De bedste tekniske gaver til $100 eller mindre

It’s dangerously easy to go over budget during the holidays when, especially when your gift list seemingly gets longer with each passing year. It’s even easier to do so when you have a bunch of gearheads in your life. We don’t have to tell you that gadgets are expensive (hello, $1,000-plus smartphones), but not every piece of tech will put a huge dent in your bank account. To make things easier for our budget-minded readers, we’ve collected everything in our gift guide that you can buy for $100 or less here.

You’ll find the full list below, but you can also check out a number of stories in our gift guide this year that include almost all budget-friendly things. Our board games, tech toys for kids and gifts for travel lovers roundups are just a few that are filled with inexpensive yet super fun ideas, plus our annual tech stocking stuffers guide focuses on gifts you can grab for under $50. What we’re trying to say is, you don’t have to go broke to get solid tech for your friends and family; you just have to know which affordable items are actually worth your money.

Audio-Technica M20xBT

Audio-Technicas overkommelige trådløse hovedtelefoner har konsekvent tilbudt solid ydeevne, der ville være en fantastisk gave, selv med manglen på støjreduktion. Virksomhedens seneste er de M20xBT, en Bluetooth-version af A-T's populære M20x kablede dåser. En behagelig pasform og op til 60 timers batterilevetid koster dig kun $79. Opret forbindelse til flere enheder på én gang med Bluetooth-multipunkt-forbindelse, og styr pålideligt melodier med fysiske knapper. Designet er ikke så raffineret som virksomhedens prismodeller som M50xBT2, men du får hovedparten af, hvad der gør Audio-Technicas billigere muligheder så gode. —Billy Steele, Senior News Editor

Køb M20xBT hos Amazon – $79

JLab Go Air Pop

Takket være JLab kan du give et anstændigt sæt ægte trådløse øretelefoner som strømpestopper. For 20 dollars Gå Air Pop dækker det meste af det grundlæggende. Otte timers batterilevetid, indbyggede kontroller, EQ-forudindstillinger, IPX4-fugtbeskyttelse og muligheden for kun at bruge én øretelefon ad gangen er alle på listen over funktioner. Go Air Pop er mindre end sin forgænger, Go Air, og denne model kommer med et etui, der lukker helt. Desuden beholdt virksomheden den integrerede USB på opladningsetuiet, så du ikke behøver at bekymre dig om at lede efter et kabel, når du er løbet tør for strøm. — BS

Køb JLab Go Air Pop på Amazon – $25

EU Wonderboom 3

Hvis du leder efter en Bluetooth-højttaler i år, er den EU Wonderboom 3 er en overkommelig, lille mulighed, der stadig pakker en punch. Den er eventyrsikker takket være en IP67-klassificering, lydkvaliteten er lys, og en udendørstilstand booster diskant og bas, så lyden kan høres over en større afstand. Du kan også nemt parre to Wonderboom 3-enheder til stereolyd, hvilket ikke vil koste dig en formue takket være den lave pris. Og med op til 14 timers batterilevetid burde du være i stand til at holde melodierne i gang i et stykke tid. — BS

Køb Wonderboom 3 hos Amazon – $100

Roku Ultra

If you're not a fan of the Apple TV, the Roku Ultra is the only other set-top box worth considering. It's fast enough to stream 4K video with Dolby Vision, and it supports just about every streaming app you'd want. It also has a solid remote with voice-search capabilities, and you can still access all of Apple's streaming video via the Apple TV app. And while Roku's interface isn't pretty, it's fast and gets the job done. — Devindra Hardawar, seniorredaktør

Køb Roku Ultra hos Amazon – $90

Joby Gorillapod 3K fleksibelt mini-stativ

Et af de mest nyttige tilbehør derude til vlogger på din julemandsliste er Jobys berømte mini-stativ, og det bedste for pengene er GorillaPod 3K. Det kunne ikke være nemmere at fastgøre dit kamera takket være den sikre clip-in monteringsplade med et indbygget niveau. Og de fleksible ben lader dig indstille dit kamera hvor som helst til at optage, eller endda vikle det rundt om et træ eller en anden genstand. Og selvfølgelig kan du bøje dem ud for den ideelle vlogging-vinkel og stabilisere dit optagelse, for at starte. Det bedste af det hele er, at du nu kan hente en hos Amazon for kun $45, et kup for et så alsidigt værktøj. — Steve Dent, Associate Editor

Køb Joby GorillaPod 3K hos Amazon – $46

Nanlite LitoLite 5C RGBWW Mini LED-panel

Et godt lys er et fantastisk værktøj i din yndlingsfotografs eller videografs arsenal og en relativt overkommelig gave at starte med. En af de bedste all-around-modeller er Nanlite LitoLite 5C RGBWW Mini LED-panel. Den vejer kun 4.8 ounce, men tilbyder dæmpbar belysning på tværs af en række farver, med justeringer enten på armaturet eller via en smartphone-app. Den monteres på enhver væg eller lysstander via en magnet eller kvart tomme gevind, har ledningsfri drift og et batteri, der kører i 1.5 time ved fuld strøm (oplades via USB). Den mest interessante funktion er specialeffekter, der spænder fra en politibils blinkende lys, flammer, levende lys, et tordenvejr og meget mere. — S.D.

Køb Nanlite LitoLite 5C hos Amazon – $75

Lexar Professional 1667x 64GB SDXS UHS II-kort

Det nytter ikke længere at købe dine yndlingsfotograf UHS-I-kort, når hurtigere UHS-II-modeller kan findes til næsten samme pris. Det er tilfældet med Lexars 64GB eller 128GB 1667x V60 UHS-II kort, tilgængelig for henholdsvis kun $33 og $50. Selvom det ikke er så hurtigt som et top-of-the-line 2000x-kort, får du stadig hurtigere læse- og skrivehastigheder (250 MB/s og 120 MB/s) end noget UHS-I-kort til en brøkdel af prisen. Hvis hastighed er af essensen, så kan SanDisks top-end V90-kort med 300MB/s læse- og 260MB/s skrivehastigheder findes for henholdsvis $80 og $150. — S.D.

Køb Lexar Professional 1667x hos Amazon fra $33

AeroPress Go

AeroPress er en sjov måde at lave en enkelt kop kaffe derhjemme med et apparat, der ikke fylder meget i skabet. Det er en alsidig brygger, der giver dig mulighed for at eksperimentere med forskellige infusionstider og styrker, mens du går. Jeg kan godt lide at bruge den til at brygge en kop med dobbelt styrke direkte over isen, når jeg glemmer at lave koldbryg. Til kaffenørden på din liste, der allerede har en almindelig opsætning, er AeroPress en fantastisk gave. Og AeroPress Go er endnu mere kompakt. Den gemmer sig pænt inde i en kop, som du kan brygge direkte i og er perfekt til camping og rejser. — BS

Køb AeroPress Go hos Amazon – $40

Cuisinart DBM-8

Du behøver ikke at betale for en Encore for at få en pålidelig kværn til kaffenørden på din liste. Før jeg opgraderede, havde jeg en Cuisinart DBM-8 det tjente mig godt i årevis, og det gjorde den stadig, da jeg satte den ud på græs. Det er en gratsliber, så den giver en ensartet slibestørrelse med 18 forskellige muligheder at vælge imellem - fra groft til fint. Beholderen rummer 32 ounce bønner, mens beholderen kan rumme nok malet kaffe til 18 kopper. Da du sandsynligvis ikke får brug for så meget ofte (hvis nogensinde), er der en vælger, der automatisk maler mellem fire og XNUMX kopper til en værdi ved et tryk på en knap. — BS

Køb Cuisinart DBM-8 hos Amazon – $58

Cosori svanehals elkedel

En god kedel er essentiel, hvis du vil forbedre dit hjemmebrygspil, og det kan også hjælpe med at lave en masse andre ting som te, ramen og meget mere. Cosori's svanehals elkedel pakker de mest afgørende funktioner ind i en relativt kompakt kedel, der også er prissat lige til $70. Svanehalse kan være skræmmende, men de giver dig meget mere kontrol, når du hælder over en Chemex, og vi synes, at Cosori's, med sin matsorte finish, også ser ret flot ud på de fleste bordplader. Den har et interiør i rustfrit stål og fem forudindstillinger, så du nemt kan få den perfekte temperatur til ting som grøn te, sort kaffe og meget mere. Plus, "hold temp"-indstillingen lader dig indstille og glemme vandet lidt; du kan tænde den, før du starter din morgenrutine, og vende tilbage til perfekt opvarmet vand, klar til det, der henter dig den morgen. — Valentina Palladino, Senior Commerce Editor

Køb Cosori elkedel hos Amazon – $70

BruMate NAV mini

Når det kommer til rejsekrus til kaffe og te, skal enhver genstand, der er værd at overveje, tjekke et par kasser – især hvis du giver en i gave. At kunne holde væsker varme i et par timer og passe i en kopholder er afgørende. BruMates NAV mini gør begge dele, og med 12 ounce er det den perfekte størrelse til joe på farten. Derudover er den 100 procent lækagesikker takket være virksomhedens robuste låg. Den kan også holde kolde drikke nedkølet i mere end 24 timer, når en bestemt person på din liste har brug for kold brygning næste sommer. — BS

Køb NAV mini hos BruMate – $25

Stanley Classic Neverleak rejsekrus

Hvis du kender nogen, der skal holde kaffen varm i meget længere tid end et typisk rejsekrus, Stanleys klassiske Neverleak option er den perfekte gave. Jeg har brugt en af ​​disse i godt et år, og den gør et utroligt stykke arbejde med at holde væsker ved temperatur i lang tid. Virksomheden siger, at din drink stadig vil være varm i op til ni timer, plus at det hele tåler opvaskemaskine for nem rengøring. Låget med tre positioner låser også lukket for at forhindre utilsigtet spild, selvom kruset bliver skubbet rundt. — BS

Køb Stanly Neverleak krus på Amazon – $28

Miir koldbrygfilter + Wide Mouth flaske

Der er en million måder at lave koldt bryg på, men det bliver ikke meget nemmere end at tilføje et rustfrit stålfilter til din isolerede rejseflaske. Miirs koldbrygfilter virker med nogle af dets drikkevarebeholdere for at give et koldtbrygsetup med "mikroperforeringer" for at reducere sediment efter gennemvædning. Filteret passer til Miirs 32- og 42-ounce Wide Mouth-flasker (og 33 oz Tomo) til masser af glat, kold kaffe til eventyr eller med på arbejde. Derudover har disse flasker et lækagesikkert låg og kan holde drikkevarer varme eller kolde i timevis. — BS

Køb koldtbrygfilter hos Miir – $15

Fellow Prismo AeroPress vedhæftning

AeroPress er en alsidig bryggeenhed, og det er derfor, vi holder den på din kaffegaveguideliste. Men ved hjælp af Fellows $30 vedhæftet fil, kan du tage den ydmyge metode op et hak. Prismoen har en trykaktiveret ventil designet til at efterligne processen med at lave espresso, så du kan "trække et skud" uden en maskine. Dette skaber den "crema", som du typisk ikke får, bare ved at brygge stærkere kaffe med AeroPress alene. Prismo kommer også med et genanvendeligt filter, så du ikke brænder igennem papiret, som en AeroPress normalt kræver. — BS

Køb AeoPress vedhæftet fil hos Fellow – $30

Hiware Borosilicate glass pitcher

After the handle on my previous pitcher developed a crack, I went on a search for a simple but durable container that could support my iced tea addiction and after a year and a half, this thing has not disappointed. Its heat-resistant borosilicate glass means you can pour boiling water directly into the pitcher without worrying about it shattering and its huge 68-ounce capacity holds enough to keep an entire family hydrated. Meanwhile, the stainless steel lid prevents leaves or stuff like fruit pulp from escaping. And at $20, this pitcher is just great value. —Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Buy Hiware glass pitcher at Amazon – $27

Hario Cold Brew flaske

If you know someone who always brings their “famous” iced tea to parties or picnics check out Hario’s Cold Brew bottle. It holds up to 750ml of liquid and comes with a removable strainer to keep tea leaves from spilling out. There’s even a grippy silicone top for easy handling and a removable stopper that acts like a cork. And if you’re worried it’s a little pedestrian looking to make a lasting impact, Hario makes a champagne bottle version too. — SR

Buy Hario Cold Brew Bottle at Amazon – $24

Breville IQ Electric Kettle

For those on your list that prefer function over form, you really ought to consider Breville’s IQ Electric Kettle. In addition to having nearly double the capacity (57 ounces vs 30 ounces) of the Stagg, it has dedicated temperature settings for a lot of major types of tea (green, white, oolong and black). It’s also a bit more powerful with an output of up to 1,500 watts, so there’s less waiting around for the water to heat up. — SR

Buy Breville IQ electric kettle at Amazon – $80

OXO Tea Infuser Basket

One of the easiest ways to brew better tea is by moving away from single-serving bags and switching to loose-leaf teas. That’s because typically tea bags feature lower quality leaves that often sit on shelves for months (or years) with the whole process favoring convenience over flavor. On top of that, the cloth or (more often) paper used to make tea bags can also impart unwanted flavors.

If you know someone looking to get into loose-leaf teas, they’re going to need an infuser, and OXO’s is one of the best. Its stainless steel basket won’t mess with the taste and its included lid traps heat in when steeping while also doubling as a saucer to prevent dripping once the tea is ready to drink. The basket is also a perfect size so it fits in practically any mug (and even many iced tea pitchers), and at just $15, it’s cheap enough to buy two or more so there will always be a clean one ready to go. — SR

Buy OXO tea infuser basket at Amazon – $15

Fellow Atmos vakuumbeholder

Mens Fellow’s Atmos Canister was originally intended to store coffee, it’s equally great at keeping tea tasting fresh and flavorful, even after long periods. That’s because simply twisting its lid removes oxygen from the canister, slowing down potential oxidation which can cause tea to taste dull and lifeless. It’s available in three sizes (0.4, 0.7 and 1.2 liters) and in a range of materials, though you’ll probably want to stay away from the glass version, as light is another source of potential oxidation. (Leave the clear one for cookies or something.) And while it’s a bit on the pricey side, in my opinion there’s no better way of keeping even the fanciest leaves tasting great over time. — SR

Buy Fellow Atmos canister at Amazon – $35

Golde Superwhisk

For matcha lovers who don’t want to deal with the hassle of a traditional bamboo whisk or anyone seeking a way to quickly froth up some milk, Golde’s Superwhisk is a great pick. It has two different speed settings and a battery that can be recharged via USB. It even comes with an included travel case, so your giftee can take it camping or anywhere they want to enjoy some tea (or a latte). — SR

Buy Superwhisk at Golde – $24

Pure’Tea Portable Tea Infuser

For people who want to bring their brew on the go, this charming portable tea infuser bottle looks great and makes the whole process super easy. Tea goes in the top section and water goes in the bottom. Right before drinking they flip the whole infuser upside down to brew instead of letting the leaves become oversteeped after sitting in water all day. The portable infuser also features borosilicate glass with a double-walled construction, so it can handle high temperatures without burning hands. Admittedly, there are similar bottles for less, but between its innovative design and premium materials, I can’t think of a better way to drink tea on-the-go. — SR

Buy portable tea infuser at Perlure – $65

Breakaway Matcha Flight Kit

Getting into matcha can be intimidating for even long-time tea drinkers. Not only can matcha be expensive but, since it’s very finely ground green tea instead leaves steeped in water, it has a very different flavor profile and texture. So instead of buying someone a single type of matcha, give this matcha flight kit a try. It includes four different blends which range from bright grassy varieties to deeper savory mixes. There’s also a handcrafted bamboo scoop, a sieve, tea towel and most importantly, a motorized whisk for properly whipping up the perfect cup. — SR

Buy Flight Kit at Breakaway Matcha – $56

Adagio Tea Samplers

For complete newbies to tea, Adagio’s loose teas sampler sets offer a huge range of types and flavors to choose from. You can select specific types like green teas from China for the Sinophile on your list, or opt for more general mixes like seasonal blends or even herbal selections. Prices also start as low as $12 a box for four different types, which makes this one of the most flexible and affordable ways of gifting a wide range of teas without doing a ton of research. — SR

Shop Adagio tea samplers

Sommerfugleærtete

The first time I had butterfly pea flower tea was on my honeymoon in Thailand and it was love at first sip. It has a sweet flora aroma with some subtle earthy notes. But its signature highlight is its color. When brewed alone, you get a deep blue hue with hints of green, but when you add acid suddenly the tea becomes bright purple or pink. And because butterfly pea flower doesn’t contain caffeine, between its color and taste, it’s a great way to introduce kids to tea. Steep it, chill it, add the juice from a couple lemons or limes and a splash of sugar (I preferred agave), and in no time you’ll have the perfect summertime iced tea. — SR

Buy butterfly pea tea at Amazon – $22

Astro A10 Gen 2

Astro's A10 Gen 2 vil få arbejdet gjort og se sød ud, mens du gør det, uanset hvad din personlige stil er. Gen 2 kommer i en række forskellige farver og mønstre, fra dyb sort med neondetaljer til pastel lilla eller blågrøn, hvilket betyder, at der er noget for enhver form for livestreaming. Den har en flip-to-mute boom-mikrofon, en utrolig fleksibel krop og udskiftelige ørepuder og hovedbøjlepude. Dette headset er kompatibelt med PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S og Switch, så hav det, uanset hvordan du spiller. — Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter

Køb Astro A10 Gen 2 hos Amazon – $60

8bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth-controller

8bitdo kender sin vej omkring en trådløs gamepad, og den Pro 2 Bluetooth controller er ingen undtagelse. Uanset om den er i specialudgaven med transparent krop eller den klassiske sorte, hvide eller grå, leverer Pro 2 præcise input, understøttelse af op til tre brugerdefinerede profiler og to ekstra tilbageknapper. Pro 2 ligner en gammeldags controller, men den har avancerede, moderne funktioner, og den fungerer med pc, Mac, Android og Switch. — J.C.

Køb 8BitDo Pro 2 hos Amazon – $50

Logitech Litra Glow

Det bedste, du kan gøre for dit live-streaming-opsætning, er at få noget godt lys, og Logitechs Liter Glød har du dækket. Dette er en lille, monterbar LED-firkant, der leverer en diffus, blød glød uden nogen hårde skygger eller definerede kanter, og den er designet til at få dens motiver til at se deres bedste ud. Den leveres med et udvideligt tre-vejs skærmbeslag og er USB-drevet. — J.C.

Køb Litra Glow hos Amazon – $60

Wanxing neonskilte

Nanoleaf er muligvis det førende mærke, når det kommer til livestream-belysning, men der er masser af andre, billigere muligheder inden for glød på skærmen. Wanxing, har for eksempel en række neonskilte, der får enhver streamingplads til at springe ud, til priser, der ikke sprænger dit budget. Der er masser af designs at vælge imellem, inklusive kranier, hjerter, spøgelser, spilcontrollere og sød tekst, hver tilgængelig for mindre end $40. — J.C.

Køb Wanxing neonskilte

Google Nest Hub (2. generation)

Googles Nest Hub smart display is a great device to have around the home — especially if your gift recipient already uses the Google Assistant. It works as a digital photo frame and they can use it to watch YouTube and Netflix. It can also make calls via Google Duo and offers recipe videos along with step-by-step cooking instructions. If the user so chooses, they can track their sleeping patterns if they place the device next to their bed. Additionally, if they already have a Nest Doorbell camera, they can easily use the display to see who’s at the front door. — Nicole Lee, handelsskribent

Køb Nest Hub hos B&H – 100 USD

Blink Indoor camera

Blink’s indoor camera offers the gift of peace of mind in a compact and affordable package. Your loved one will appreciate the fact that Blink is wireless and battery-powered; since they don’t have to place it near an electrical outlet, it can sit almost anywhere. They also won’t have to worry about recharging the camera since it can last up to two years on its two included AA batteries. Aside from just letting them monitor their home, it also features customizable motion alerts so they’ll only get alerted when they want to. There’s also two-way audio so they can hear and speak to the person (or pet) on the other end. - NL

Køb Blink indendørs hos Amazon – $80

TP-Link Kasa smart plug

With a smart plug, any appliance can be part of a connected home for not a lot of money. TP-Link’s Kasa smart plug is a particularly good one because it is both affordable and incredibly compact (and if you’re really short on space, there’s a mini-version that’s even smaller). Together with its companion app, they can schedule a timer to turn on and off anything from Christmas lights to a coffee maker. It’s also compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, which lets them add voice control to any outlet. - NL

Buy Kasa smart plugs at Amazon – $30

Eero 6 WiFi Mesh router

With most of us having so many gadgets and smart home devices, perhaps the best thing you can give your loved one is the gift of better WiFi to keep things running smoothly. Amazon’s Eero routers will deliver just that. The latest models support WiFi 6, the latest and fastest WiFi standard, and will support 75-plus devices simultaneously. It also covers up to 1,500 square feet with WiFi speeds up to 900 Mbps, so it’s unlikely they’ll ever have to deal with dead spots or buffering again. The Eero 6 also comes with a built-in Zigbee smart home hub that lets them connect compatible devices without having to purchase a separate device. - NL

Køb Eero 6 hos Amazon – $89

Startorialist JWST Cosmic Cliffs High Top Sneakers

JWST has been fully operational since June 2022, and it’s already sent us stunning images of our universe. One is a star-forming region in the Carina Nebula called the Cosmic Cliffs (fun fact, the tallest peaks are 7 light years high!) and you can get this amazing image on a classy pair of high-top sneakers from Startorialist, a STEM fashion brand. Keep in mind these are a custom order, so they may take a few weeks to ship. — Swapna Krishna, Freelance Writer

Buy Cosmic Cliffs sneakers at Startorialist – $89

Banllis Decorative Astronaut and Moon Bookends

Want to spruce up someone’s book shelves? These adorable astronaut moon bookends will delight any space lover. They come in two colors, gold and gray – depending on whether you want them to pop or blend in. They aren’t the heaviest bookends, so you probably don’t want to hold up a huge stack of hardcovers with these, but they look good from both far away and close up – the detailing on the moons is an especially nice touch. — S.K.

Buy bookends at Amazon – $47

The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy

Moiya McTier tells the story of the Mælkevejen in a unique way: from the point of view of the galaxy. It’s a funny and smart look at our galaxy (and humans’ place within it), and presents scientific information in an approachable and often hilarious way. Whether you’ve read every space book out there and are looking for something new or don’t know where to start, this is a unique perspective for sure. — S.K.

Buy The Milky Way at Amazon – $14

Four Point Puzzles Moon Puzzle

Denne 1,000 piece puzzle features an exquisite NASA image of the Moon’s surface. The rich detail here, and the intricate lunar features, will provide a challenge to even experienced puzzle aficionados. — S.K.

Buy moon puzzle at Four Points – $28

Svaha USA JWST Deep Field Custom Hoodie

Svaha USA is another great brand that’s got some fantastic STEM merch. They’ve even got JWST’s Deep Field image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 on a hættetrøje! If a pullover hoodie isn’t your thing, you can also find the image on tote bags, dresses, and more. These are custom printed upon ordering, so don’t wait until the last minute or you may not receive yours by the holidays.

Buy at custom hoodie at Svaha – $60

Astronomy Activity Book For Kids

If you have five to seven year old kid on your holiday gift list who’s fascinated by galaxies far away, this activity book is a great choice. Written by a former NASA scientist and beautifully illustrated, it contains games and projects about space, information on how to find constellations and big astronomical events such as meteor showers, and more.

Buy Astronomy Activity Book at Amazon – $9

Super Cool Space Facts

If the kid on your list is more into cool facts and less into hands-on projects, denne bog is exactly what you think it is from the title: full of hundreds of space facts, along with full-color photos. It’s a great choice for any younger space nerd – but honestly, it’s a good read for the adults in your life who want to know more about space but don’t know where to start.

Buy Super Cool Space Facts at Amazon – $8

Sony MDR-7506

Every music lover and music maker needs a good pair of headphones. There are so many amazing sets out there to choose from, but I remain a dedicated fan of Sony’s affordable workhorse the MDR-7506. They’ve been a studio mainstay for decades for good reason. They’re natural sounding, light and comfortable enough to wear for hours, and reasonably priced. The MDR-7506s are equally at home monitoring a podcast, mixing a club banger or just listening to some vinyl. In short, they’re a great practical gift even if you’re operating under a tight budget. — Terrence O'Brien, administrerende redaktør

Køb Sony MDR-7506 hos Amazon – $100

Skrå strategier

Anyone who practices some sort of creative art – be it music, painting or writing – hits a block at some point. There’s tons of advice out there on how to overcome these hurdles, but one of the most famous is easily the Skrå strategier deck. Developed by Peter Schmidt and Brian Eno in 1975, each card contains an action or a way of thinking designed to shake up your approach to a thorny creative problem. “Use an unacceptable colour,” “Make a sudden, destructive unpredictable action; incorporate” and “Emphasize the flaws,” are the sorts of vague instructions you can expect. And how someone interprets the prompts will produce different results for each person. If you’re shopping for anyone with a creative streak, they’ll find a use for this deck. — T.O.

Buy Oblique Strategies at Eno Shop – $60

Dilla Tid

If you’re gift shopping for a music producer I can almost guarantee you they’re fans of J Dilla. He was a singular force in hip-hop, and has even had his MPC displayed at the Smithsonian. Dilla Tid by Dan Charnas chronicles not just the life of Dilla (James DeWitt Yancey), but his legacy and the history of rhythm in America. In addition, there are graphics that help illustrate the concepts behind Dilla’s unique beats and what made him so special. It’s part biography, part history lesson and part practical music production guide. — T.O.

Buy Dilla Time at Amazon – $22

Hvordan man skriver en sang

If there’s an aspiring songwriter on your list, consider picking them up a copy of Hvordan man skriver en sang. Written by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, this tome breaks down the process from beginning to end and encourages readers to start small; don’t try to become a “songwriter” just try to write a song. But this isn’t a rote how-to book, that sort of thing is only so helpful when it comes to mastering an artistic craft. It’s about building creativity into your everyday life. And just like any other skill, being creative requires practice. — T.O.

Buy How to Write One Song at Amazon – $19

Blod, sved og pixels

Blod, sved og pixels is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in video games. Across 268 captivating pages, Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier shares how some of the most influential games of the past decade were made. Featuring interviews with the people who were there – including The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann and Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley – the stories that populate Blod, sved og pixels shed a light on just how fraught the process of creating a game can be during even the best of times. It’s riveting reading for anyone who wants a more informed perspective on the craft. — Igor Bonifacic, Weekend Editor

Buy Blood, Sweat and Pixels at Amazon – $14

Logitech G305

Lad ikke Logitech G305’s affordable $40 price fool you, it’s a gaming mouse almost any gamer would happily add to their collection. At 99 grams, it’s one of the lighter mice in Logitech’s stable, and you can program all six buttons to your liking. It also includes the company’s fast and responsive Hero optical sensor and Lightspeed wireless technology for “wired-like” performance. A single AA battery provides the G305 with up to 250 hours of life, and you can get as much as nine months of use with some tweaking. Best of all, the G305 is available in a few different colors, including a handful of cheerful pastels. There’s even a K/DA version for fans of Riot’s virtual K-pop group. That versatility makes a perfect gift for a PC gamer. — I.B.

Køb Logitech G305 hos Amazon – $50

Rygraden Én

If you’re buying a gift for someone who primarily plays games on their phone, consider treating them to the best mobile gamepad on the market. At $100, the Rygraden Én is pricey, but it easily surpasses competitors like the Razer Kishi in build quality. It also comes with a surprisingly robust companion app that makes capturing screenshots and clips from your play sessions a breeze. Each new Backbone One controller also comes with complimentary access to services like Xbox GamePass, giving owners a few different ways to add to their game library. — I.B.

Køb Backbone One hos Amazon – $100

Hades soundtrack

As Supergiant’s staff composer, Darren Korb has written some of the most memorable video game soundtracks in recent memory, but his work on Hades may be his best yet. From start to finish, the Hades Original Soundtrack is filled with tunes like ”Out of Tartarus” , “The Unseen Ones” that will make you stand up and shred an air guitar. It’s the perfect gift for fans of Hades (and there are many of those), but you can also give it to someone who hasn’t experienced the game yet. It might just convince them to play one of the best indies of the last few years. — I.B.

Buy Hades soundtrack at Bandcamp – $10

Hollow Knight

Okay, I lied. We do have one straightforward recommendation: Hollow Knight. Team Cherry’s debut title is one of the best games made in the past five years. It combines the exploration of a 2D Metroid-like title with a challenging combat system that is reminiscent of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series. Add to that a beautiful soundtrack, art style and story, and it’s easy to see why so many people are eagerly waiting for Hollow Knight's upcoming sequel, Silkesang. While we’re here, go the extra mile and gift your friend or loved one a physical copy of the game. It comes with a beautiful map of Hollow Knight's verden. — I.B.

Køb Hollow Knight hos Amazon – $35

Laudate Luna

This gift will only appeal to fans of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series, but let me tell you, if the person you’re buying for falls in that group, they will love you for it. Laudate Luna is a beautiful 12- by 36-inch print of Lordran, the setting where the first game takes place. Anyone who has fond memories of Mørke sjæle will be able to retrace their journey to Anor Lando and find all the places where they died repeatedly trying to conquer the game’s punishing combat. — I.B.

Buy Laudate Luna print at Fangamer – $36

SanDisk microSD-kort

If buying a gift for someone who enjoys gaming on their Nintendo Switch, there’s a good chance they’ll appreciate it if you get them more storage. The beauty of microSD cards is that they’re affordable. A company like SanDisk offers 512GB models for less than $100. That’s enough to install about 20 to 30 games. SanDisk sells Switch-specific models, but any UHS-1 compatible microSD card that offers transfer speeds of at least 60 MB/s will do. — I.B.

Buy SanDisk microSD card (128GB) at Amazon – $35

Mooas Multi-Cube Timer

One of the most difficult obstacles with working from home is all the distractions. You’re constantly sidetracked by temptations like TV, the internet or just easy access to the kitchen. A potential solution to that is to use one of these multi-cube timers from Mooas as a productivity tool. Each side corresponds to different lengths of time; to start the timer, you’ll flip the cube so your desired time faces upwards. Flipping the LCD display upwards again will pause it, while turning the display downwards will stop the timer.

There are a number of ways to use them, but I like using the Pomodoro Technique with these. I’ll enable the 30 minute timer which then encourages me to focus just on my work for the allotted time period. Once time is up, I give myself a five minute rest, and then I start it over again. You can also use them as a reminder to stand up and stretch every so often. These timers come in a variety of colors, each with different time pre-sets, so be sure to pick the one with the time lengths you think your loved one will want. - NL

Buy Mooas timer at Amazon – $19

Logitech Lift Vertical mouse

If someone you love spends all of their time on a laptop for work, getting them a wireless mouse can improve the ergonomics of their setup immensely. Not only are they generally more comfortable to use than trackpads, but they can also help improve posture and prevent hand cramping – especially if you get a vertical mouse. Logitech’s Lift is one of its latest vertical mice and it’s ideal for small- to medium-sized hands (those with large hands should check out the MX Vertical instead). The 57-degree angle in its design places their hand in the natural handshake position, which will put less pressure on their wrist than a standard mouse would. It also has a comfortable, soft-touch finish with four customizable buttons that are easy to reach. They’ll be able to connect it to their laptop via a USB receiver or Bluetooth and, regardless of which method they choose, the Lift will last two years before needing replacement AA batteries. — VP

Buy Logitech Lift Vertical at Amazon – $70

Logitech C920S Pro Full HD webcam

Remote workers might not have to see their co-workers anymore, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have meetings. Any WFH employee will tell you that their days are often inundated with Zoom calls and Google Meet video conferences. That’s why an external webcam is essential, at least if you care about looking good. Our favorite is the Logitech C920S Pro HD webcam, which offers 1080p video quality, autofocus capabilities and white balance adjustment. One big benefit over regular built-in webcams is that they’ll be able to position it however they like, which makes it that much easier to put unsightly household messes out of view. It has a large 78-degree field of view plus a lens cover that will protect your loved ones’ privacy when not in use. - NL

Buy Logitech C920S Pro Full HD at Amazon – $85

Those who sit at their desks all day will appreciate a more ergonomic setup for less back and neck pain. One way to achieve that is with the Ergofoam Ergonomic Adjustable Footrest, which helps provide fim support for your feet and ensure your sitting position is upright. The footrest is made out of memory foam and is covered in a plush velvet, making it super comfortable as well. This particular model is adjustable to two different heights, which is great for those who need a slightly taller footrest. Additionally, the footrest can be flipped upside down and used as a rocker to keep your feet moving, improving your circulation. - NL

Buy Ergofoam foot rest at Amazon – $50