It’s easy to think that the best gadget gifts are the most whimsical and expensive things. But there are many opportunities for technicians in your life that will not force you to empty your wallet.
If you’re struggling to find the right gift for the early adopter of your life, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite things that are both small and affordable. The best part? Everything comes at or less.
Chromecast with Google TV
If you haven’t been able to find a good inexpensive gift for the technician of your life, you can’t go wrong with a Chromecast. The recent Chromecast with Google TV is the one to get right now and doesn’t matter if your gift already uses Google products. Like other Chromecast, this one allows you to stream movies and TV shows from major services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu and HBO Max, among others.
The interface of Google TV has always been quite easy to navigate, but thanks to the remote control that is now included in the Chromecast, it is easier than ever. It features an assistant button that gives you quick access to voice commands, as well as a circular numeric keypad, shortcut buttons for YouTube and Netflix, and support for HDMI-CEC and IR, allowing you to control your entire TV with. And unlike the larger set-top boxes or smart TVs that your receiver may already have, the Chromecast is portable so that he can take it with him to make it easier to watch his favorite shows excessively when he is not at home.
The AirTags of Apple
Most of us have someone in our lives who misleads everything — his keys, wallet, purse or backpack, the list goes on. If this person in your life also owns an iPhone, the AirTags are great gifts. These one-quarter-sized Bluetooth trackers pair almost instantly with iOS devices and can then be tracked with The Find My app.
You can use them to keep track of just about anything, but they work best on items that have clips or keychains or things like backpacks that have small pockets. With the Find My app, you can not only view your location, but also force the AirTag to play a loud chime so that it is easier for you to find it in your home. And if you’re close enough to the not found element, Apple’s precision search feature can literally take you there using your iPhone’s U1 chip technology.
