With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas on the horizon, Boardroom pulled together its inaugural Tech Gift Guide packed with headphones, fitness tech, gaming devices, and more.
There have been endless announcements of new tech gadgets, platforms, and games this year. Virtual reality headsets have been a hot commodity, and access to AI chatbots like ChatGPT is all the rave.
With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas on the horizon, Boardroom pulled together its inaugural Tech Gift Guide, led by me, Boardroom’s resident tech guru and creator behind Tech Talk. Now, I wanted to lay some ground rules for this list, so it’s important to note a few things:
- Some items included on this list were released in previous years, and some were released in 2023. Tech hardware has longevity, so I wanted to expand beyond new items announced this year.
- I only included items that are available on the market today. That means you won’t see the Meta Quest 3, PlayStation Portal, Apple Vision, Pro, or new Apple iMac below, but these are definitely gadgets that may show up on next year’s list since they will officially be on the market. (For those who are really eager, get in on those pre-orders and include the receipts as stocking stuffers.)
- I chose items I’ve had personal experiences, want to try out myself, and have consistently popped up in the tech world. There are hundreds of tech gadgets out there worthy of making this list, but I felt these ones best serve what I see and think are the hottest on the market right now.
- Prices were pulled directly from the brands’ websites, but as always, search for the deals across the web.
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From fitness gadgets to gaming devices to headphones and more, here are my 10 tech gadgets that you should have on your wish list. Disclaimer: Narrowing this tech gift guide down was very hard. Maybe next year, I’ll double it up because it broke my heart to cut the Ember Temperature Controlled Smart Mug and the Eight Sleep Pod Cover from the list, but I’m sure I’ll dive into some coverage on these two soon. While I’ve tried out most of these, I haven’t gotten my hands on them all, so some of them will be on my wish list, too.
In no particular order, here’s Boardroom’s 2023 Tech Gift Guide:
Oura Ring (3rd Gen, 2021)
Price: Ranges from $269 to $319
The Oura Ring is a smart ring that can track 20 biometrics, including heart rate, temperature, sleep, and more. The lightweight device is made of titanium and is water-resistant. With an Oura membership, users can tap into an app to receive more data, personal guidance, and daily insights about their biometrics. Oura’s most recent smart ring was launched in 2021, but the fourth generation of the device is expected to launch in 2024.
Meta Quest 3
Price: $499.99 for 128 GB or $649.99 for 512 GB
Meta’s latest virtual reality and mixed reality headset is much slimmer than its predecessor, as it was designed to be more comfortable and lighter. The Meta Quest 3 is equipped with color cameras, sharper visuals, more augmented reality capabilities, and advanced controllers. On the mixed reality front, users can play virtual board games atop physical furniture and environments and virtually decorate their homes through select games and offerings on the device. For some extra gaming action, add the Meta Quest+ gaming subscription for $7.99 a month, which grants users access to two new titles every month.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
Price: $239.99 for 16 GB
Amazon debuted the first generation of the Kindle on Nov. 19, 2007, marking 16 years since the tech-enabled reading device hit the market. The Amazon Kindle Scribe hit the market in November 2022 and is the Big Tech giant’s first Kindle designed for reading and writing. The device features a 10.2-inch screen, a stylus pen, glare-free capabilities, and a warm light.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Price: $379
Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have been my new faves this fall. The headphones are equipped with true noise cancellation audio, spatialized and immersive audio, and a more luxe design for comfort. These headphones just dropped in October and typically cost $429, but Bose is already running a sale on them.
Crosley C6 Turntable
Price: $199.95
Music fans are in for a real analog experience with Crosley’s C6 Turntable, which is a fully manual two-speed turntable. Its vintage style comes with a heavy steel platter to sit vinyls atop of it. The Crosley C6 also has Bluetooth functionality for wireless play from other devices.
Whoop 4.0
Price: Ranges from $30 monthly, $199 annually, or $359 for 24 months
Unlike typical fitness tech wearables, users get a free WHOOP 4.0 and a lifetime warranty when they purchase a WHOOP membership. WHOOP users also get access to the wearable company’s app, which features personalized insights about sleep, stress, and heart rate variables. Most recently, WHOOP launched an AI coach powered by OpenAI to give users access to more guidance and insights. WHOOP 4.0s come with a charging battery pack, a wristband, and access to the app, but the WHOOP devices can be transferred to bicep bands and other apparel to provide the same offerings.
Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023)
Price: $104.99
Amazon released its new Echo Show 8 in October, which is a compact smart screen with a built-in smart home hub. The device has a sleek design and upgraded hardware and is equipped with custom-built spatial audio capabilities. Users can take video calls, watch entertainment, play music, podcasts, and other sounds. The Echo Show 8 retails for $149.99, but Amazon has already knocked the price down 30%.
Apple AirTag
Price: $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack
The Apple AirTag is not only a nifty tracking tool, it’s Apple’s cheapest tech device on the market. AirTags can be attached to keys or wallets, slipped into bags, or other places to track via Apple’s Find My app. With iOS 17, users can share their AirTags with up to five people for those special devices that the whole household uses. The best part: AirTags are equipped with small speakers that play a pinging sound if you need to locate a lost item precisely.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model
Price: $349.99 for 64 GB
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is equipped with a seven-inch OLED screen, an adjustable stand, enhanced audio, and more. The latest Switch device also has a dock, a built-in wired LAN port to play in TV mode, and 64 GB of internal storage. The Switch OLED Model system can be played in TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode.
PlayStation 5
Price: $499.99
If you want to get your hands on a PlayStation Portal handheld device next year, you’ll need to get a PlayStation 5 first since that’s the only PlayStation console the device will be compatible with. The PS5 is equipped with advanced haptic feedback, 3D audio, next-gen PS games, faster loading, and more. PS5s have been a hot commodity since they hit the market three years ago, and since they are still in such high demand, there is a limit of one console per order.
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