown, we’ve noticed that compared to the Yoto Mini (above), the Toniebox is particularly well-suited for preschool-aged kids. We’ve had one in our family for the last couple of years and our kids have loved being able to listen to stories, choose their own content, and be in charge of their own entertainment. As parents, we love that it’s screen-free, keeps them entertained, travels well, and offers a wide library of content to choose from. The Toniebox is powered by a collection of Tonies — small figures preloaded with content from a multitude of beloved movies and TV shows, including those from Disney, Pixar, Bluey, Peppa Pig, National Geographic, and more. Our kids are often just as smitten with the characters as objects as they are with the content itself. —Nicole Cammorata
Best Headphones Gift of the Year
Why we like it
These headphones are nearly $100 cheaper than the Bose QC Ultra 2 headphones, but offer many of the same features. For starters, the comfort and noise cancellation are nearly on par with the significantly more expensive headphones, which is to say it's very, very good — like easily wearable for a full day of travel. The tactile controls are intuitive and functional, the colors are varied and unique while remaining appealing, and there's an Immersive Audio listening mode for changing up how you hear your music. In a time when most tech prices are rising, it's refreshing to see a brand release a pair of headphones that strive for ultra-premium performance, while sticking to a more mildly premium price. —Bethany Allard
Best Kitchen Gadget Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Air fryers are great for anyone, but the Ninja Crispi is made for meal preppers. With its portable design, it stores nicely and can be used on the go. Plus, it actually works. The controls are simple, and the glass baskets come with storage lids for easy food storage. Since we originally tested this device, it's become a favorite of the Mashable shopping team. Not to mention, the Crispi has gotten quite a bit of attention online as folks seek a plastic-free air fryer, and the Crispi is really the best option available. —Samantha Mangino
Best Wellness Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Oura outdid itself with the Ring 5. Before its release, we rated the Oura Ring 4 the best smart ring available, but the Ring 5 blows it out of the water. It's the most comfortable, accurate, and well-designed smart ring we've tested. The new Oura Ring 5 still offers the same biometric data and in-app experience, but now it's 40 percent smaller. It's thinner and lighter, meaning the battery had to shrink. But it didn't sacrifice battery life, as it still lasts six to seven days on a single charge. The ring contains a red and infrared LED, a green and infrared LED, a movement-tracking accelerometer, and digital temperature monitors that all work together to calculate your biometrics, which are presented in the app. With a slim fit and rounded edges, it looks like a classic band that blends right into your wardrobe but remains comfortable without digging in or pinching your finger. —Samantha Mangino
Best Stocking Stuffer Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Sometimes the best tech is the device that helps us take a break from our tech. The Brick is a small, square device that does exactly that — and makes for an excellent stocking stuffer. A quick tap via the app will shut down all the apps you’ve deemed unnecessary, and the phone will stay that way until you re-tap it to the Brick. For anyone looking to break free from a phone addiction, get some mental clarity, or find more digital balance, it’s an incredible device that allows all of us to get a break from that tiny screen without losing the convenience of a mobile phone. I love that the app restrictions are customizable and that accessing the forbidden parts of my phone requires a physical action — a much-appreciated counterpoint to the mindless scrolling that comes with phone addiction. —Nicole Cammorata
Best Laptop Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Even after a $100 price bump this summer, the MacBook Neo is still an unrivaled value in the budget category. Most cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks have plastic components, but this little guy has the same luxe, all-aluminum build quality as any other MacBook. The Neo's A18 Pro processor is technically a pared-down iPhone chip, but don't be fooled: It's extremely impressive for a budget laptop CPU. In simple single-core workloads (web browsing, word processing), the Neo is just as fast as a last-gen M4 MacBook Air. In such scenarios, it feels snappier than most Windows laptops we've tried lately, including 10 that cost $2,000 or more. —Haley Henschel
Best Robot Vacuum Gift of the Year
Why we like it
The C28 finally answers the call of spill-prone households who need something more heavy-duty (and less likely to smear). The HydroJet system rinses the mop nine times per second as it's mopping to prevent smearing. From catnip flakes to tufts of dryer lint to handfuls of crushed chips, I really had to squint to find a few tiny pieces that the C28 left behind. The Eufy C28 gets bonus points for its slow, deliberate vacuuming when spot-cleaning the tricky area where a rug changes to hardwood — its crumb pickup around rug edges has actually been more reliable than premium Roborock and Dreame models. Its performance on hardwood and tile has been even more stellar. The damp roller presses down firmly to wipe up dust and pet hair on hardwood that would stick to the floor during regular vacuuming. —Leah Stodart
Best Smartwatch Gift of the Year
Why we like it
The Series 12 has a new S11 chip that adds support for Audio Intelligence tools and offers more battery life during workouts (plus faster charging). The Apple Watch Series 12's chip and sensors are the exact same ones you'll find inside the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, which costs twice as much. The Ultra 4 is awesome in its own right, especially if you prioritize battery life and durability, but this means you don't need to splash out on Apple's most expensive smartwatch in order to use its most advanced features. The mid-tier option has never been a smarter buy or a more worthwhile upgrade from an older model. —Haley Henschel
Best Smart Home Gift of the Year
Why we like it
It can act as a sous chef in the kitchen, serving up recipes while keeping your hands free, and it can just as easily make video calls to keep up with friends and family or stay productive while WFH. You can also "Drop-In" on any other Alexa devices in your household, including video chat with other Echo Shows. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Echo Show 8's visual feats, though, and the gorgeous display really opens up the door to an incredible amount of enhanced Alexa functionality. The Echo Show 8 can even function as a security camera, and you can check in on what it sees via the Alexa app on your phone while you're away. That said, you can close the camera shutter and shut off the mic for more privacy. —Samantha Mangino
Best Handheld Gaming Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Those who want to stay on the cutting edge of handheld gaming consoles need to get a Nintendo Switch 2 at some point. It's the latest and greatest version of the handheld, with more power, improved features and accessories, and a constantly expanding slate of games that'll almost certainly induce FOMO if you don't hop on the bandwagon. If you're excited about playing the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, love all things Pokémon, or have a kiddo that needs to be introduced to the joys of Mario Kart, then the Switch 2 is a must-have. —Timothy Werth
Best TV Gift of the Year
Why we like it
The TCL QM6K is the quintessential beginner fancy TV between the absolute cheapest and most expensive QLEDs out there. Compared to regular LED TVs, the QM6K is brighter and sharper — better for daytime viewing and watching sports. Compared to more premium mini-LED TVs, the QM6K stays comfortably under the $1,000 mark. —Leah Stodart
Best Outdoor Gift of the Year
Why we like it
Bose's SoundLink line includes an array of excellent speakers, and we've found the Plus to be in that sweet Goldilocks spot between the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max. It's incredibly loud with crisp, clear audio. And its size makes it portable and not too heavy (though it does have some heft to it), while still producing room-filling sound. Whether you're at the beach, hosting a pool party, camping, or just hanging out at home, the Bose SoundLink Plus is a stellar Bluetooth speaker. It can also easily pair with other Bose SoundLink speakers for extended sound. —Miller Kern
Best Beauty Tech Gift of the Year
Why we like it
It would be hard to argue that any mask is a better value or offers a more premium experience than the Shark CryoGlow. The Shark mask is lined with 160 evenly spaced tri-wick bulbs. Every single bulb can emit red, near-infrared, or blue light, and each bulb can emit all three light types simultaneously for 480 light sources total. That's true full-face coverage for the duration of any setting, compared to other masks that turn red light bulbs off completely if you're on the blue light setting. —Leah Stodart
