Last Updated on January 6, 2025 by
The holiday season is upon us, and finding the perfect gift for tech-savvy Gen Z and Alpha kids can be a challenge.
Now, I know most people will for the obvious picks like a phone, iPad, or a laptop, but not everyone has that kind of money.
As an aunt of nine kids, I can tell you that I struggle with it.
However, every gifting season wraps up with me being the favorite aunt because of my gift choices.
How do I do it without breaking the bank?
My recipe is to prioritize functionality, practicality, and tech savviness.
If you are still confused, I have compiled a list of the best tech gifts to help you impress all the tech-savvy kids in your family.
Top Tech-Savvy Gifts for This Holiday Season
External Hard Drive
For a tech-savvy photographer, student, videographer, or digital artist, there is nothing better than an external hard drive. I know cloud storage is all the hype right now, but it all depends on internet access. A good and reliable internet like Xfinity can help in seamlessly uploading and downloading data from cloud storage. Also, subscribing to any of the Xfinity Internet plans qualifies users to use its country-wide hotspots. Therefore, cloud storage is a good choice when paired with a dependable internet service like this.
However, if there is no internet access, an external hard drive is a very good option. It is especially ideal for PhD, master’s, and bachelor’s students working on their research paper or thesis. While looking for an external hard drive, you can pick a good brand like Sandisk, Toshiba, or a local brand depending on the price.
Things to look for in an external hard drive
- Storage capacity,
- Data transfer speed
- Compatibility with other devices
- Connectivity type (like USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt)
Smart Speakers
A smart speaker is one thing that every tech-savvy person will love. Switching on a smart speaker instantly changes the mood. From a dorm room to a classroom and from parties to trips with friends, a portable smart speaker has now become a necessity.
Most people will consider an eco-dot from Amazon or a Google Nest Mini because of their features and compatibility. However, if both options do not suit your budget, you can also pick any other local or Chinese brand.
Things to look for in a smart speaker
- Compatible with iOS and Android
- Overall battery life (standby and playing)
- Portable and Light weight
- Good voice quality
Portable Charger
Running out of a battery at a critical time has become a norm. In fact, we are living in an era of smartphones and dumb batteries. This is the reason most people either carry a portable charger or another phone.
During the holiday season, portable chargers become an ideal gift for tech-savvy people, regardless of their age. From my 15-year-old nephew who loves to play video games to my 54-year-old aunt who forgets to charge her phone, everyone wants a portable charger.
Things to look for in a portable charger
- Multiple ports
- Good capacity
- Weight
- Compact size
Smart Watch
A smartwatch is a perfect pick for anyone with a smartphone. It helps in keeping the user connected at all times. It offers them access to calls and messages and helps in fitness tracking. Moreover, it is an ideal device for teaching students and tech-savvy kids about time management.
While most people will consider the Apple watch, which is an obvious but expensive option, my recommendation is to search some other competitors. You can check some international brands like Samsung, Noise, and Fitbit, or you can also check some local brands.
Things to look for in a Smart Watch
- Compatibility with iOS and Android
- Water resistance
- Phone calls, messages, and notifications
- Fitness features (heart rate, sleep cycle, blood pressure, etc.)
Digital Notebook
For young tech-savvy kids, learning is a constant hassle. Most kids find studies boring, while others struggle to keep up when jotting down lectures and notes. In fact, most 14-year-olds will prefer typing over handwriting notes anyway; however, most high schools do not allow laptops in class.
A simple and easy solution is to get a digital notebook for the kids. Within a digital notebook, students can scribble notes and after saving, everything is uploaded to cloud-based storage i.e., Google Drive, Dropbox, or Evernote. It is an environment-friendly and easy-to-use solution for students.
Things to look for in a Digital Notebook
- Handwriting recognition accuracy
- Cloud storage capacity
- Diverse annotation tools
- Seamless integration with other apps
Some Other Gifts to Consider
- Portable light
- Portable fan
- Smart coffee machine
- Portable Bluetooth headphones
- Digital or Polaroid camera
