By Liam Worcheck We’ve all gotten our fair share of bad gifts - the ones where we had to plaster a smile on our face and be polite about it. After all, it's the thought that counts. This can happen to anyone, budget shoppers and deluxe buyers alike. However, we can break the cycle. Let this be your guide to buying the right gifts for teens this year, whether you're looking for the low end or the high end. This list will cover five tech gifts including earbuds, bluetooth speakers, VR headsets, reading devices, and smart TV devices with two subcategories for lower and higher budgets. Earbuds:
These are a go-to gift for anyone Christmas shopping for teens. If you’ve ever received a pair of dollar store work-for-one-day earbuds, you may want to share this guide with your fellow bargain hunters. The Low - Panasonic RPHJE120KThe #1 best seller on amazon, these earbuds pack a lot of punch in such a tiny price tag. They are available in an array of colors, matching perfectly for any sort of teen. With approximately 85% of reviews being four stars and up, these earbuds are the way to go for anyone on a budget. The High - Bose SoundSport Bose is very well known for having the utmost quality in the audio department, and these earbuds are no exception. The earbuds include a protective case, three differing in size changeable “Stay Hear” tips and an in-line remote that provides an easy way to control volume and other functionalities without having to pull your phone out. The remote also doubles as a decent microphone, which is a plus. However, this kind of quality comes at a price, and for teens who have a reputation for throwing their earbuds in the washer, you may want to direct your attention to the less pricey choice. Bluetooth Speaker: It's getting harder and harder to pry teenagers away from their phones. As a result, wired speakers are a thing of the past, while Bluetooth is on the rise. This is a great gift for any teen who likes music and has an Mp3 player or a phone, so pretty much everyone. The Low - Anker Classic Portable Bluetooth Speaker This speaker is a great option as it is very high quality (average of 4.5 stars on amazon), is very portable, and comes at a very affordable price. It would probably be out of range for the budget of anyone shopping for a Secret Santa, however. It can connect via Bluetooth for up to 33 feet and comes in a few color options. The High - Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker 2 Coming in at a surprisingly lofty price, this portable bluetooth speaker beats out almost all other options on the market right now. Coming from Bose, the premium sound quality is a given, but where this speaker really shines is in its quality packed into it’s tiny, durable shell. The speaker comes in the choice of black or white and is built of almost entirely of metal. VR Headset: Some people are more focused on the mediocre “hoverboards” when it comes to our modern technology, but in my opinion, virtual reality is just about where we are at in terms of technology. And to the surprise of myself, there are many options for those of us who don’t have one grand burning a hole in our pockets and, as always, many options for those who do. The Low - Google Cardboard Google Cardboard is the best option for those of you who would like to try out entry level Virtual Reality. It may not be pretty, but on the inside, it’s a pretty decent piece of tech. There are several manufacturers dipping into the rising standard of VR using the google cardboard name, but if you are looking for the cheapest options, you should probably stick with the not-so-stylish cardboard models. Keep in mind, most models do require you to have a smartphone (usually 3-6 inch sized). The High - DESTEK 2016 VR Headset Being relatively new in terms of technology, there are not that many premium options out there. Most models simply improve on comfort and looks (although I don’t see how far one can go to make a gigantic piece of plastic strapped to your head stylish), and the DESTEK 2016 is no exception. This particular model includes a remote control, a more robust plastic design and several comfort oriented improvements including a better strap and more padding. Unfortunately, this product does also require a smartphone to operate. Reading Devices: These are the perfect gift for any bookworms out there. “E Readers” have many unique functionalities including the ability to buy the newest titles easily and a better alternative to reading in the dark. Another great aspect of these devices is that you can store all of your books on one tiny tablet instead of a whole bookshelf. The Low - Amazon Kindle There are, surprisingly, limited options for those who are looking for a dirt cheap E Reader. The big names like Kindle and Nook usually go for $80 and up, but this particular model seems like a good choice for anyone looking for one of the lower end E Readers while still purchasing a quality device. The High - Fire HD This E Reader breaks the line between full blown tablet and simple reading device. It comes in a multitude of colors and has a highly respected durability, claiming to be twice as durable as the iPad Mini. The screen is an 8” HD display that has vibrant colors and beats out the Amazon Kindle’s dull display. While it does the job of displaying books just fine, some other pros are that it includes gaming and application capabilities and that it includes an HD camera. This tablet is a great gift for any teens who enjoy reading but also want a do-it-all device. Smart TV Devices: Ever want to turn your old, useless TV into a binge watching machine? Tired of getting that dreaded “blocked” screen when you are trying to watch Netflix on your Chromebook? Well worry not, these Smart TV Devices allow any ordinary TVs to play a multitude of apps like YouTube and Netflix and even stream your own laptop or smartphone’s screen. All you need is a screen with an HDMI port and you are good to go. This is a great gift for any teen who wants a better experience when it comes to watching TV shows, movies, or basically any other form of multimedia. The Low - Chromecast While this product has been out for a while, it just got a huge upgrade and is still on top for cheap multimedia devices. Google has outdone itself with the Chromecast, providing over 200,000 TV shows, movies, radio, songs, sports, and more in a great price tag. You can also play your favorite smartphone games on your TV, which is pretty handy. The High - Apple TV Another oldy but goody is the Apple TV. It has similar multimedia capabilities as the Chromecast but has a bit of a more user friendly experience. You don’t need another device to use it, which sets it far above the Chromecast in terms of out-of-the-box ready use. Apple TV also got a upgrade recently which replaced the previously horrid controller with a much more functional one, plus you can now use Siri with it. But, as always, you will need to pay that extra “Apple Tax.” This will probably deter most buyers, since there is always Chrome cast.
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