The estimated reading time for this post is 7 minutes
Father’s Day is around the corner and The Wonder of Tech wants to help you find the perfect gift for Dear Old Dad. To prepare this year’s list, I consulted with Gazelle’s Chief Gadget Officer, Anthony Scarsella, who gave me some great ideas for gifts for dads. I’ve supplemented his list with some other fun tech gifts your dad might like. Whether or not your dad is a techie, there’s bound to be a gift here that he will enjoy.
$50 and Under – Anthony from Gazelle
Zagg invisibleSHIELD
This is one of my favorite products for any gadget, and they also make great gifts. These pre-cut invisibleSHIELDs apply directly to your gadget to offer scratchproof protection on all sides. When it’s time to trade in your gadgets, especially at Gazelle, physical condition plays a big part in your trade-in value. The better protection your gadget has, the more money you get back. They are available for a variety of phones and tablets.
invisible SHIELDs start at $15 from Zagg.
Apple Digital AV Adapter
Get Dad this nifty gadget and he can hook his iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch up to the big screen. This accessory mirrors the device screen onto the big screen so he can play games, watch movies and photos or just browse the web. For those who don’t have Apple TV and want to get their iPhone or iPad on the big screen, this is the best little gadget to do it.
The Digital AV Adapter is available for $39 at the Apple Store.
Bushnell 5×20 Golf Scope Rangefinder
This rangefinder can be Dad’s new best friend on the golf course. The Bushnell 5×20 Golf Rangefinder estimates the distance to the flag from 50 to 200 yards/meters. It easily fits in a pocket or golf bag too.
The Rangefinder is $20 at Amazon.
Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit
This kit is the perfect gift for any dad who’s an automotive enthusiast. From Meguiar’s, this car care kit comes with everything Dad needs to get his car back in showroom condition.
This car care kit is available for $40 from Amazon.
Nokia Lumia 710
For those dads who are just making the jump to a smartphone, the Lumia 710 for T-Mobile is a great choice. This Windows-powered phone features a simple user interface, 5MP camera, GPS and 720P video recording. Windows Phone is the easiest step up to a smartphone, it’s very intuitive.
Best of all, it’s only $40 with a two-year contract at T-Mobile.
Conair iStubble Beard Trimmer
No, it’s not an Apple product, but it is one cool gadget. This trimmer features a motorized adjustable head that can give your dad a fashionable 5 o’clock shadow at the push of a button.
The iStubble is available for $45 at Target.com.
Case-Mate iPad Pop Case
This is one my favorite cases for the iPad – it features top quality protection, a built-in stand and it comes in a variety of colors. It’s a case and stand molded into one, it’s a great buy.
This case is available for $50 from Case-Mate.
$50 and Under – Carolyn
Underwater Disco Lightshow
If your dad likes to disco dance, get him the Underwater Disco Lightshow, to make bath time fun time! This waterproof disco ball can transform a bathtub, pond, swimming pool or hot tub into a lighted dance floor.
The Underwater Disco Lightshow is available for $12.29 from Firebox.
Click and Dig! Keyfinder
If your dad is constantly looking for his keys, check out Click and Dig! Keyfinder. This gadget comes with key fobs to attach to your keychain. When you can’t find your keys, you hit a button on the transmitter and the key fobs will chime. You can also use this to find lost remote controls, pets, and other items.
Click and Dig! Keyfinder is available for $27.95 from Amazon.
$50 to $100 – Anthony
Tumi Debossed iPhone 4 & 4S Cover
This stylish case for your dad’s iPhone 4/4S blends great protection with good looks. If your dad wants to keep the scratches off his phone but doesn’t want a geeky case, this model from Tumi will do the trick.
The Tumi case is available for $65 from Zappos.
Amazon Kindle
If your dad wants a dedicated e-reader that he can take to the beach this summer, look no further than the Kindle. For under $100, you can get him reading books and off your back in no time at all. This is going to be one of the most popular gifts for Father’s Day.
Kindle ereaders start at $79 from Amazon.
$50 to $100 – Carolyn
Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T. Gaming Mouse
If your father likes computer gaming, get him the Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T. gaming mouse. This mouse allows you to easily customize its size, weight and grip style. You can program eight different buttons for game commands and adjust the sensitivity of the mouse. Cyborg allows you to program three different modes for different gaming styles.
The Cyborg mouse is available for $57.24 from buy.com.
$100 and Up – Anthony
Nike + FuelBand
Is your dad a fitness freak? Get him the Nike + FuelBand – the coolest gadget around that tracks all your activity via the built-in accelerometer. The FuelBand can sync up to your smartphone or PC to monitor your progress. Dad can set fitness goals and push himself to the limit with the Nike + FuelBand. When it first came out, this was impossible to get but now it’s in stock at Nike.
The FuelBand is available for $149 at Nike.com.
Amazon Kindle Fire
The best selling Android tablet on the market is a perfect gift for Dad. The Kindle Fire is ideal for dads with Amazon Prime who want a tablet primarily for reading e-books and digital magazines and streaming movies. The 7” screen is also great for gaming. It features 8GB on storage with optional Amazon cloud storage, too.
The Kindle Fire is $199 at Amazon.
HTC One X
The new One X camera from HTC is simply at the top of its class. This high-powered 4G device features Android 4.0 ICS with the new HTC Sense user interface. It also sports a stunning 4.7” 720p display and amazing 8MP camera for those multimedia-crazed dads out there.
The HTC One X is $199 with a two-year contract at AT&T.
Playstation PS Vita
If your dad is a serious gamer, a phone or tablet just won’t cut it. The PS Vita is simply the best in portable gaming today. With a stunning 5” OLED display and Cortex -A9 processor, the Vita brings PS3 style graphics right to your palms.
The PS Vita is $250 at BestBuy.
Apple iPad (3rd generation)
The ultimate Father’s Day gift has to be the new iPad, which features an all new retina display, A5x dual-core chip and 5MP camera. Your dad will enjoy Internet, email, movies, e-books and games, all from one sexy device. It’s my top pick.
Starting at $499 at Apple (those looking to save some cash can check out the iPad 2 for only $399.)
$100 and Up – Carolyn
Star Wars Force X Light Saber
If the Force is with your father for Father’s Day, get him the Star Wars Force X Light Saber. When activated, this saber illuminates and vibrates with sound effects, sure to fool his enemies into thinking your dad is wielding an actual weapon.
The Star Wars Light Saber comes in styles such as Anakin, Darth Vader, Luke ROTJ and others. The Saber is available for $119.99 from ThinkGeek.
Nokia Lumia Batman Phone
If your dad is a Batman fan, get him a bat-mobile phone. Nokia is releasing a limited edition Batman Lumia 900 Windows Phone. This phone was released in the UK on June 1 and is due to be available in the US soon. Only 900 of these phones are being made so grab one for your father soon.
The Nokia Lumia Batman phone is available from Phones4U in the UK for £600 off-contract.
€11,000 – Carolyn
iTree
If you want a unique gift for Dad, consider iTree, a custom-made dock that is carved out of a tree. He can choose from cherry, oak or poplar trunks and have it connect to his iPhone, iPod or other MP 3 player. As each dock is crafted according to the buyer’s specifications, the iTree won’t be ready in time for Father’s Day, but you could show him a picture of it!
iTree is not currently available.
Many thanks to Anthony for all of his help with this article!
Are you trying to find the perfect Father’s Day gift? Are you considering getting your father a tech gift for Father’s Day? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Happy Father’s Day!
I really like the Underwater Disco Lightshow. It would be groovy in a pool. Now I just have to buy the pool!
Fun gifts. Thanks for sharing
Anneliz
Hi Anneliz, The Underwater Disco Lightshow is a really fun gift. When I found that, I just knew that I had to use it in a gift guide here.
You could also use it in a bathtub, in case that pool idea doesn’t work out! 🙂
Well, let’s try this again; deja vu all over again, huh?
What I said was, this is high tech enough for me: http://ow.ly/blbP8
Actually, these are some pretty cool gadgets and doo dads; I could have some real fun with them. Almost as good as a dad in Home Depot; like a kid in a candy shop.
Hi Bill, You’re becoming a tech fan I see! That’s great, I knew you’d come around sooner or later. I’m thinking that golf scope range finder is going to be on your wish list!
Hi Carolyn,
I don’t think Father’s day is on the same day in the US and in Norway. Anyway, I have no idea what type of tech gifts I would give my dad. I got some interesting ideas from your post, but my dad is not into tech at all. On the other hand, he’s on Facebook 🙂
Hi Jens, I know the UK and the US have the same Father’s Day in June, but I imagine it’s different in other countries. I think this list can come in handy for birthdays too! My father, father-in-law and husband aren’t techies, nor are they on Facebook. But Anthony gave me some great ideas for the men in my life. I’m not saying what their gifts are going to be though because they all are big fans of this blog! :-$
You can write about the gifts after they’ve received them 🙂
Brilliant idea, Jens! :-bd
Great list of ideas! Not sure what we will be getting but I do like that Meguiar’s car kit – he’s not much of a techie!
Hi Carol, Yes, that Meguiar car kit seemed to be a great deal. You get a lot of product for a reasonable price. After all, for some dads, their car is their tech! 🙂
Wow Carolyn!
Just the post I was looking out for, because just as I had linked your Mother’s Day gift ideas in my post of why mother’s are special, I was on the look out for goodies for Father’s Day too to link up on my to-be Father’s Day special post- and here they are!!
There couldn’t have been anything better left out I think, you covered them all so well with the help of Anthony. Speaking of my dad, he is not all that tech kind of a person and barely manages to check his emails and reply to a few Facebook friends, but I think he would love that Bushnell 5×20 Golf Scope Rangefinder as he plays golf every single day- need to check it out. But that’s what struck my eye – I still have to read through all the wonderful goodies here – just don’t know where to start from!!
Thanks so much for sharing and reminding us to think about our dad’s and do something special for them. 🙂
Hi Harleena, There really is something for everyone here, I was very fortunate to get Anthony’s help in compiling this list. I wouldn’t have thought of many of the items he listed which I know many dads will love.
I hope you and your father have a wonderful Father’s Day together, Harleena! 🙂
Great article Carolyn, will be using theses ideas for other occasions , maybe even me
Hi Rene, I’m so glad you like this list! I always have fun doing these lists, but this one was especially enjoyable thanks to Anthony’s input.
I’m with you, I’m tempted by some of these gifts myself. 🙂
I don’t want another tech gadget – too much to learn, too often. But, I would like the new Boxster S, please?
Hi Bruce, I’m not sure about that idea, Bruce. I’m afraid the learning curve might be steep on the Boxster S also. Unless you have one already, you would have to learn How to put the top down and what all those buttons on the console do. I’m thinking the iStubble is much easier to master! 😉
I hope all you wishes come true on Father’s Day, Bruce!
I fear you are right! Cars now require training with all their tech!
Yes, many cars come loaded with tech now, but I think that’s a good thing! :-bd
I recently bought the Ipad case and I love it. I like that I can just set it down and it is like a computer monitor.
Adam
Hi Adam, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, it’s great to prop up your iPad screen for easy viewing. Whe I talked with him, Anthony pointed out that the Smart Cover doesn’t allow you to adjust the angle for viewing, but the Pop Case does. I’m so glad you like this case, Adam. Thanks for stopping by to let us know!
Wow! That Nike + FuelBand seems to be pretty cool! I’m sure my husband would be very glad about it, he’s a fitness freak, he usually runs 10miles every day! I think I have to forward your post to my son, he doesn’t know what to give him for father’s day. Thanks for the inspiration and the for great idea!
Hi Tatjana, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! If your husband is into fitness, he should appreciate getting a Nike + Fuel Band. The band is not only fun, it can provide your husband with a valuable tool to track his runs.
Thanks for sharing the article with your son, Tatjana!
I’ve actually used the Zagg shield and I didn’t like it! While it protected my phone, it was really tricky to put on, and the edges started lifting and getting dirty after just a few weeks. I LOVE the idea of the key finder – for my husband. I wonder if you can attach a little fob to your wallet/sunglasses/tv remote control and everything else he seems to misplace!
Hi Ruth, I’m sorry you didn’t like the Zagg invisibleSHIELD. I have mine put on by the helpful folks at Radio Shack who have been trained in the art of applying the shields. I agree with you, in general putting screen savers on is a very frustrating task. I skipped doing it with my first iPad and lived to regret it because my screen got scratched, even though I kept it in the case the whole time.
My invisibleSHIELD on my white iPhone 4S is getting a bit dirty around the edges now but my shield on my black iPad doesn’t seem to show the dirt as much. 😉
After reading this, I now know what to get my Father for fathers day! Thanks a lot 🙂
Hi Ash, I’m so happy that this article was helpful to you! Happy Father’s Day to your dad! 🙂
Carolyn – As usual you have covered everything that one would want with your article here. However my favorite was the underwater disco lights…sounds cool 🙂
Hi Praveen, Thanks! I have to agree with you. The disco lights are my favorite too. But I’m not a dad, so it’s great to hear from a dad that you like them too! 🙂
I have a regular Kindle and I love it. It has been a terrific addition to my collection of gadgets and something I use daily. I was surprised by how much I enjoy reading on it.
Hi Jack, I’m so glad you love your Kindle. I’ve seen that a lot, people who resisted ereaders at first but quickly learned to love them.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Jack! 🙂
The Star Wars Force X Light Saber would rock my world.
Hi Stan, I sincerely hope your world is rocked on Father’s Day! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
I seem to have missed this blog when it was posted. I must have been busy. I just spotted it in a tweet someone sent, who started following me today. I don’t have any children and so it won’t affect me. I think often people appreciate gifts that are well thought out though. I think the students I help in China have been discussing gifts for me, one of them is knitting me a scarf I think! The covers for screens are a good idea, to stop them scratching. I would use those. My most desired tech gift is a new camera, but they cost a fortune!
I think I might end up with something from China that is unsuitable, I might have to drop a subtle hint. I would appreciate something that we can’t get here, like genuine chop sticks!
Hi Mike, I’m not a dad either but if I listen closely I can hear those disco lights calling my name!
My twins are going to China next week for a student exchange program and I just bought them cameras yesterday. The cameras were quite inexpensive, $59 each for 16 MP with 5X optical zoom. But I’m sure you would want a better quality camera than what I got my girls.
One of the Chinese exchange program students we hosted gave us chopsticks. But every gift we have been given is wonderful because they remind us of the wonderful girls who stayed with us! 🙂
My brother isn’t that much of a techie either Carolyn but he’s a little further along then me with the cell phone and texting. I’m going to send this post to my niece and nephew just in case they want to get their Dad something different this year.
Thanks for this awesome packed post. Great stuff.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, I’m sure your niece and nephew can find something for dad in this post, thanks for sharing it! But your brother doesn’t have to be a techie to enjoy some of the gifts, like the disco lights! :-bd
These gifts are great for my father and the price is not too expensive. Thanks for your suggestion and where I can get these items.
Hi win, I’m so glad these were helpful. Best wishes fo a happy Father’s Day for your family! 🙂