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Let’s get shopping
Gift shopping can be hectic and exhausting, so getting ahead of the curve and starting as soon as possible is a good idea.
Whether you’re shopping for friends or family members, gift shopping can be overwhelming, and it can be challenging to come up with good gift ideas. So we’ve gathered some of the best gifts for any occasion, from blenders and espresso machines to smartwatches and treadmills. Our curated list includes some of our favorites, such as the Ninji Creami Ice Cream Maker and Dyson Airwrap.
Best kitchen appliance gifts
This air fryer performs nine functions: Air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, frozen, proof, reheat and keep warm. It’s a super versatile kitchen star deserving of a place on everyone’s countertop. It boasts a 6-quart capacity, but is also compact enough to fit just about anywhere. Make chicken, steak, fries, cookies – the options are only limited by your imagination.
Brew hot, delicious espresso anytime with this premium espresso machine whose multistep operation consists of pressure extraction, temperature extraction and microform bubbles. Its user-friendly interface offers volume shot control that lets you choose single or double shots.
Those with limited countertop space will appreciate this oven’s compact design and build. Whether you want to air-fry, bake, roast, toast, reheat or broil, this oven does it all using steam infusion technology to give food a crispy exterior and soft, moist interior. It preheats and cooks faster than traditional ovens, and its spacious interior is ample enough to cook a 4.5-pound whole chicken.
Best of the best
Why run out to the store to buy ice cream when you can make your own with this intuitive machine? It’s excellent not just for making ice cream but also for other delicious treats, including sorbet, gelato, smoothies and milkshakes. There are seven preset modes with the appropriate speed, pressure and time to make each treat, and a re-spin function for creamier, softer ice cream.
Large families and households can cook enough food for everyone with this air fryer, thanks to its 10-quart basket. The dual-basket design lets you cook two foods simultaneously, and IQ Boost evenly distributes heat across both baskets to cook a 6-pound chicken thoroughly. There are separate heating zones if you want to use only one basket.
Best cookware and drinkware gifts
Best of the best
Caraway’s cookware set makes the perfect gift! Caraway cookware is beautiful, low-maintenance and easy to clean. Plus, these nonstick cookware sets feature even-heat distribution and nontoxic ceramic coating. The eco-friendly packaging and sleek storage features are bonuses unique to the Caraway brand. The set comes in an array of aesthetically pleasing colors, which makes the pots and pans pretty enough to leave out on your stovetop even when you’re not cooking.
Le Creuset is an industry-leading manufacturer of cast-iron cookware, and we can’t recommend this piece enough. This cast-iron Dutch oven requires no seasoning and has a durable enamel surface that protects it against chipping, scratching and staining. The tight-fitting lid helps circulate steam, and the light-colored interior makes it easy to check cooking progress.
Testers’ Favorite
This tumbler keeps beverages warm for up to seven hours or cold for up to 11 hours. It’s perfect for traveling or days in the sun, and the FlowState lid has a rotating cover with a straw opening, a drink opening and a full-cover top. It has an ergonomic handle with grip inserts and a narrow base for fitting most cupholders.
If you know someone who enjoys tequila shots, this set of Himalayan salt shot glasses is an excellent gift. Tequila goes great with salt, and these shot glasses provide a salty finish to each tequila shot. The salt is antibacterial and can be used for several rounds.
Best makeup and beauty accessories gifts
Editors’ Favorite
This Nudestix Sunkissed Nudes kit has an all-over face bronzer; a magnetic, luminous eye color; and a gel color lip and cheek balm, all in a tin. It’s an excellent makeup kit for summer wear and stays on all day.
Editors’ Favorite
Popular for its versatility, which makes it suitable for casual or formal occasions, this makeup kit has colors formulated with high-grade ingredients such as vegan lanolin substitute, shea butter and jojoba oil. It comes with eye crayon, mascara, eyeshadow palette, lip liner, lipstick, lip gloss and a professional, full-length two-sided applicator brush.
The NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Duo has a shimmery finish for a flattering look and a smoothing effect that leaves skin looking radiant.
Testers’ Favorite
This treatment goes beneath the skin to smooth lines, contouring and sculpting deep down to the facial muscles. After regular use, many users report increased firmness and reduced forehead lines.
Testers’ Favorite
The Dyson Airwrap is an expensive hairstyling tool, but it’s worth a look for those who want vibrant, healthy-looking hair that’s sure to draw compliments on any occasion. It’s excellent for drying, curling, shaping, smoothing and hiding flyaways without using extreme heat that can damage hair. Plus, it works for all hair types and lengths.
The large mirror in the bathroom is fine most of the time, but to get a closer look at your facial and hair details, this vanity mirror gets the job done while adding an elegant touch to your bathroom. It’s handcrafted from resin, metal and mirror glass and offers a 6-inch projection.
Best handbag gifts
Editors’ Favorite
A stylish bag is excellent to show off, but those who need something bigger will love this large shoulder bag. It has a minimalist design that’s practical for everyday use, a contrasting leather lining for superior durability and brushed antique brass hardware.
This Marc Jacobs tote bag exudes elegance and is perfect for carrying anything from makeup and phones to tablets and jewelry. It has a logo print across the front, patch and zip interior pockets for storing small personal items, a zip closure and an optional adjustable strap.
Best smartwatch gifts
The Garmin Fenix 7 offers a solid middle ground between the more robust smartwatches for outdoor enthusiasts and the slim-profile smartwatches for athletes and trainers. The battery life lasts up to 18 days on a full charge, and it provides readiness scores for training and sleep insights.
The latest Apple Watch, the Series 9, boasts advanced, accurate sensors for tracking health and fitness metrics, including sleep, blood oxygen and electrocardiogram records. It has an always-on display, cellular connectivity for sending text messages and making phone calls, and an S9 SiP chip for improved performance.
Best instant camera gifts
Best of the best
The Polaroid Now+ is an upgraded version of traditional Polaroid cameras. The Bluetooth-connected app lets users tweak settings, such as double exposure, light painting and noise trigger. The bonus five filter lenses allow creative shots.
Best Bang for the buck
What we love about this camera is its compact size and minimalist design, which makes it excellent for traveling and storing in a backpack, purse or handbag. It turns on when you twist the lens and features automatic exposure and flash control for bright photos that don’t look washed out.
Best video game console and accessories gifts
Best of the best
After so long, the shortage of PlayStation 5 consoles has finally come to an end, meaning you can buy one ahead of the holidays. PlayStation fans will love the high-powered processor that renders outstanding visuals and 3D Audio technology for an immersive gaming experience.
Best Bang for the buck
The Xbox Series S delivers lightning-fast loading times, breathtaking graphics and gameplay with a refresh rate of up to 120 hertz. This bundle includes an Xbox Wireless Controller, a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership for playing online with friends, and other exclusive features.
If you know someone with a subscription to Amazon’s cloud gaming service, Luna, we highly recommend giving them this pro controller. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook and Android devices, and can connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or USB.
Best Bang for the buck
Virtual reality gaming is becoming increasingly popular, and the Meta Quest 2 is an outstanding holiday gift for gamers who want to get into it. This headset has three-dimensional positional audio, hand tracking and easy-to-use controllers for an immersive gaming experience.
This headset offers 5K clarity, intuitive controllers and an easy setup process that doesn’t require a console or personal computer. Visual comfort is prioritized thanks to a 120-hertz frame rate for running graphics-intensive games and apps, and the adjustment dial helps minimize eye fatigue.
Best toys and games gifts
Best Bang for the buck
Kids with nurturing instincts will love caring for their 3D pets by feeding them, playing with them and rocking them to sleep. Pets grow into adults with consistent nurturing and care, and the more kids play with their pets, the more animals they can unlock, with up to 15 available.
Those with a keen eye can challenge themselves with this vase jigsaw puzzle. It features 163 curved pieces with a stand and a detachable water cup for displaying it and showing it off in your home. It’s an excellent decorative item that can hold water to keep flowers and plants healthy.
There’s nothing softer than a Furby, and they’re making a comeback as one of the most popular toys of 2023. This interactive Furby toy moves, talks, sings, lights up and even responds to speech. It has five voice-activated modes and features over 600 responses.
Best of the best
This dog robot has unique personality traits, making it one in a million. It features six interactive games, and kids can track their high scores and save data on the smartphone app. The dog communicates with its owner using its tail, letting you know when it’s hungry or tired.
Twister is one of the most popular and timeless games, and this new version has put a spin on the classic party game. Instead of getting down on the floor and playing on a mat, this game uses a smart device screen for interactive play where you have to reach for colored spots to match your ankle and wristbands.
Editors’ Favorite
There’s nothing wrong with showing a little love to some of the most iconic Disney villains, which this three-pack of dolls is perfect for. It features a doll of the wicked Queen from “Snow White,” Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove” and Cruella DeVil from “101 Dalmations,” each sporting their trademark outfits.
If you know someone who has trouble keeping real plants alive, this is the LEGO set for them. Enjoy a relaxed LEGO building session solo or with family or friends, then display your completed plants proudly as part of your home décor. This set contains 758 pieces.
Best exercise equipment gifts
Best of the best
Those who want to save on costly gym memberships and work out from home will love this high-end treadmill. It has a 10-inch high-definition interactive display for streaming workouts, digital incline controls and a foldable design that makes storage easy.
This exercise bike has a large 22-inch display for following video workouts, tracking progress and seeing health metrics, such as calories burned and distance traveled. It has a two-channel rear-facing stereo speaker system, a manual control knob for adjusting resistance and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Best alarm clock gifts
Best of the best
Drifting off to sleep isn’t easy for everyone, but this alarm clock was engineered by top sleep scientists to help those who have difficulty relaxing and falling asleep. It features preloaded music, nature sounds, meditation sessions and bedtime stories, and has a two-phase alarm system with non-alarming sounds.
Best of the best
This wake-up light features a sunrise to wake you up peacefully and simulates a serene sunset to help you drift off to sleep. There are 20 brightness settings and five wake-up sounds, and it has FM radio support and an automatic dimmable display.
Best headphones, earbuds and speakers gifts
Best of the best
The AirPods Max have a dynamic driver that delivers high-quality audio and an H1 chip for stable wireless connectivity and hands-free access to Siri. Active noise cancellation lets listeners drown out external sounds to focus on the music, and personalized spatial audio creates an immersive listening experience.
Best Bang for the buck
Beats Studio Buds are terrific for casual listening and working out, thanks to their lightweight design and comfortable fit. The custom acoustic platform delivers balanced sound, and the battery can last up to 24 hours with the charging case.
Editors’ Favorite
This speaker’s elegant design is refreshing, but it isn’t all looks and low quality. Its audio quality is impressive thanks to a 360-degree design that delivers multidirectional sound, and the IP67 protection means you can take it to the beach, a pool or any outdoor location without worrying about dust and water damage.
More of the best tech gifts
Take photos as deep as 16 feet underwater with this incredible and compact GoPro waterproof camera. With a long-lasting battery, HyperSmooth stabilization and photos in stunning 4K, this camera truly gives a ton of bang for your buck.
Make movie night a special occasion with this 4K UHD projector that provides brighter colors and stunning contrast ratio. It boasts up to a 300-inch viewable screen size making for a truly cinematic experience.
This robot vacuum can run for up to 240 minutes on a single charge, making it a floor-cleaning powerhouse. Its duo-roller brush system collects hair, pet hair and debris with minimal tangling. It’s also self-emptying and can go about seven weeks without needing manual disposal of collected debris.
Best of the best
This smart display delivers excellent directional sound and a crisp 10.1-inch display for streaming HD content. The 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing and motion keeps you front and center at all times, and you can sync the display with the Alexa app and other Echo devices.
Best of the best
If you know an avid reader, this Kindle can make their life much easier since they won’t have to carry around heavy books. This Kindle e-reader has a 6.8-inch display with a flush-front design that reads like actual paper, an auto-adjusting front light, and 32 gigabytes of storage for holding thousands of ebooks.
Best Bang for the buck
This compact cutting machine is excellent for personalizing crafts, and its portable design makes it easy to travel with. It’s easy to set up and can cut and create nearly any design in less than 15 minutes. Plus, it features a digital library of 30 images to offer inspiration.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is one of the best robot vacuum cleaners because of its sophisticated design and efficiency on carpet and hard floors. The three-stage cleaning system effectively lifts pet hair, dirt and debris, and advanced sensors can detect the dirtiest areas of your home and prioritize them.
The possibilities are endless with a 3D printer, so if you know a creative individual who’s had their eye on one, this model is worth a look. It has a 6.66-inch mono LCD with a UHD resolution and 36 highly integrated LED lights with a COB lens and a free-form surface.
The Roku Express 4K+ is a fantastic streaming device and one of the more affordable ones. It offers access to the most popular streaming apps, such as Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu, and the Roku voice remote makes it easy to search all apps for available titles.
This three-speed record player has built-in custom-tuned speakers for high-quality audio and a removable dust cover for keeping your records in mint condition. Bluetooth connectivity means you can stream your favorite tunes from any smart device, and the headphone jack offers private listening.
More of the best Christmas gifts
Best of the best
This exceptional non-slip seat protector is an excellent gift for families always on the go. Crafted with waterproof leather, extra-thick padding, and 2 included storage pockets, this thoughtful design will keep car seats completely protected from wear and tear.
Best of the best
Anyone curious about their familial origins can learn a lot with this DNA kit. It provides information and insights on geographic origin and ethnicity and access to the world’s most extensive collection of family history records. Plus, users can build their family tree the more they learn about their origins.
This food-delivery subscription service features Hello Kitty as its mascot. Members will get Japan-exclusive tasty snacks and Bokksu-exclusive Hello Kitty collectibles are delivered to their homes every two months directly from Japan. Plus, there’s a bonus Hello Kitty and Friends original sticker pack in every box.
Best of the best
The perfect gift for those who thrive on organization, this versatile seat organizer is a well-thought-out addition to any car. It comes equipped with multiple pockets, cup holders, and a zipper back pocket to ensure that your drinks and gadgets stay right where they need to be. It even includes two handles so you can take it with you during shopping trips!
Winter is here, but instead of cranking up the thermostat, you can wrap yourself in one of these snug duvet-like blanket robes. They’re excellent for keeping warm indoors, and the large armholes make it perfect for lounging at home. Plus, it has pockets for storing your phone, remotes and other small items.
If you know a plant lover, we can’t recommend this elegant olive tree enough as a holiday gift. This plant has small, silvery, gray-green leaves and requires a lot of sunlight to flourish. You can choose from small and medium-sized plants, and each plant comes in a nursery grow pot nestled in a planter.
Say what you really want to say with this customizable doormat. It can also be used in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and more. It comes in three sizes, and you can always order more tiles in a variety of colors if you want more options for your designs. Plus, it’s easy to clean. Scrub the mat with soap, and put the tiles in the included mesh bag and into the dishwasher.
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.