My Most Frequently Gifted Tech Accessory Exposed

After years of giving gadgets for birthdays, graduation and holidays, a few quick tips on the most popular devices. They’re the things that elicit real thanks months later, not just a polite smile on day one. From sub-$10 problem solvers to $100 upgrades that make your old TV feel new again, these are the tech presents I give most often — and why they keep winning.

Why These Gifts Are Winners People Remember Later

The common thread is utility. Every pick is something we use daily ourselves that solves a problem in an ever-changing work environment or lifestyle, lasts more than a couple of years, and works across platforms. That can matter in a retail market where turnover in consumer tech never stops. It also fits into a larger arc: The Pew Research Center has reported for years that about three-quarters of U.S. adults read at least one book each year, while Nielsen’s The Gauge suggests streaming is hovering around 40% of all TV usage in the U.S., and Google says there are more than 3 billion active Android devices — data points that help explain why e-readers, streamers, and trackers always do so well.

E-Readers That Outlast Your Phones by Years

There’s not another device I’ve gifted as often as entry-level e-readers, and almost universally to enthusiastic reception from casual and dedicated readers alike. The recipe: a glare-free display, adjustable front light and battery measured in weeks, not days. And what sets e-readers apart as gifts is legacy and simplicity; they lack the annual-upgrade treadmill to which phones are subject. I’m still using a device from a decade ago, and I hear the same from friends.

For heavy readers or commuters, I advance to more models in the middle range with bigger, brighter screens and water resistance. That extra durability comes in handy at the beach, in the bath or on a rainy train platform. It’s one of a small number of tech gifts the recipient immediately gets to see how it will change their life.

Trackers That Prevent Panic When Keys Go Missing

When it comes to forgetfulness, I rely on Bluetooth item trackers. The crop of modern ones that use Google’s Find My Device network has been really successful in my orbit. The idea is simple: Your keys are lost at home? We ping them from your phone; if they’re out in the world, a crowdsourced network of nearby Android devices can help!

For my long-term testing, trackers from Chipolo and Pebblebee tailored for Android have been the best I’ve found. They’re loud, quick to pair and reverse-find — double-press the tracker here and your phone will ring, even if it’s in silent mode. The peace of mind isn’t commensurate with the cost, which is why these become stocking stuffers each holiday season.

Small Speakers, Big Sound for Home and Travel

Portable Bluetooth speakers give me the most “wow per dollar” of any audio gift I bestow. A compact 20W-class driver setup, IPX7 water resistance, and a battery that runs for something like 24 hours, which covers kitchen podcasts, backyard playlists and weekend trips without hassle. You don’t have to be an audiophile to recognize the upgrade from the tinny speaker on a phone that you typically hear.

My no-nonsense favorite for a few years is from Anker’s Soundcore lineup, which has held up long-term in my own travel bag. The BassUp-style tuning allows you to punch up low end for EDM, then tone it down for talk shows. Bonus: these boxes survive sand, splashes and kids; that’s why they’re still on my list.

Streaming Sticks That Salvage Old TVs With Ease

There’s no greater gift than a streaming device: It will make your relatives’ terrible TV more tolerable, then offer them an excuse to leave the company and watch whatever filth they please on the couch in some remote corner of the house. A 4K streamer with a responsive remote, robust app store and voice search is instantly saving laggy built-in interfaces and adding niche services mainstream platforms overlook. With streaming accounting for about 40% of TV time, according to Nielsen, a faster interface upgrades not just the occasional moment but the daily experience.

I have consistently recommended Google TV devices because the app selection is vast and setup is simple. There are league apps like NBA or F1 TV for sports fans, VPN apps to appeal to those extra-worried about privacy, and the ambient photo screensaver that can make a blank screen feel personal. It’s the only gift that both techies and grandparents like.

Cable Management You’ll Actually Use Every Day

Under-$10 silicone cable holders are the gift that people thank me for later. Stick one on the edge of a desk, slide in a USB-C or Lightning cable, and it no longer disappears behind the nightstand. Better for students, home office workers and the charging-cable-hungry machine of device-charger feeders that haunt us all. It’s not sexy, but it gets used every day — the mark of a great budget gift.

How I Decide What to Gift: Three Simple Rules

I follow three rules.

1. Utility over novelty: If it doesn’t solve a daily problem, it’s not going to stick around.
2. Platform breadth: Gifts should work on multiple ecosystems if at all possible.
3. Upgrade the weak link: You might be more thankful for a fast charger, a solid power bank, or comfortable wired earbuds than for some flashy gizmo.

Consumer Technology Association polls frequently put electronics in the top tier of gift categories, but the best gifts are often those that quietly make your life better.

Inflatable loungers and high-tech beauty products made some lists, but e-readers, Android-friendly wearables, and travel-ready gadgets are now on many lists for a second time. And the reason we keep buying these gifts over and over is because our lucky recipients can’t get enough.

E-reader

One of the best products to make my list last year was Kobo’s Clara HD e-reader. That’s the sign I trust most.