10 Top Holiday Tech Gifts for Any Budget!

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The holidays this year involve new challenges around the world. We may not be able to be together with loved ones and our budgets may be tighter than in previous years. As the pandemic rages on, we may look for affordable gifts to help bring a smile to a loved one’s face.

These fun and useful tech gifts can help others during the pandemic and beyond.

Free Tech Gifts

Not all tech gifts are expensive. In fact, these tech gifts won’t cost you any money at all.

Personalized Playlists

Does your loved one subscribe to a streaming music service? Create a personalized playlist gift to share with them.

Choose genres based on their interests. You could make a cardio playlist for runners, starting with slower music, then add songs with a faster beat.

Does your loved one need to relax? Create a playlist with your favorite New Age or Classical music.

Perhaps your loved one is missing her disco dance parties. Make her a disco playlist.

Digital Photo Albums

Lift your loved one’s spirits with a digital photo album filled with pictures taken during a trip, during special times together, or of their beloved pets. Inspire them with nature photos you’ve taken over the years. Download photos they’ve shared on social media and create a digital photo album to remind them of favorite occasions in their lives.

Tech Help

Give a personal gift card for tech help. You can help organize apps on their phones, set up a new device, organize their digital photos, or give other tech help.

Nearly everyone needs tech help!

Gifts Under $50

Phone Charge Cords

Phone charge cords have a way of disappearing, especially if you live in a household with more than one person. But even people who live alone probably could use more charge cords.

These charge cords will be useful but won’t break the budget.

iPhone and iPad charge cords — This 3-pack of 6 ft lightning cords is currently $9.99 at Amazon. AUNC 3-Pack Lightning Cords at Amazon

USB-C charge cords — Newer iPad models and some Samsung phones use USB-C charge cords. If your loved one has a device that uses USB-C charge cords, check out these 6 ft cords UGreen 2-Pack USB-C Charge Cords at Amazon for $7.19.

See => Apple USB-C Port help page and Samsung USB-C help page.

Micro USB charge cords — This 3-pack of 6 ft. charge cords will work with many Android phones, Kindles, and other tech devices. 3-Pack Micro USB Charge Cords at Amazon for $9.85.

Cameo Calls and Video

Is your loved one a fan of a particular show, sport, actor, athlete, comedian, or singer? Check out Cameo to purchase a personalized video or a Zoom call from celebrities such as Steve Harvey, John Cleese, Dick Van Dyke, Mia Hamm, Snoop Dogg, Tony Hawk, George Foreman, Deepak Chopra, Chaka Khan, Caitlyn Jenner, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Prices are set by the celebrities and range from under $10 to over $1000.

MPow Flame Bluetooth Earbuds

These handy Bluetooth earbuds can help people stay a bit more sane during the pandemic. They can connect via Bluetooth to computers for Zoom calls and to phones for music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

You can use these earbuds in the shower or during workouts because they’re waterproof. The battery lasts 7-9 hours, according to the manufacturer.

And the best part? They’re under $20.

The MPow Flame Bluetooth Earbuds are available in a variety of colors from Amazon, starting at $18.98.

Atomic Wall Clock

If the time of day matters to your loved one, check out the Atomic Wall Clock. This easy-to-read clock is accurate to the second. It connects via radio signal to the United States Atomic Clock in Ft. Collins, Colorado and automatically updates to Daylight Savings Time.

The Atomic Wall Clock is available from Amazon for $22.49.

Gifts Over $50

iPad Surround Home Theater

If you’re loved one is missing going to the movies or wants a better Zoom experience, get them an iPad Surround Home Theater. This device attaches to a compatible iPad and props the tablet up at an 85° angle for optimal viewing. The included speakers connect to the iPad via Bluetooth.

This Home Theater is compatible with the iPad Pro 9.7″, iPad Air 2, and iPad Air. The iPad Surround Home Theater is currently available for $99.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer.

Zojirushi Rice Cooker

If you’re a fan of rice, or oatmeal, or cake, or steamed food, check out the Zojirushi rice cooker. This rice cooker comes with a delay timer so you can add the ingredients and set the timer to have your food cooked at the time you choose.

This rice cooker uses fuzzy logic to calculate how long to cook the food. The cooker adjusts the time based on factors such as humidity and room temperature for the best results.

Zojirushi Rice Cooker is currently available at Amazon for $122.00.

10 Minute Sanitizing Chamber

Germs are the enemy these days and the 10 Minute Sanitizing Chamber can help kill germs. The chamber uses a UV-C light to disinfect items such as phones, tablets, keys, baby bottles, and remote controls. You can even charge your electronics as they’re being sanitized with the two included USB ports inside the chamber.

The 10 Minute Sanitizing Chamber is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $199.99.

What Else You Need to Know

This holiday season many local retailers are struggling. Consider buying local for your holiday shopping. Check whether your favorite hometown store has a website and/or curbside pickup. Shop at your local stores to help support them during this holiday season.

Your Thoughts

Do any of the gifts on this list inspire you? Do you like the idea of giving a free tech gift? Did you find a tech gift you’d like for yourself?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!