2016 Gift Guide: 12 Must-Have Gifts for Gadget Lovers (w laptop giveaway!)

Every year after I publish the , I toy with the idea of not publishing a Gadget Gift Guide but what would a tech blog be without a Gadget Gift Guide? Exactly.

Just as in past years, this year I’ve looked at a lot of gadgets to find the latest and greatest products that continue to be innovative and worth the investment. This year I was on the hunt for well-designed products that were attractive and functional and certainly found some winners. Here are 12 gifts that would make the gadget lover in your life happy.

MEVO ($399.99)

If you’ve ever been completely annoyed by someone in the audience standing up with their iPad to take photos or record video, MEVO is for you. MEVO is this amazing little live event camera that fits in the palm of your hand that lets you zoom, pan, cut, capture, stream via WiFi or your phone’s cellular connection, and share from the iOS app. The 150 degree glass lens captures video in stunning quality and built in stereo microphones capture audio well but I also appreciate the ability to plug in a microphone to an iPhone that’s tethered to the camera. Did that make sense? Plug in a microphone to your iPhone and the audio will be mixed into the recording via the Mevo app. Pretty cool, right? So cool, in fact, that the person with their iPad will want to know all about it. Go ahead and share it with them, telling them that it will let them leave their iPad home for good.

Apple Design Book ($199)

Whether you’re an Apple faithful or well-designed products speak to your inner industrial design nerd, the Apple Design Book is for you. Dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs and chronicling 20 years of Apple design through a large format book (available in 10.2 x 12.8” or 13 x 16.3”), the Apple Design Book serves as a visual history of Apple’s most memorable and most forgettable products through gorgeous imagery that we’ve come to know as the Apple aesthetic. Available exclusively through Apple.com and Apple Stores.

Samsung Portable T3 SSD (starting at $119 for 500 GB)

With the ability to store up to 2 TB (yes, terabytes) of data in a portable drive smaller than a deck of cards, the Samsung Portable T3 SSD is another one of my tech must-haves. This sleek little lifesaver provides plenty of space for files, photos, and multimedia plus any new photos, videos, or files created along the way and the ability to transfer photos from my Android phone directly to the SSD. With no moving parts, the SSD is a reliable method of storage that is also incredibly fast and silent. For more information, read the full review: Everything You Need to Know About SSDs and Why You Need a Samsung T3 for Your Data.

Sandman Clock ($44.99)

No more waking up in the morning to dead devices thanks to Sandman Clock that functions as a hybrid charging station and alarm clock. I happen to love the Sandman that sits on my bedside table because it features larger than life digits (1.8” in size) that can be read anywhere in the room, 4 integrated USB ports to keep devices charged, and integrated alarm clock with a snooze button and battery backup. Get 10% off your Sandman Clock with the code TSM.

Monster Core Power ($11.99)

In today’s digital age there are never enough outlets and USB ports to accommodate our devices. A quick fix is Monster Core Power that offers 3 surge protected outlets, 2 USB ports, and protection from power surges. I love Monster Core Power for home use but when I’m on the go, I am never without my Belkin SurgePlus Mini Travel Swivel Charger Surge Protector with Dual USB Ports ($18). Even though it’s a little bit more than Monster Core Power, the swivel allows it to accommodate even the most peskily placed outlets, including those in lamps making it a must-have that always lives in my backpack so I’m never without it!

Powercell 10000+ by Ventev ($69.99)

I’ve tried a ton of chargers in my almost 9 years of blogging and this is my hands-down favorite thanks it holding a whopping 10,000 mAh, the built in Apple Lightning and MicroUSB cables, and the screen that tells you exactly how much battery life you have left. The built in cables charge your phone or other digital device at lightning speed and yes, you can charge your phone and a friend’s at the same time because friends don’t let friends let their phones die.

Tech Dopp Kit by This is Ground ($249)

Many of the items on this gift guide are items I can’t live without but what do I covet? Organization in the form of the Tech Dopp Kit from This is Ground. I met This is Ground years ago at my very first CES and was immediately smitten with their luxurious leather goods designed to keep our earbuds from becoming a tangly mess thanks to supple Cord Tacos and tidy up our cords thanks to the Bandito Lifestyle Rolls.

MIFLAND Leather Bags (starting at $379)

Speaking of organization and gorgeous leather, MIFLAND Leather Bags make totes and rucksacks in a variety of styles out of the most gorgeous leather that engages your senses. Soft to the touch with that intoxicating leather scent, MIFLAND bags are investment pieces that will last a lifetime. The minimalist style is fashion conscious and functional plus they’ll be the envy of all your friends. Once I was meeting a friend and she asked if I could bring my MIFLAND tote just so she could admire it. No joke!

ONA Camera Bags (starting at $149)

For the camera lover in your life who likes finer things, ONA Bags makes stylish camera bags that don’t scream that you’re carrying an expensive DSLR. I’ve coveted their shoulder bags for years, even striking up a conversation with someone in Turkey when I noticed she was carrying The Chelsea, the object of my desire for the past couple years. For guys there are messenger bag styles like The Bowery who comes in leather and waxed canvas styles and is camera ready with removable inserts, plenty of padding, and what I’ve heard is an incredibly comfortable strap even when it’s loaded with gear for a day-long shoot. The timeless designs of ONA bags makes them a fabulous gift and a great investment.

The O ($79 for a set of 4)

If you’re always leaving your wallet, keys, smartphone, passport, etc. behind then The O can help. This rubberized oval-like object attaches to your belongings to make them smart so when you get too far away, The O creates a visible leash between your phone and other objects that are important to you so they’re never left behind. When you get too far away, the app alerts you with a sound to let you know that you’ve lost or forgotten something. I love The O because this beautifully designed product was created by luxury jewelry designer to give it a chic aesthetic. The organic shape goes with everything and you can choose between packs of neturals (currently $56.77 on Amazon) or colors to fit your style. It’s a beautifully designed product that is also quite functional.

Withings Home ($199 but currently $168.08 from Amazon)

If you’re a soon-to-be-parent and you’re looking for a baby monitor, Withings Home is a great product for use as a baby monitor but it can also function as a general purpose security camera, music player, nightlight, indoor air quality monitor, and even a pet cam. This easy to set up device (our 10 year old got it working 10 minutes after it was out of the box) is designed so it fits into any room in your house so it can be used elsewhere as your child grows up and doesn’t need a monitor in their room. For more information, read the full review: Withings Home: The Multitasking Webcam That’s More Than a Baby Monitor.

Kangaroo Notebook ($299.99)

If you’re letting your child use your work computer for their homework, watch YouTube videos, and play Slither.io and other games, it’s time to get a home machine that everyone can use. Yes, you could create different logins on your home computer but I think the idea behind Kangaroo Notebook is an innovative one because the setup is like having two PCs in one thanks to a design that brings two Windows 10 PCs and multiple PC profiles together into one easy-to-transport, affordable, lightweight and flexible package. Instead of having two separate desktops on two separate desks, Kangaroo Notebook is like having one laptop screen and keyboard shell and swapping out the tiny PC computing module that comes loaded with 2GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and an Intel Cherrytrail CPU. Since you only have to bring the single shell along with both tiny hard drives that contain your documents, home finances, and photos and the kids’ stuff, it’s a great device for family travel. As a parent who knows the Pandora’s Box that can be opened by kids when they use your computer (hello viruses, malware, phishing, and more!) it’s nice to know that Kangaroo Notebook provides peace of mind that comes from having the ability to decide which information (data, images, and documents to passwords stored in web browsers for banking, shopping and social media) is securely stored on each of the Kangaroo PCs.

Enter to win a Kangaroo Notebook for your family!

Designed with families in mind, InFocus has provided one of their Kangaroo Notebooks as a giveaway for one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader this holiday season! You have two weeks to enter and LOTS of giveaway entries so enter as many times as you’d like and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Age Appropriate Gift Guides:

•  (ages 18 months-5 years)
•  (grades K-2 or ages 5-8)
• (grades 3-7 or ages 8-12)
• (ages 13+)

Specialty Gift Guides:

• (preK-teen)

Must-Read Gift Guides Compiled by Friends:

• Gifts that Give Back by ThirdEyeMom’s Nicole Melancon

Samples were received for review purposes. Amazon Affiliate links included in this post. Some images courtesy of the companies. No compensation was received for this post or hosting this giveaway.