If you’ve got a loved one who loves nothing more than cutting-edge stuff that pushes the boundaries of modern living, we’ve got good news for you: these days, that stuff is everywhere. And it’s more than just the wired world of smartwatches and tablets. Innovation has bled into every corner of the retail market, from kitchenware to workout gear to, in some select cases, even your wardrobe.
To give you a taste of what we’re talking about, we’ve rounded up 23 of the latest and greatest technologically advanced gifts on the market. If there’s a tech whiz in your life—or just someone who wants everyday existence to be as seamless and easy as possible—you’re sure to bring a smile to their face.
1
Golden Fleece Laser Cut Seamless Trench by Brooks Brothers
$648; buy now at brooksbrothers.com
Farewell and good riddance, all ye stiff-and-structured trench coats. Hello and welcome, Golden Fleece Laser Cut Trench, from Brooks Brothers. Thanks to a highly technical construction process (that, like a crazy-cool spy flick, involves literal lasers), this coat features best-in-class comfort, functionality, and breathability. And, as you can see, it looks great, too.
2
Professional Touchscreen Blender by Ninja
$99; buy now at jet.com
Smoothies are the easiest way for most busy folks to get in their daily recommended servings of fruits and veggies. Thing is, most pedestrian blenders take way too long (and leave behind unwanted chunks). Not the Ninja. It has a sweet touchscreen with Auto-iQ presets for effortless blending, plus blades up and down the agitator for speedy, efficient shredding power.
3
Timberline 850 Pellet Grill by Traeger
$1,699.99; buy now at traegergrills.com
For some, grilling perfect steaks is consider an art that requires years of well-honed technique. For everyone else, the time to learn just doesn’t exist. Enter: the electric pellet grill, which pretty much does all the hard stuff for you. And this one, from Timberline, takes the set-it-and-forget-it ease of a pellet grill up a notch with a special WiFIRE controller that lets you control smoke levels and temperatures, and set timers, too, all right from a handy smartphone app.
$799; buy now at dji.com
If you’re looking for the best-possible shots (either video or photo), a pro-quality drone, like the Mavic Air, is all but mandatory. One of a handful of stellar drones from DJI, this one offers a portable design with high-end features: a 4K camera on a three-axis gimbal, a 21-minute flight time, and environmental sensors that scan in three dimensions to limit crashes.
5
Powerstation Plus by Mophie
$79.95; buy now at mophie.com
Even though most of the latest smartphones pack all-day battery life, it’s a safe bet to carry around some extra juice, whether you’re heading out-and-about in the concrete jungle or the real one. The Mophie Powerstation Plus is about the size of a regular smartphone but offers enough power to charge an iPhone X for 20 hours or an iPad for 5 hours. Plus, you’ll never have to fumble around for tucked-away cords: this thing comes with an integrated Lightning cable.
6
Nebula Mars II Projector by Anker
$499; buy now at amazon.com
Nowadays, everyone and their mother has a luxurious flat-screen with a ginormous display and crystal-clear video quality. That may be projectors, which tend to broadcast a bit on the blurry side, have taken a backseat. But this powerful, portable projector from Anker bucks every trend. Thanks to so-called DLP tech, you get crisp-as-autumn video, while dual 10-watt speakers offer Dolby-level sound quality. And a four-hour battery life means you can get away with projecting in entirety pretty much every movie that isn’t an extended version of a Lord of the Rings chapter.
7
Soundlink Revolve+ Bluetooth Speaker by Bose
$299; buy now at jet.com
Trust the audio experts at Bose to make a portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers deep and powerful surround sound from a deceptively small package. The Soundlink is water resistant and can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, plus has a flexible textile handle and tripod mount in the bottom, so you can schlep it wherever you roam with ease. You can even access Siri or Google Home through it.
$399.00; buy now at bestbuy.com
Imagine strapping into the captain’s chair on the USS Enterprise. It’s every self-proclaimed nerd’s dream come true—and with the Oculus Rift, it’s a dream that can actually come true. Star Trek: Bridge Crew, one of the platform’s marquee titles, allows players to control a Federation vessel in full immersion. But that’s not all the console offers. You’ll find everything from avant garde indies (like the time-manipulating gem, Superhot) to AAA shoot-em-ups (like the most bonkers version of Doom you’ll ever experience). Virtual reality may be on the brink of total market domination. But it’s not there yet—and, as of now, the Rift is as good as it gets.
9
HOVR CGR Connected Shoes by Under Armour
From $120; buy now at underarmour.com
If you’ve got a pair of the HOVR CGR insulated shoes on your feet, there’s no need to shun frigid winter runs. They have a unique intelligent insulation that changes warming or cooling properties depending on type of activity you’re doing. Plus, the shoe has a digital sensor that tracks and analyses how you run, allowing you a data-driven perspective that can help you learn how to improve and ultimately perform at your peak.
10
Airnet Base Layers by Daehlie
$90; buy now at campsaver.com
These amazing and unique base layers from Daehlie are made from merino wool, but have mesh panels on the sides, stomach, and quads, to make sure you’re insulated without overheating. Better yet, stretchy wool sections with elastic help make the whole garment conform to your body.
