8 Cool Last-Minute Tech Christmas Gift Ideas For Teens
From gaming consoles to headphones to virtual reality gear, here are eight cool tech gifts to get your teen this holiday.
Teens spend a lot of time on their phones, tablets and other devices. For the generation growing up with an abundance of technology at their fingertips, there’s no shortage of gifts and gadgets you can give them this holiday season.
And with more and more life going digital, like virtual schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s even more tech at their fingertips. Whether it’s tech for entertainment, like an Xbox gaming console, or tech for school, like the Sony noise-cancelling headphones so they can listen to an online lecture, there are plenty of gift ideas.
Here are eight of the coolest tech gifts for the teen in your life.
Microsoft Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X allows you to play more than 100 high-quality games on the console, PC, phone or tablet with friends online on multiplayer. Enjoy new games on day one and explore elaborate new worlds with 12 teraflops of raw graphic processing power, DirectX ray tracing, a custom SSD and 4K gaming.
Players won’t miss a second of gaming with Quick Resume, lightning fast load times and gameplay for up to 120 FPS (feet per second) with the all-powered Xbox Velocity Architecture. With its most powerful Xbox ever, this gaming console has increased frame rates with a custom-built NVMe SSD which enables larger, more robust games to operate at full capacity with dynamic sound qualities.
Where: Xbox.com
Price: $499.99
Playstation 5
Immerse yourself in Playstation 5’s lightning-fast loading game console with ultra-high speed SSD, adaptive triggers and 3D audio. With a DualSense wireless controller, players can feel the resistance mimicked with the in-game gear. Haptic feedback also gives responsive vibrations that react to your in-game choices and motions.
With the built-in microphone on the controller, players can easily speak with other players and mute then when it’s time to focus on the game. You can even capture your gameplay and share with others on your social networks. The gaming console also features Ray Tracing which brings a new level of realism to the game with reflections and shadows.
Where: BestBuy.com
Price: $499.99
Elago Charging Station
This 3-in-1 charging station will have your teenager never asking where they left their stuff again. The charging station is decided to fit your Apple iPhone, AirPods and all versions of the Apple Watch. The compact design is the perfect fit for their nightstand or desk with precise cutouts for charging cables.
The charging station is designed with durable silicon and comes in multiple colors. The exact design is compatible with Apple chargers with USB connectivity.
Where: Elago.com
Price: $29.99
Apple Watch Series 7
The Apple Watch Series 7 has the largest display to date, with more than 50 percent screen area than the Series 3, which enhances usability and the overall experience.
Buttons have also been redesigned to take advantage of the larger display, so using apps like the calculator are that much easier. The new QWERTY keyboard allows for easy typing and sliding to each letter using QuickPath. Machine learning is also used to predict the word you’re typing.
You can also use Scribble to write letters to compose a text or email, which is that much capable with the larger screen. The always-on retina display no longer requires you to raise your wrist or tap the screen to wake it up. The screen is also 70 percent brighter indoors when your wrist is down. The Series 7 is by far the most durable: it’s crack, dust and water resistant.
Where: Apple.com
Price: $429.00
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
The noise-canceling earbuds provide a comfortable wear and high-fidelity audio with exclusive acoustic architecture while volume-optimized active EQ keeps the sound crisp and balanced.
The earbuds have simple touch controls to swipe, tap or press are weather and sweat resistant and provides non-static, clear calls all for up to six hours.
The earbuds come in four colors–triple black, soap stone, stone blue and sand stone–so you can listen to your favorite playlist or podcast or take calls in style. The buds securely and comfortably fit into your ear with an added extra of comfort with StayHear Max tips.
Where: Bose.com
Price: $199.00
Oculus Quest 2
The all-in-one headset is filled with hundreds of experiences. There are new ways to exercise, socialize or get lost in the virtual world with this headset. Put Oculus on and sit front row at a concert, climb a mountain, watch a movie and, of course, play an interactive video game.
Quest 2 even gives you the ability to play live games with a friend or instructor.
The headset is made from high-level hardware and resolution displays. Oculus’ mobile app allows for easy setup and Guardian and Passthrough help make every experience safe and secure.
Where: Oculus.com
Price: $299.00 to $399.00
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
With the noise cancelling feature and exceptional sound quality, teens can ignore any and all outside distractions. The headphones feature smart listening technology with easy hands-free listening allow you to simply start and pause music with its speak-to-chat capability.
Enjoy adaptive playbacks with the proximity sensor and two acceleration sensors that can detect whether the headphones are being worn or not. The adaptive sound control feature also senses where you are and what you’re doing to adjust ambient sound settings for the perfect listening experience.
Where: Sony.com
Price: $249.99
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a full-size smartphone that folds to fit into a small-size pocket. When folded, the 1.9-inch cover screen displays multiple notifications and allows users to interact with them. It even allows users to take selfies, and preview them, from the cover screen.
The Flip3 is also the world’s first water-resistant foldable smartphone and is able to be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. With the strongest aluminum frame of all of Samsung’s foldable devices and the toughest glass on its front and back cover, the Flip3 is the easiest, break-proof mobile device to carry around.
Where: Samsung.com
Price: $899.99 to $999.99