The iVillage gift guide: tech gifts for every budget

Every December there is one person who is impossible to buy for. In most families it is the father who says he needs nothing, which is never quite true. He needs a charger that works, and he would not say no to a speaker for the veranda.

This guide is built around people rather than products. It is split into small, medium and big gifts, so you can find something sensible whatever you have set aside. Everything here is brand-new and factory-sealed, like everything we sell.

Small gifts

Small does not have to mean an afterthought. These are the things people use every single day.

For the youngest on your list. An Echo Glow is a soft, colour-changing lamp that sits on a bedside table and fades down at bedtime. It is made for a child's room: tap it to change the colour, or set a slow fade so the lights-out argument ends before it starts. It needs an Alexa device, such as the Echo Dot in this guide, to set up its timers and routines.

For the one whose phone is always on two per cent. The Anker Prime Charger is a palm-sized charger with three ports, strong enough to charge a laptop and a phone at once. The prongs fold away, which makes it a good travelling companion.

For the one who talks to the radio. An Echo Dot puts Alexa in a kitchen or a bedroom: music, alarms, reminders and the news, by voice. It sounds bigger than its size suggests.

For the one who films everything. The DJI Mic Mini is a wireless microphone of about ten grams that clips to a collar and cleans up traffic and fan noise. For anyone recording church announcements, a small business video or a weekly vlog, it is the cheapest way to sound professional.

Medium gifts

For the music lover. AirPods Pro 3, released in September, are Apple's newest noise-cancelling earbuds and the easiest recommendation in this guide for an iPhone user. If the person you are buying for finds silicone ear tips uncomfortable, choose AirPods 4 instead, which keep the open shape.

For the house that needs a better speaker. HomePod mini is small enough for a shelf and fills a room surprisingly well. It comes in five colours, and it doubles as an intercom to other HomePods.

For the one at a desk all day. A good mouse is a gift people use eight hours a day and never think to buy themselves. The Logitech MX Master 3S has quiet clicks, a fast scroll wheel and a sensor that works even on glass. The newer MX Master 4, launched at the end of September, adds a haptic thumb rest for those who want the latest.

For the gamer who has everything. A second controller is always welcome. The white DualSense is the official PS5 controller, and it means someone else in the house can finally play too.

For the young creator. The DJI Neo is a very small drone that takes off from your palm, follows you and films in 4K, with no remote needed. Its propellers are fully guarded, which makes it a sensible first drone.

Big gifts

These are the ones for milestones: a graduation, a new job, a fiftieth birthday, or simply a very good year.

For the one who wants to stay healthy. Apple Watch Series 11 is the full Apple Watch, with the health and fitness features that come with it. Apple Watch SE 3 covers what most people actually use a smartwatch for, now with an always-on display, and costs less. Both need an iPhone.

For the storyteller. DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a camera on a gimbal that fits in a jacket pocket. Its 1-inch sensor copes with dim rooms and evening light, and the screen rotates for vertical video. For weddings, travel and family gatherings, it records the kind of footage a phone struggles with.

For the whole household. Nintendo Switch 2 arrived in June and plays three ways: in the hand, on the table with its kickstand, or on the television in its dock. Children and grandparents can pick it up together, which is more than can be said for most consoles.

Gift cards: read this first

Gift cards are the easiest present to send, and the easiest to get wrong. The cards we sell, including the Apple Gift Card, PlayStation Store, Xbox, Nintendo eShop, Google Play and Amazon cards, are US cards. They only work on a US account on that platform. Before you buy one, ask quietly whether the person's account is a US one. If it is not, a physical gift is the kinder choice.

Once the order is accepted and paid, the code is sent to you securely by email, so you can print it or pass it on.

Timing

Christmas in Ghana is busy for everyone, riders included. Every order is checked by a person before it is accepted, and we aim to do that within 12 hours. Delivery in Greater Accra, which covers Accra and Tema, is free, with a typical target of up to 24 hours. Other regions have a target of up to 7 days, and the delivery charge is shown at checkout before you pay. If you order early in December, you can stop thinking about it.

If a product you want is sold as an order request, allow a little more time still. Nothing is charged until we confirm availability and send you a pay link.

The best gift on this list is the one that gets used every morning. For the rest of the detail on timing, our Delivery page has it all.