Bose · Audio & Hi-Fi
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The gift he would buy himself if he were better at buying himself things.
$250–$500
Shop the Pick →The Boyfriend Tech Upgrade · /tech-gifts-for-him/
Tech gifts for him that are not a phone case
Tech is the easiest category to get wrong, because the obvious picks date fastest. The filter we use: buy things whose value is in the hardware rather than the software, and things he will still be using when the next model ships.
Headphones, speakers, cameras and optics all pass. Anything defined by its app usually does not.
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The safe bets
Near-total wear rates, zero taste risk, and both under $600.
The room-changers
Objects that alter a space rather than sit in it.
The big swings
For anniversaries, milestones, and people who film everything.
The safe expensive gifts
Near-total daily wear rates and no size or taste risk. The category where a gift is hardest to get wrong.
Apple · Tech & Gadgets
Apple iPad 11-Inch, A16 Chip
The base iPad is the one most people should buy. Fast enough for everything he will actually do with it.
$250–$500
Buy This for Him →
GoPro · Tech & Gadgets
GoPro Hero12 Black Waterproof Action Camera
Waterproof to ten metres and stabilised enough to shoot from a bike. The camera that makes the trip worth filming.
$250–$500
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Apple · Tech & Gadgets
Apple AirPods Pro 3 with Active Noise Cancellation
Best-in-class noise cancelling in something that fits in a pocket. Near-total daily wear rate.
$100–$250
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Kindle · Tech & Gadgets
Kindle Paperwhite 16GB with 7-inch Glare-Free Display
Glare-free in direct sun and a battery measured in weeks. The gift for a man who says he does not read.
$100–$250
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Holy Stone · Tech & Gadgets
Holy Stone HS360S GPS 4K Camera Drone
Under 249 grams, so no registration in most places. GPS return-to-home means he will not lose it on day one.
$100–$250
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Amazon · Tech & Gadgets
Amazon Kindle, 16GB, Newest Model
The lightest Kindle. For the man who says he wants to read more and means it about twice a year.
$100–$250
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Kindle · Tech & Gadgets
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 32GB
Wireless charging, auto-adjusting light, no adverts. The version worth the difference.
$100–$250
Shop the Look →
Apple · Tech & Gadgets
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds
The open-fit AirPods, for anyone who dislikes the seal of the Pros.
Under $100
See Price →
Anker · Tech & Gadgets
Anker 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank with USB-C
Ten thousand milliamps at thirty watts. Charges a laptop, not just a phone.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Anker · Tech & Gadgets
Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Cable
Cable built in, so there is nothing else to forget. Twenty thousand milliamps.
Under $100
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JSAUX · Tech & Gadgets
JSAUX 5-in-1 Steam Deck Docking Station
Turns the handheld into a console on the television. Twenty-five dollars for a second machine.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Anker · Tech & Gadgets
Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Station
Phone, watch and earbuds on one stand. Ends the tangle on the bedside table permanently.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Life360 Tile · Tech & Gadgets
Life360 Tile Bluetooth Tracker
The Android answer to an AirTag. Works on both platforms, unlike Apple's.
Under $100
See Price →
Tile Mate · Tech & Gadgets
Tile Mate 2-Pack Bluetooth Tracker
Two of them, which is how many he actually needs — keys and bag.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Life360 Tile · Tech & Gadgets
Life360 Tile Starter Pack
A tracker for the keys and a slim one for the wallet, in one box.
Under $100
Shop the Pick →
Ugreen · Tech & Gadgets
UGREEN Bluetooth 6.0 Car Receiver with LDAC
Twenty-two dollars turns an older car stereo into a Bluetooth one.
Under $100
Get It Here →
Anker · Tech & Gadgets
Anker 100W Foldable USB-C Laptop Charger
Thirty dollars, folds flat, and it charges a laptop rather than trickling a phone.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Anker · Tech & Gadgets
Anker 100W 3-Port GaN Charger
Three ports and one plug, so the laptop, phone and watch share a socket.
Under $100
Shop the Look →
Tech Gifts FAQ
What is the best tech gift for a boyfriend?
Noise cancelling headphones, unless he already owns a good pair. They are used daily, they work for commuting, flying and open-plan offices, and there is no size or taste risk at all.
What tech gifts do men actually keep using?
In our data, audio and optics. Headphones, speakers, turntables, cameras and binoculars are still in use years later; smart-home gadgets and wearables that are not an Apple Watch tend not to be.
Is a drone a good gift?
For a boyfriend who travels or films, yes — it changes what your holidays look like afterwards. For anyone else it is an expensive object that flies twice. Check local flight rules before you buy.