Last-Minute Gift Guide: 10 Tech Gifts Your Loved Ones Don't Need But Will Love

Fun Isn't Always Practical

Bringing a huge, genuine smile to someone's face with a great gift is the ultimate feel-good treat for many this holiday season. But finding a gift that does that can be a bit stressful, especially when you have a long list of people you are hoping to make feel cheery and bright.

Luckily for you, though, CRN has put together this list of great, fun gifts that are sure to bring cheer to those on your list – even if the gifts aren't exactly practical.

That's right – the gifts on this list are fun, cool, playful and funny, but none of them are something that the people on your list really need.

Read on to find out which ten presents made our list of gifts that your loved ones don't need, but will love.

Swagtron T1 Hoverboard

Price: $349.99

2016 is coming to a close and the Back to The Future hover board craze might finally be slowing down. But having your own hover board is still cool, and these things are still one of the most fun toys that you can get your hands on this year.

If you have been seriously considering getting a hover board for a loved one this year, the T1 is a good product made from a solid brand known to keep riders safe. Of course, the brand-name will cost you and the Swagtron T1 is not a cheap impulse buy. It is, however, far from being the most expensive board on the market.

With a sleek design and trusted name, this is the board that will bring a huge smile to the faces of your loved ones while keeping them safe as they enjoy their new toy.

Philips Hue Ambiance A19 Starter Kit Gen 3

Price: $119.99

If you have a loved one that loves to set the mood on your list this year, Philips' Ambiance A19 starter kit is a fun toy you need to check out.

At its core, this gift makes setting a mood easier and more fun than ever - all with help from your smart phone or Apple HomeKit device.

With these lights, users can control the color and brightness of their bulbs, set timers and schedules for turning lights on and off, and even control the lights while they are away.

But, for even more fun, the Philips' platform also supports third-party applications so users can download apps that synch their lights with movies and music, further expanding the atmosphere of a good album or film.

Think about it, mood lighting has come a long way since you first mounted a black light above your favorite George Clinton poster and cued up your best Peter Frampton album. A long way.

NES Classic

Price: $59.99

Got a nerd on your list? The NES Classic is without a doubt the gift for them – provided they don't already have one.

Nintendo made some waves earlier this year when it released this mini version of the Nintendo Entertainment System, which comes with one controller and 30 pre-installed classic Nintendo NES games like Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Punch-Out and Kirby's Adventure.

This refresh of one of the most popular video game systems ever has everything the nostalgic gamer could want, with extra features like visual filters that give your games the same look they did in 1986, and a suspend-game option that allows you to save that perfect run, something you always wish you could have done back in the day.

So get one for your brother this year and re-ignite some of those long-forgotten Pac-Man rivalries. It's not often you can make this holiday season feel just like it did 30 years ago.

DJI Phantom 3 Camera Drone

Price: $599.99

The Phantom 3 form DJI isn't the most advanced drone on the market today, and in fact, it isn't even close to the most expensive. But it is a starter model that comes complete with all the bells and whistles to keep itself safe while you learn how to use it.

The Phantom 3 has an auto-hover feature that will keep the drone's altitude when you stop directing it. It has software that auto-records your flight and keeps track of the drone's GPS for the drone's auto-return function, which reverses the recorded flight-path to bring your drone back to you. This drone is easy to keep track of and hard to loose, a great toy that will make sure it stays safe in the hands of anyone who uses it.

iCodis Pico-Projector CB-100

Price: $249

The great thing about the iCodis Pico-Projector is that this gift can be a great fit for just about anyone. Thanks to its size and power, this pocket-sized projector can be a super gift for a young movie enthusiast, a student who is beginning to integrate more technology into their projects, or a professional who needs to make a presentation on a moment's notice.

Weighing in at only 3.8-ounces, this portable projector is a great gift for just about anyone on your list. While it may not be a ’must-have,’ it might be one of the best unexpected gifts this year.

Samsung Gear Virtual Reality Headset

Price: $99.99

Simply put, this Virtual Reality headset is the best one you can get without needing an entire computer or game-system to support it, and therefore is your safest bet when looking at VR as a gift this year.

The Gear VR, however, is only compatible with Samsung smartphones including the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which are used as the screen for the headset. Once the phone is locked-into the space allotted for it, it runs on software that was developed by Oculus, which already has a handful of games and apps built-in.

BB-8 Remote Control Robot and Force Band Remote Control By Sphero

Price: $189.99

Got a Star Wars fan on your shopping list? It won't be hard to get them pumped-up about this present, thanks to the noise that Rogue One has made this season.

Robot maker Sphero has bumped-up its game this year and introduced a new Bluetooth, motion-activated controller that lets users control Sphero's Robots with hand gestures instead of control toggles. And although the band works with a number of its robots this season, Sphero is offering a special deal when you grab the Force Band and the company's rendition of Star Wars' newest cute droid, BB-8. Together the two make a present that will light up any Jedi's eyes this year.

Celluon Epic Wireless Bluetooth Projection Keyboard

Price: $99.99

With Tablets getting smaller, and work becoming easier to get done on the go - having a device that can help you be productive anywhere is important. But when you have to lug a keyboard around with you to get the right amount of productivity, some of that convenience is lost.

Enter the Celluon Bluetooth laser projection keyboard.

This keyboard was made to save some space and give on-the-go workers the ability to be productive anywhere there is a flat surface. Not to mention, it looks very cool. The Epic can connect to any Bluetooth device, including smartphones, and projects a working laser keyboard right onto any flat surface, making almost any space a work – or play - space.

If you're looking to gift this keyboard to the same person who would be in love with the Sphero BB-8, Celluon also makes an R2-D2 version of its keyboard for Star Wars fans too.

3Doodler Create Pen

Price: $99

Everyone has a creative person on their holiday list. And although new pencils, canvases, paints and brushes have been welcome presents in the past, this year you can help them begin doodling in an entirely new dimension.

The 3Doodler is a pen that works almost the same way as a 3D printer, heating plastic into a malleable string that can be moved and placed wherever the creator wants. When cooled, the plastic becomes hard, allowing the user to create sculptures the same way they used to draw smiley faces – with a pen.

Harry Potter Remote Control Wand

Price: $49.00

2016 was a big year for North American Potter fans. Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them was released in theaters, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was released onto bookshelves, and author J.K. Rowling revealed the existence of a North American Wizard's school in Massachusetts.

So, why not keep the magic going this holiday season by gifting your witch or wizard with their own wand, which - after being configured - can control any IR-controlled device with a swish-and-flick of the wrist.

The Harry Potter Remote Control Wand from NobleCollection.com can give you the chance to do just that, adding a little more magic to this already magical time of year.