Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be a major source of stress this time of year. It can be even harder if you’re trying to maintain a budget for people you love and would really appreciate. But there’s also a good chance you’re finding bad gift ideas (and bad deals) if you’re wildly searching the web as the holidays approach.
Allow us at Engadget to help you with this. Here, you’ll find all of our holiday gift guides gathered in one place, so you can easily find the best Christmas gifts you need this year. Are you looking for white elephant gift ideas? Are you struggling to find a good gift for the father figure in your life? Are you looking for a good board game for your family? We’ve got you covered with gift ideas for all those scenarios and more.
Best White Elephant Gift Ideas
According to legend, the King of Siam used to give a white elephant to courtiers who troubled him. The recipients had no choice but to thank the king for such a lavish gift, knowing that they could not possibly afford the maintenance of such an animal. This will inevitably lead them to financial ruin. This story is almost certainly untrue, but it gave rise to a modern holiday staple: the white elephant gift exchange. These gift ideas will not only give you a few laughs, but also make your recipient feel (a little) less burdened.
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Best Secret Santa Gifts
Exchanging Secret Santa gifts is supposed to be fun, but it’s easy to overthink it. You want a gift that isn’t weird, sounds thoughtful, isn’t boring, is useful, and most importantly, affordable. Great spots are under $50, which is plenty to find something that suits your recipient’s personality. Whether you’re shopping for a coworker you only interact with over the coffee machine, a friend who already has everything or a cousin who never gives you a second thought, there are clever options that will make them smile.
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Best Tech Gifts and Gadgets
Finding the perfect gift for a die-hard gadget lover during the holidays can be difficult, especially if you don’t keep up with tech industry news yourself. Luckily, you’re reading Engadget.com, a site run entirely by people who spend all day figuring out what new stuff is actually cool and what isn’t. So allow us to help. We’ve collected some of our favorite gadgets and gear that can satisfy the avid geek in your life.
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best board game gifts
We could all use more time away from screens of all types and sizes, and board games are a fun way to do that and connect with friends and family. You can find plenty of unique sets out there now, from word puzzles to whodunits to calming playthroughs that showcase the beauty of the little things in life. From games with giant monsters to games with haunted mansions, we’re sure you and your loved ones will love at least one of our suggestions.
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Best Gifts Under $50
We wouldn’t blame you if you try to get all your tech shopping done around the holidays. That’s when you can usually find the best sales, both on relatively affordable gear and (more importantly) on big-ticket items. But it would be wrong to think that only the most expensive technology is worth gifting. Since we test tons of gadgets every year at Engadget, we know there are some hidden (and not so hidden) tech gems in the lower price range — you just have to know where to find them.
Read more: The Best Gifts Under $50 That Make Great Stocking Stuffers
Best Tech Toys for Kids
We know it’s been a very strange year, one that has you wondering how exactly you’re going to make the holiday season special, especially for the kids in your life. The good news is that the toy industry is as creative as ever, and this year’s crop of hot tech toys is full of surprises and delights, all at affordable prices. We’ve picked out some of our favorites under $100 that will not only thrill right out of the box, but will also keep kids entertained for months to come.
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Best Gifts for Remote Workers
There’s a good chance you know at least one person who works remotely in some form or another. While the WFH life has its advantages — no one likes a long commute — it comes with its own challenges, from a lack of pro-level equipment to dealing with household messes. If you’re looking to gift someone who spends most of their time in their home office, we’ve rounded up some tech gift ideas that will make their days a little more enjoyable, or at least easier to manage.
Read more: The Best Gift Ideas for the Remote Worker in Your Life
Best gifts for Nintendo lovers
If you’re like us, Nintendo holds a special place in your heart thanks to iconic characters like Mario, Peach and Donkey Kong, and multiple generations of best-selling consoles. But what we didn’t know was that in addition to gaming hardware and accessories, there is a growing line of Nintendo-themed toys, clothing, and decor. And that’s kind of a problem because we want it all. So to help you find the best gifts for the Nintendo fan in your life, we’ve put together a big list of our favorite products that will power up anyone this holiday season. Of course, if nothing on our list fits the bill, you can also head over to our full list of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories for even more ideas.
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best retro gaming gifts
The flow of new video games never ends, but for some of us, nothing beats the classics. If you don’t mind searching through eBay and local game shops for old cartridges to add to your loved one’s collection, we’ve picked out some other gift ideas for the nostalgic gamer in your life – from video upscalers to retro-themed books and artwork for old consoles.
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best gifts for moms
Some Moms Really Mean It When They Say They Don’t Have It need Any gift. But those same moms will probably appreciate receiving some thoughtful and personal gift – a gift that shows you put a little thought into it. It’s hard to tell what that ideal gift is for any mom, but we have ideas to get you started. Since we spend our days testing and otherwise thinking about technology, most of the gifts here have a gadget spin, but they’re all a lot more unique than a candle and a bath bomb.
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Best gifts for fathers
It is not always easy to find gifts for fathers, especially for those who often quickly buy everything they need themselves. But even the smartest and most well-informed dads have blind spots — the trick is to find something they’ve never heard of but can really make their life useful. We’ve collected some of our favorite dadcore gift ideas that will be suitable for everyone from the complete gadgetophobe to the complete techie.
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Check out the rest of our gift Ideas Here.