The Tech-Head Gift Guide

Tech-heads rejoice, there’s a ton of dope stuff to choose from this year, with prices getting lower and lower as more sellers hit the market and the heavyweights continue to innovate. We sifted through a ton of stuff and have lined up our favorite picks for the year.

Jaybird X2 Wireless Earphones – $150
The Jaybird X2s were made to keep up with you. The popular earphones are sweat-proof and give you a secure in-ear fit. A single charge can get up to eight hours of playtime. We’ve also got more wireless headphone recs over here.

Native Union Night Cable – $32 (normally $40)
Perfect for Night Man, the night cable is simple but it solves a major problem everyone runs into when they’re trying to charge their phone and use it: the cord is usually way too short. This genius one is ten feet long, has a weighted knot to keep the cord from sliding off a flat surface and is available for iPhone and Android.

Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Bluetooth Speaker – $200
Probably smarter than you, this 360-degree wireless speaker works indoors and outdoors (it’s beer/waterproof too). On a full charge, you can get up to 15 hours of playtime so the party never stops and you can even choose the next song with voice-activated commands. Sync it with the app to add more features too.

Pebble Watches – $100 - $200
Break away from the iPhone, with the smartwatches that made Kickstarter history by being the most highly funded projects ever. Choose from models that focus on fitness, are water-resistant, answer calls and messages, and stay charged for up to a week. Fitbit just purchased Pebble too so you know you’ve got cool new innovations coming as well.

G.U.S. Multi-Device Charging Station and Dock – $40
Somewhere in your home there’s a tangle of cords you have to undo every time you need to charge something. That’s why this charging station is so perfect. Cords are no longer all over the place, and your devices are organized. Charge everything from your laptop to your tablet to your cell.

Tile Mate – $70 for a 4-pack (normally $100)
The Tile Mate is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s basically Find My iPhone for the other essential things your life. Attach it to your keys or stick it in your bag or wallet, and you’ll never misplace them again. Using the app, you can see the location of the belongings on a map, or “ping” the tile to emit a sound if it’s nearby. It also works in reverse: you can use tile to find your phone, even if it’s on silent. The batteries will last about a year, but the company will let you replace them for half the cost for each.

Roku Streaming Stick - $35
There are a wealth of streaming devices out there but Roku is our favorite. Move your streaming subscriptions with Amazon, Netflix and Hulu from your mobile devices to your TV. With Roku, you just plug it into the HDMI port on your TV and connect to Wifi. You’ll get access to a lot of free programming as well. You only pay for the Roku device when you buy it, so you don’t have to worry about shelling out for another monthly subscription.

Google Daydream VR - $79 and Samsung Gear VR $95
Mobile VR price points are too good to ignore right now, especially when they're easy to use. Google’s version only works with its Pixel phones, and Samsung’s only works with the Galaxy Note5, S6 edge+, S6 and S6 edge. Both headsets offer immersive streaming and game experiences. Sorry iPhone-ers, you're still stuck giving the side eye to Time Cook for now.