Category: Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him

A smart speaker with Alexa

Amazon Echo, $69.99, available at Amazon

The new Echo is the best smart speaker you can give as a gift this holiday season. Alexa can answer all your giftee’s questions, play music, and control many smart home devices. The brand-new fourth-generation model also features an updated design with a spherical shape that fits nicely in any decor.

Read our full Echo review here

A pair of wireless earbuds

1MORE Stylish True Wireless Earbuds, from $50.39, available at Amazon

These wireless earbuds are cheaper than AirPods, but they sound even better. They also last for 24 hours of total playtime and 6.5 hours of continuous use. 

A fitness tracker

Fitbit Inspire 2, $68.95, available at Amazon

Fitbit’s affordable Inspire 2 tracker has no shortage of useful features to track your giftee’s fitness metrics. The tracker has a heart rate monitor that helps improve the accuracy of tracking calorie burn, resting heart rate, and heart rate zones. As an added bonus, buyers can currently receive a free one-year trial of Fitbit Premium.

A Philips Hut smart lighting starter kit

Philips Hue White LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit, $69.97, available at Home Depot

Philips Hue smart light bulbs can be controlled remotely, set to go on at specific times, and controlled by voice commands if you have a smart speaker.

A swim-proof Bluetooth speaker

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Speaker, from $69.99, available at Amazon

The small-yet-mighty Bluetooth speaker can go swimming in the pool or ocean. It’s also dustproof and therefore suitable for hikes and other outdoor adventures. 

A PopSocket grip

PopSocket Grip, $8 and up, available at PopSocket

PopSocket Grips stick to the back of your phone and can expand whenever you need a grip or a stand. Use one to take photos, text, hold a large device, watch movies, and video chat with ease and comfort. Many cost less than $10 and they come in a variety of colors and patterns to fit your personality.

An earbud organizer

Bluelounge Cableyoyo (2-pack), $16.94, available at Amazon

The Cableyoyo is an affordable rubber and metal spool, around which you wrap your earphones (or any other smallish cable) for safekeeping.

A 4K streaming stick

Roku Streaming Stick+, $49.99, available at Best Buy

Anyone who likes to stream video in 4K on their TV needs a Roku Streaming Stick+. Roku’s media streamers are the best in the business, and the Stick+ can stream TV shows and movies from all the major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many more. On the downside, fans of HBO Max will have to look elsewhere for the time being.

The ultimate console for old-school Sega fans

Sega Genesis Mini, $79.98, available at Amazon

Finally joining the mini retro game console craze is Sega, and it brought the big guns. This console packs 40 games inside pulling both from storied classics to games that were never released in the US. For the retro gamer in your life, this could be a no-brainer.

The best game machine for retro arcade fans

Neo Geo Mini International, $45.97, available at Walmart

If the gamer in your life was more of an arcade nut, then consider this console that doesn’t even need a display. This contains 4o of the most popular Neo Geo arcade games ever, including the entire Metal Slug shooter series.

An ebook reader

Amazon Kindle, $89.99, available at Amazon

The entry-level Kindle is a great gift for book worms who want to have a digital library of ebooks to take with them on the go. This version includes advertisements and lasts for weeks of reading on a single charge.

A smart herb garden

Click and Grow Smart Garden 3, $99.95, available at Amazon

With the Click and Grow Smart Garden, your loved one can grow fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme in a matter of weeks.

A phone case that’s built to last

Otterbox case, $40 and up, available at Otterbox

Otterbox cases are built to protect phones and withstand a lot of drops, but that doesn’t mean the brand’s cases are ugly. In fact, Otterbox has tons of super fun cases with Star Wars, Disney, Pixar, and Marvel characters on them as well as some stylish designs.

A smart display

Amazon Echo Show 5, $44.99, available at Amazon

The Echo Show 5 is an affordable smart display that has Alexa built-in. Your giftee can watch recipes and videos on it, see the time at a glance, and ask Alexa questions. It can also play music and control smart home devices.

The Echo Show 5 will be in stock on December 20.

A fun case for the Echo Show

Otterbox Echo Show 5 Den, $19.96, available at Otterbox

If you are getting your loved one the Echo Show 5 mentioned above, you may also want to get them this hilarious Toy Story case.

A cleaning kit for your phone

Whoosh! Cleaning Kit, $13.99, available at Amazon

Phones are breeding grounds for germs, so a good cleaning kit is both a thoughtful and practical gift. This one from Whoosh! leaves your phone clean without leaving any streaks behind.

An excellent pair of wireless headphones

Sennheiser HD 4.40 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, $79.99, available at Best Buy

Sennheiser makes some of the best over-ear headphones. Though not one of its flagship models, the HD 4.40 are still strong performers. They’re comfortable, deliver outstanding sound quality, and have a long battery life of up to 25 hours.

A waterproof phone case

LifeProof Fré Case, starting at $42.26, available at Amazon

The LifeProof Fré iPhone case is perfect for people who love to be in or near the water all the time, and for those who always drop their phone in some kind of liquid. This case is fully submersible in water that’s up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) deep for 1 hour. It’s also fully sealed with its built-in screen protector and port covers, so it’s safe from the elements.

Tech-friendly gloves

L.L.Bean Touchscreen Gloves, $24.99 and up, available at L.L.Bean

Protect your loved ones’ fingers when it’s cold outside and they still want to text their friends and family. These touchscreen gloves are super warm and work well on screens.

A custom-designed iPhone case

Casetify Custom iPhone 12 Case, $45 and up, available at Casetify

Casetify’s easy to use tool lets you turn your favorite photos into a custom iPhone case. There are three case styles and dozens of templates, so you can turn your friend’s best Instagram photos into a unique way to protect their phone.

A durable, weighted iPhone charging cable

Native Union Night Cable, $39.99, available at Amazon

Native Union makes some of the most attractive phone accessories around. The Night Cable is the best long lightning charging cable for the iPhone. It has a 10-foot cord and a handy weight to hold it in place while your phone charges.

A desk lamp with a wireless charger

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger, $49.99, available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond

If your giftee has a phone with wireless charging built in, the TaoTronics Desk Lamp is a great gift. It has a built-in wireless charger and a USB port so you can charge your devices wirelessly or with a cable. The lamp is also well made and fully adjustable. It has multiple brightness and color temperature settings so you can make it your own.

A sleek leather iPhone case

Nomad Leather iPhone Cases, $49.95 and up, available at Nomad

Nomad uses genuine Horween leather to craft gorgeous, durable iPhone cases that age beautifully. We can’t recommend the brand’s cases enough. Nomad also makes a few Samsung and Google Pixel cases.

A set of screen protectors

InvisibleShield Screen Protectors, $8.99 and up, available at Zagg

Smartphone and tablet screens are fairly fragile and often shatter or get scratched, so it’s a good idea to gift the klutz you love a screen protector from InvisibleShield. The brand makes excellent screen protectors that offer special features like blue light blocking and privacy shielding in addition to protecting your screen.

An Echo Dot

Echo Dot, $29.99, available at Amazon

The all-new Echo Dot is a great way to incorporate a smart assistant into any home without spending a ton of money. Alexa can do everything from answer questions, play games, play music, and control smart home devices. The fourth-generation model features an updated design with a spherical shape rather than the traditional puck shape. 

A Google Home Mini

Google Nest Mini, $24.98, available at Walmart

If your giftee isn’t into Amazon’s products but still wants a smart speaker, the Google Nest Mini is a great alternative. The smart speaker is reliable at answering queries, can control smart home gadgets, and play music with good sound.

Read our full Nest Mini review here

A beautiful wireless charger

Native Union Drop Wireless Charger, from $49.99 and up, available at Amazon

Native Union always impresses with its stylish tech accessories. If your giftee hates boring black and white tech, get them Native Union’s attractive wireless chargers, which come in multiple colors, including rose, sage, indigo, and more.

An instant camera

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11, $69.99, available at Best Buy

Instant cameras are the perfect gift for shutterbugs who wish they’d lived during the age of the Polaroid. Fujifilm’s Intax Mini 11 comes in cute colors and takes fun, retro pictures that are printed right after they’re taken.

A light for better smartphone photography

Lume Cube 2.0, $89.85, available from B&H

Any smartphone shutterbug will love having the Lume Cube 2.0 in their mobile photography kit. The little light helps illuminate the subject of a photo when the lighting is subpar.

An iPhone USB memory stick

SanDisk iXpand and Flash Drive 128GB for iPhone, $45.99, available at Amazon

Even though iPhones now come with more storage built in, it’s still easy to run out of space. For people who take too many photos, download tons of music, shows, and games on their phones; the SanDisk iXpand is the perfect gift.

An iPhone dock

Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe, $19.99, available at Amazon

An iPhone dock looks nice on any desk, nightstand, or table, and it gives your giftee a good place to charge their phone. The Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe comes with lightning and Micro USB cables. The device also features a handy design that holds your iPhone up off the base. This prevents your phone’s speakers and home button from getting blocked. 

A pair of blue-light blocking glasses

Felix Gray Glasses, $95 and up, available at Felix Gray

Blue light can interfere with sleep patterns and cause eye strain, so your giftee is sure to love these blue-light-blocking glasses.

A set of Tile trackers

One Tile Mate Tracker, one Tile Slim Tracker, and two Tile Stickers, $68.04, available at Amazon

Tile trackers are one of the most practical tech gifts you can give. This pack comes with one Tile Slim, which is thin enough to slip into a wallet, one Tile Mate, which has loops so it can fit onto key rings, and two Tile Stickers, which can be attached to a remote or other electronic. Once they’re paired with your giftee’s phone, the trackers will send them a notification when it’s lost contact with the tracker, and show them its last known location on a map.

Basically, you’re giving someone in your life the gift of being able to digitally retrace their steps.

A temperature-controlled mug

Ember Temperature Control Ceramic Mug, $99.95, available at Amazon

It seems like everything is high-tech these days and a lot of it seems pointless, but this is not one of those things. Ember’s smart mug can keep your loved one’s drink at the perfect temperature so that they never burn their tongue again. It uses a smart heating coaster and an app to help you decide how hot you want your drink to be every time.

The Fire HD tablet

Fire HD 8, $64.99, available at Amazon

You don’t have to spend a lot to get a great tablet, and the all-new Fire HD 8 proves that. This 8-inch tablet has a 1,280 x 800-pixel screen, 32GB of storage built in, and room for expansion via a Micro SD card slot.

A light-up alarm clock

iHome Zenergy Light Alarm Clock, $59.99, available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond

No one likes waking up to a blaring alarm, so a light therapy alarm clock that tries to awaken you with a gradual, sunrise-like increase of light is a nice gift. The iHome Zenergy offers a number of great light alarm features, but it also has a pretty great Bluetooth speaker built into it, so your giftee can play music, too.

A waterproof Bluetooth speaker

JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $89.95, available at Walmart

If you’re shopping for someone who’s planning on a warm vacation — or lives someplace nice all the time — this speaker will let them rock out without worrying about dropping it into the pool or ocean.

A phone sanitizer

PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer, $79.95, available at PhoneSoap

If your loved one hates germs, they’ll love this phone sanitizer. PhoneSoap kills 99.9% of common household germs, including bacteria that lead to E.Coli, Salmonella, Staph, the flu, and the common cold — without harming their phone.

A high-end, clip-on smartphone lens kit

Olloclip Lens Kit, $24.99 and up, available at Olloclip

Olloclip makes great lenses that you can attach to many different phones so that you can get a wide-angle, fish-eye, or macro effect on your photos. 

A 4K media streamer with HDR

Roku Ultra, $99.99, available at Target

The Roku Ultra is the best media streaming device we’ve tested, thanks to its easy-to-use interface, 4K playback, Dolby Vision support, voice control, and simple remote. It can transform your so-called dumb TV into a smart one that plays shows and movies from Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and other streaming services. The only notable downside is that it doesn’t currently support HBO Max.

Read our full Roku Ultra review here

A record player

Audio Technica Turntable, $99.99, available at Best Buy

Whether you’re shopping for someone who’s getting into vinyl for the first time, or wants to resurrect a collection they haven’t touched in years, they’ll need a turntable. Audio Technica’s has an RCA output, so you can plug it into any pair of powered speakers or stereo receiver, drop the needle, and enjoy.

A kid-friendly Fire tablet

Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet, $69.99, available at Amazon

Kids love tablets, but they can also be destructive fiends when it comes to tech. Luckily, Amazon’s Kids Edition of the Fire 7 tablet is here to save the day with its protective case, warranty against damage, and tons of kid-friendly content.