We have a love hate relationship with tech gifts for men. On the one hand, I love new gadgets. On the other, there’s a lot of junk out there in the age of e-commerce and work from home.
The market has become cluttered with cheap tech knockoffs and scammy internet sellers, and the last thing you want is a gift that doesn’t work as intended or ends up collecting dust in the basement.
Whether its a birthday or holiday gift to help with endless Zoom calls or simply to help him get extra motivation after being stuck indoors for months on end, we’ve compiled this list of the best tech gadgets for men with a focus on value and performance ensuring he’ll still be using these products for years to come.
And to help you shop, we’ve added in details about delivery time for last minute shoppers and if any extra options for gift messaging are available Happy shopping!
Mifo O5 Plus Gen 3: Editor’s pick for the best tech gift for men – $99.99 at Mifo.us
Where to buy the Mifo O5 Plus Gen 3 earbuds
The best wireless earphones for sports including running and all around gym/active lifestyle use come from a brand that is fairly new to the US. But don’t let that scare you off, as these earbuds are easily some of the best we have ever tested.
BEST VALUE
| GIFT OPTIONS ✅ 2-day delivery available ✅ Gift messaging available ✅ Gift returns available |
So what makes the Mifo O5 Plus Gen 3 the best new tech gift for guys?
The best tech gift for everyday use, period. The Mifo O5 Plus Gen 3 includes a bevy of cutting edge features that blow away higher priced brands, beginning with their form factor. Weighing in at just a few grams each, the O5 Plus earbuds feel supremely comfortable, and include 7 silicon ear tip shapes and sizes for that perfect fit. Further, once in it’s nearly impossible to get them to fall out. Readers may remember propensity to fall out was a major problem that prevented us from recommending the Apple AirPods Pro in our last wireless review.
Absurd battery life with power bank feature. The O5 Plus earbuds themselves will play continuously for 7+ hours, a feat we tested over several days. Not only that, but the included USB-C charging case offers an additional 100 hours of play time. No, that is not a typo. We were able to use the earbuds without charging the case for an entire week before it gave out. Not only that, but the case allows you to plug a smartphone in to charge your devices on the go. In our test, we were able to charge an iPhone 11 Pro Max from 0 to 100%. That’s stunning, and makes us wonder why earbuds from other brands costing 3-4 times more have just a third of the battery life.
Excellent sound with passive noise canceling and transparency mode you have to hear to believe. The Mifo O5 Plus packs some of the best bass in any true wireless earbuds we have tested. That’s particularly helpful if you prefer energetic tracks when pushing yourself to the limit.
You won’t be able to hear any outside noise, unless you activate transparency mode. Once activated with a tap, you are able to hear ambient noise around you perfectly, including conversations. That means you don’t have to remove the earbuds when you want to order a coffee or have a quick word. We’ve never seen a premium feature like this is sub-$100 earbuds before, and it is truly impressive.
US-based customer support. We have been continuously disappointed with true wireless earbuds in the past, even from tech giants like Samsung. Part of that disappointment comes with poor or absent customer service, particularly with regard to bargain and knockoff sellers who do not offer any domestic presence or support. We tested Mifo on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to the US market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
Therabody’s Theragun Prime: A pricey but memorable gift for athletes – $299.00 at Amazon.com
Where to buy the Theragun Prime Sports Massager in the US
Therabody exploded on the athletics scene over a year ago with a hard to ignore celebrity-backed advertising campaign. And while the Theragun Prime percussive massager is impressive, you’ll pay for the privilege of giving him the best sports recovery massager available today.
BEST VALUE
| GIFT OPTIONS ✅ 2-day delivery available ✅ Gift messaging available ✅ Gift returns available |
If you haven’t heard about the latest trend in sports recovery, buckle up. Runners, golfers, and cyclists are now enjoying percussive massage devices specifically designed to deliver deep tissue stimulation post workout. Benefits include a quicker recovery, less muscle stiffness, and the mood lift that comes from a great sports massage.
Therabody has demonstrated a best in class approach to the category with a well built product that does what it promises.
The positives include a great form factor that isn’t hard to handle and feels comfortable for extended periods, whisper quiet sound, and an overall simple user interface that anybody can figure out.
He’ll get 1 to 2 hours of battery life from the device itself depending on the strength setting, and rapid charging thanks to an included docking station.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Therabody has also released a Mini model priced at $199.00, however in our review we found it to be significantly weaker and less satisfying than the full Prime version.
There are a few areas where the Theragun Prime loses marks, in particular with regard to the head attachments which allow a wider range of muscle stimulation.
Therabody provides 4 different tips, and for the price point it feels like a cheap move. To contrast, our Editor’s Pick: Mifo O5 Plus Gen 3 includes a bevy of accessories including 7 sizes and shapes to ear tips for the perfect fit. That’s critical when giving a gift, and we wish Therabody would offer a little more in the way of customization.
Apple Watch Series 5: Health features that men will actually use – $384.99 at Amazon.com
Where to buy the Apple Watch Series 5 in the US
If you aren’t price sensitive, the Apple Watch Series 5 may be the health gift a man actually appreciates. This rugged, waterproof smartwatch packs in features that help monitor health and wellness under any circumstances (yes, even while swimming) in a form factor that is vastly improved over previous models.
BEST VALUE
| GIFT OPTIONS ✅ Gift messaging available ✅ Gift returns available ⭕ Plan ahead – may not be in stock |
Why Apple makes the best smartwatch for men at the nexus of value and features
Health and wellness features galore. The Apple watch has built in tech to monitor heart rate and a multitude of body changes throughout the day. For active movers, the watch can detect falls and alert emergency services or loved ones. Data is stored in Apple’s Health software, and can be viewed to better understand patterns.
Good overall quality for a smartwatch. Since smartwatches were invented, we have lamented at poor signal quality, dropped calls, and pairing fiascos. Apple has included top quality chipsets and firmware, and we were pleased with the overall experience. Unfortunately, users need to be in the Apple ecosystem to take full advantage of health features, so Android phone users are out of luck.
Limited sports-specific features. While Apple does an excellent job with daily life, we would have liked to see more sports-specific options out of the box. Including multiple wrist straps for various situations or offering brighter colors would be welcome additions.
Marhsall Stanmore II: Throwback design with the latest tech inside – $326.00 at Amazon.com
Where to buy the Marhsall Stanmore II Alexa-enabled Bluetooth Speaker in the US
Marshall has delved into the wireless speaker category by focusing on a classic look that turns heads and complements nearly any decor. And while the Stanmore II features big, booming sound and a super solid design, the real benefits are in the included tech.
BEST VALUE
| GIFT OPTIONS ✅ Gift messaging available ✅ Gift returns available ⭕ Plan ahead – may not be in stock |
Why Marhsall gets our approval for performance and design
Absolutely stunning design. The Stanmore II is beautiful to look with a vintage, masculine energy. With 3 leather colors to choose form and brass accent dials and toggle switches that beg to be touched, the Stanmore II is a truly unique and cool gift that won’t go out of style any time soon.
Great wireless sound that comes at a cost. Marhsall has engineered a product that is indeed worthy of the name, but you’ll pay for it. The Stanmore II produces clean and precise audio when connected to a Bluetooth device or a streaming service, even at the highest volumes. This is due to the included two 15 watt class D amplifiers powering its tweeters and a 50 watt class D amplifier to drive its subwoofer. All that sound engineering comes at a hefty $300+ price tag.
The quality materials mean the Stanmore II is heavy. While the speaker is wireless, it won’t be something he takes with him or swaps between rooms in the house with any frequency.
Built for Alexa, but may not work for you. The Stanmore II seamlessly provides access to Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant when connected by wifi. That means you can easily give voice commands to do nearly anything. However, privacy concerns may discourage gift recipients from truly enjoying the product. After all, Alexa is always listening…