CNET 年度科技禮物：為節日願望清單添置必備好物

It’s time to start making your holiday gift list. And that can be a lot of pressure when there’s a lot to choose from. Some tech isn’t worth what it costs, while others are underrated and changing our day-to-day — like our favorite three-in-one portable fan or easy-to-use coffee maker with biodegradable pods.

Our CNET editors handpicked 15 tech gifts to help you feel more confident in your choice before it arrives. Whether you’re looking for a screen-free tech gift for your kid or the easy-to-use home tech gift that makes the day-to-day a little easier, there’s a gift for everyone at every price point to make checking off your wish list a little easier.

Best Game Gift of the Year: Grand Theft Auto 6

Grand Theft Auto 6

It’s been 13 years since the next chapter of Grand Theft Auto was released, but it’s finally coming. And it’s the one gamers are bound to be talking about. Grand Theft Auto 6 continues with characters Jason and Lucia as they take on missions in Leonida. In usual GTA fashion, we can expect nods to popular films and figures, as we have in earlier GTA games. 

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GTA 6 marks the first original game from the popular video game publisher, Rockstar, since Red Dead Redemption 2 was released in 2018 — not including remasters of other games. GTA 6 will be the latest game from Rockstar since then.

GTA 6 will be released on Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S. However, preorders are available now on Rockstar, but if you preorder before Nov. 20, you’ll get the Vintage Vice City Pack for free. Physical copies of GTA 6 are not expected to be available at launch.

Game of the Year Runner-Up: Pokemon Pokopia

If you want a friendlier or more relaxing Pokemon game instead of the typical pocket monster battles, Pokemon Pokopia is it. In this video game, you’ll play the character Ditto and help the Pokemon by joining forces to rebuild their world after all humans have vanished. The game’s style resembles Animal Crossing and could be your new evening escape. However, Pokemon Pokopia is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.

If you’re looking for another Pokemon tech gadget, keep scrolling. It’s already on my holiday shopping list for my kid.

Best Headphones Gift of the Year: Apple AirPods 5

Apple AirPods 5

Of all of Apple’s AirPods models, the latest AirPods 5 is the one to buy if you’re in the market for new earbuds. Both the base and step-up models of the AirPods 5 have some upgrades from the AirPods 4. Both versions have active noise cancellation and improved sound. However, the step-up model costs $149 and has a wireless charging case and an extra hour of battery life — even with ANC enabled.

Best Kitchen Gadget Gift of the Year: Bruvi Pod Coffee Maker

Bruvi BV-01 Brewer

The Bruvi Pod Coffee Maker is an aesthetically pleasing smart coffee maker that has all the features to fulfill your dreams of a barista-level cup of joe from home. You can make espresso, cold brew, iced and drip coffee. Our kitchen experts say it makes pretty good crema for your espresso shots, too. Bruvi’s machine walks you through each step with an easy-to-navigate touchscreen and symbols. And the B-Pods are biodegradable, so you can worry less about polluting the environment with your single-serve B-Pods because they’re designed to break down in the landfill.

Kitchen Gadget Gift of the Year Runner-Up: Caraway Coffee Maker (Plastic-free)

If you’re looking for another coffee maker option without worrying about pods, Caraway’s  plastic-free coffee maker may be an environmentalist’s dreams, too. It has a Clean Brew System that’s made of stainless steel and glass. 

The Caraway Coffee Maker has a glass water reservoir, stainless steel water path and a stainless steel shower head to evenly distribute hot water across your coffee grounds. It also has a stainless steel brew basket and a glass carafe. Plus, you’ll get a stainless steel coffee ground scoop and a stainless steel reusable coffee filter. 

You can quietly brew and descale your coffee with a dial control. And it has a 90-minute warming feature to keep your coffee warm when it’s finished brewing. Caraway’s coffee machine comes in four colors and is backed by a two-year limited warranty.

Best Laptop Gift of the Year: MacBook Neo

If you’re leaning toward giving your kid a new laptop or want a new one for casual online shopping, the MacBook Neo could be a good choice. The MacBook Neo is Apple’s budget-friendly laptop that has the look and feel of its premium laptop, the MacBook Pro. But it starts at a much lower price point of $689. It’s durable, lightweight and has a slightly bigger display than the MacBook Air. The MacBook Neo also has USB-C charging and uses the A18 power chip just like the iPhone 16 Pro.

Touch ID is available on the Neo’s upgraded model and 512GB of storage, which costs $100 more.

Best Pet Tech Gift of the Year: Shark’s StainForce

Shark StainForce

Shark’s StainForce is a battery-powered cordless handheld vacuum that feels like a must-have if you have pets. It works on multiple surfaces, including carpet, hardwood and upholstery like couches. Plus, we like that Shark’s StainForce is lightweight, making it ideal for quickly cleaning up small messes. Plus, the suction is powerful enough to clean up new spills, old couch stains, pet hair and even cat puke — a mess our editor tried cleaning himself.

The Shark Stainforce includes a stain removal spray that can be kept in the vacuum’s side caddy and there’s a smaller nozzle-brush cleaner to tackle tight spots.

Best Phone Gift of the Year: Google Pixel 10A

Best cheap phone

Google Pixel 10A

The Google Pixel 10A is CNET’s best budget-friendly phone, costing $499. If you were considering the Pixel 9A, note that the 10A offers upgrades that make it our top pick. There’s an upgraded camera with a flat rear camera flush with the phone. You can expect other features, like built-in Gemini and wireless charging. And the battery has 5,100-mAh capacity, which gives over 30 hours of battery life. 

Plus, Google promises that you’ll get seven years of software and security updates before you need to upgrade to a new smartphone. And if you’re upgrading from an iPhone, you can send files and photos to an iPhone through AirDrop.

Phone Gift of the Year Runner-Up: iPhone 16

The iPhone 16 isn’t Apple’s latest smartphone, but it’s still one of CNET’s best smartphones. It has a few of the same hardware features as the new iPhone 18 Pro, like the side Camera Control and Action buttons. We like that it still has great picture quality and it’s equipped with Apple Intelligence. Plus, many of Apple’s smartphone updates come in the software upgrades, so you’ll get everything iOS 27 has to offer — including Siri AI when it’s out of beta testing. Best of all, since the iPhone 16 starts at $799 for 128GB of storage, you’ll get all these features for a fraction of the price of Apple’s new premium models, which start at $1,200.

Best Phone Accessory Gift of the Year: Iniu SnapGo Air 10,000 mAh

Best magnetic power bank overall

Iniu SnapGo Air 10,000 mAh

Iniu’s wireless charger is MagSafe, so you can snap it on the back of your smartphone to charge on the go. This one’s a pretty slim portable charger compared to other options. It has two USB-C ports and comes with a wired charging cable to charge your phone or the charger, but heads up: It includes a short cord. 

Iniu says it charges quickly, taking the iPhone 17 Pro from 0% to 50% in 33 minutes and from 20% to 78% in 25 minutes. And the charger has an LED display showing how much battery life it has left. However, Iniu’s SnapGo Air charger only works with iPhone 12-18 models.

Best Smart Home Gift of the Year: iRobot Roomba 205

iRobot Roomba 205

The iRobot Roomba 205 is a robot vacuum that can map out your home and clean your floors smoothly — even in the dark. The combo has a built-in DustCompactor that compacts dirt in the robot. And Roomba says you can clean for up to 60 days without needing to empty it, plus it doesn’t require a dock. 

We like that it can clean different surfaces and has a three-stage cleaning process. You can choose the suction level, schedule cleanings, choose rooms to clean up a mess, skip or give a few extra cleaning passes for heavy traffic areas. The price will depend on which model you choose. The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor is originally priced at $450, while the vacuum and mop combo is regularly $470.

Smart Home Gift of the Year Runner-Up: Level Lock Pro Smart Lock

The Level Lock Pro Smart Lock looks like a standard lock, but it’s actually a smart lock packed with hidden features that make you rethink bulky smart locks that can make your door look unappealing. The smart lock uses a CR2 lithium battery that’s expected to last one year. The lock’s sensor can tell when the door is open or closed. And there’s a built-in sensor that will alert or wake up the lock when someone approaches, instead of always being on. 

You can open your door using the included contact-free entry fob. Or you can use Apple Home Keys, Matter, the touch-to-lock feature, physical keys or the optional keypad ($79). Level’s lock works with most smart home systems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Apple Home. 

Best Streaming Service Gift of the Year: Spotify

Spotify

Spotify is the all-around best streaming service for all of your listening needs — whether it’s music, podcasts or audiobooks. You can even watch music videos and sing along with the lyrics on your smartphone, tablet or desktop app. 

Spotify is my go-to for creating and sharing playlists. I even use its AI DJ, dubbed DJ X, to curate playlists based on my mood, occasion or activity. It’s even on when I just need music playing in the background. Spotify also has a unique way of rounding up all of your listening preferences throughout the year with its year-end Spotify Wrapped. The roundup gathers all of your favorite artists, genres, books, podcasts, listening time and more. 

Spotify’s ad-supported account is free, but upgraded accounts start at $13. Premium members also have 15 hours of audiobook listening per month. Premium Duo was recently announced, allowing couples to share Premium perks on a single bill for $19 per month. Family plans have premium perks for up to six household members and cost $22 per month.

Streaming Service Gift of the Year Runner-Up: Netflix

If you’re looking to gift a streaming service for more movie nights or binge-watching shows, Netflix is the one to choose. Netflix has plenty of content for kids and interactive games. weekly releases and live events like a few NFL games this season that you may not want to miss. It wins CNET editors over for its original shows and easy-to-use navigation compared to other streaming services. Netflix plans start at $9 per month, but prices vary depending on the number of devices you plan to use and whether you want ads. 

If you choose Netflix as a gift, be sure to circle back for our regularly updated roundups of the best Netflix movies and shows to stream so you can make the most of the subscription.

Best Toy Gift of the Year: Lego Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle

Lego Pokemon Smart Play: Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle

Lego has a way to bring your builds to life with its Smart Play screen-free interactive feature for select Pokemon and Star Wars sets. It’s the perfect tech gift for kids while still encouraging imaginative playtime. I’m even considering the Charizard and Jolteon set for my little one, who is obsessed with Legos and the pocket monsters. 

Lego’s Smart Brick makes the characters interactive using motion sensors, LED lights and speakers. Lego has a few Smart Play compatible sets, but I highly recommend starting with all-in-one Smart Play sets, such as the Charizard and Jolteon set. It includes the smart bricks, smart tags and one smart charger.

There are a few other Smart Play-compatible Pokemon and Star Wars Lego sets at different prices if you want to see if you or your child are really interested before buying the pricier sets like this one. But only a select few have a Smart Brick included to enable Smart Play, such as the Charizard and Jolteon set (which has two) and the Pikachu set (which has one).

Best TV Gift of the Year: Vizio Mini LED Quantum Series 4K TV

Vizio Mini LED Quantum Series 4K TV

Vizio’s Mini LED Quantum Series 4K TV has a mini-LED backlight for better brightness and contrast compared to standard LED TVs, and its Quantum Dot technology also means you can expect bright colors. If you’re a gamer, you may be impressed by the TV’s 120 fps in 1080p for smooth, clear viewing even for fast-action sequences. Our editors also say Vizio’s new mini LED TV is one of the most affordable of its kind yet. It’s available in two sizes: the 65-inch VQM65C-10 is $398 and the 75-inch is VQM75C-10 is $498.

Vizio’s smart TV has a voice remote and uses Vizio’s operating system for apps. Plus, if you already have a Vizio sound bar, the TV’s design is compatible with Vizio’s QuickFit design and hardware to fit snug to your TV without gaps.

Best Under $50 Gift of the Year: JBL Go 5

Best tiny portable wireless speaker from JBL

JBL Go 5

The JBL Go 5 is a supersmall portable Bluetooth speaker that’s the perfect stocking stuffer or gift around $50. The fifth generation of JBL’s Go still packs supreme sound, but this model offers 10 hours of battery life and supports USB-C wired audio. It’s also waterproof, dustproof and drop-proof, covering most of life’s incidents. If you want more sound on the go or without big, bulky speakers at home, you can connect two Go 5’s by bumping them together through AirTouch. 

The JBL Go 5 comes in 10 colors, including yellow and teal.

Best Wearable Gift of the Year: Apple Watch SE 3

Best value

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE3 is a good entry point to Apple’s smartwatch — with a starting price of $250. There are a few features that make it the one to pick for the holidays, like the bright always-on display. And it uses the same S10 processor as the more expensive Series 11 and Ultra 3 — but at a fraction of the price. And you don’t have to worry about carrying a charger for the workday, because you get up to eight hours of performance with just 15 minutes of charging. 

The Apple Watch SE 3 is equipped with watchOS, which has Apple’s health features like Apple’s Sleep Score and Workout Buddy. It comes in two finishes, midnight and starlight, and two sizes, 40mm and 44mm.

Best Wellness Gift of the Year: Shark ChillPill

Shark ChillPill

You may be wondering why you may consider gifting a portable fan over the winter holidays. But the Shark ChillPill is not your ordinary portable fan. It could be used for workouts or if you’re hot-natured. 

The Shark ChillPill has a three-in-one design: a portable fan with airflow up to 17 mph, a cool water mister and cooling plate attachments that can be placed directly on your skin. The ChillPill has 10 speeds and has a rechargeable battery with up to six hours of battery life. It comes in six colors and has a two-year limited warranty. However, accessories such as a wristlet and a crossbody strap for the fan are sold separately.

Best Yard and Outdoors Gift of the Year: Aiper Scuba V3

A robot helper that will save summer

Aiper Scuba V3

The Aiper Scuba V3 wins CNET’s Lab Test award for being the most efficient cordless pool cleaner CNET editors have tested. It has a charging dock and can run for up to three hours on eco mode. You can use the Aiper Scuba V3 app to schedule cleanings, choose your cleaning mode and keep track of the pool cleaner’s progress. 

We also like that it has an AI Patrol feature with cameras and sensors to track down leaves and dirt to clean the pool. It cleans the floors, walls and the waterline, and parks itself when it’s finished — making it the perfect group gift for your loved one who spends too much time and energy deep cleaning the pool.

Dashia Milden

Senior Consumer Insights Editor

Dashia is the consumer insights editor for CNET. She specializes in data-driven analysis and news at the intersection of tech, personal finance and consumer sentiment. Dashia investigates economic shifts and everyday challenges to help readers make well-informed decisions, and she covers a range of topics, including technology, security, energy and money. Dashia graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She loves baking, teaching spinning and spending time with her family. See full bio