Top tech gifts for Gen Z: 10 trendy, practical gadgets they’ll love

Apple AirPods Max over-ear noise-cancelling headphones

Over-ear headphones are a must-have for many Gen Zers. While AirPods are a love-it-or-hate-it product that younger generations tend to eschew, the AirPods Max are widely loved. With its chic, squared-off design and flattering pastel colours, the Max is essential for commuting and studying.

Fitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker

Fitness trackers are a great way to start your Gen Zer off with the right wellness tech without encouraging them to always be plugged in. They’re not just for fitness buffs, either—they also make great gifts for general mindfulness.

I found fitness trackers to be especially helpful when I was in university: the campus was so big that I’d have no idea if I was getting 2,000 steps or 15,000 steps a day at school. Wearing a fitness tracker helped me figure out why I was tired each day. They helped me gain a bit of control back over my body, my time, and my health. They’re one of the best tech gifts for teens and young adults who go to school on a large campus.

Zachvo 16″ portable laptop monitor

Portable monitors are a great way to create an immersive experience on the go. They’re a good option for work, school, or library study time, and they help decrease eye strain by making visuals larger.

reMarkable 2 paper tablet with Marker Plus pen

Digital notebooks are a modern tool that previous generations didn’t have. Designed to deliver a paper-like experience with the convenience of digital storage, they can be a great option for students with a heavy workload. Teens can use them to annotate PDFs, take notes, and convert handwriting into text, complete with charts and diagrams—tools they can continue to rely on in the workforce.

Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO AMD desktop computer

Gen Z is, truly, the first iPad/tablet generation. Many students today grow up using only Chromebooks, smartphones, and tablets. These stripped-down devices can suffice for basic studying, but if you want to give your kid an advantage over their peers, a laptop or desktop computer can make all the difference.

When you transition from an app-based environment to a full operating system, you have more of an opportunity to learn skills like troubleshooting, coding, word processing, and professional editing. All of these skills will give your kids a leg up over other candidates when it comes to applying for jobs, internships, residencies, and more. Opting for a desktop computer or laptop is a great option whether your kids want to go into a technical field or a creative one, and it can help them pick up skills that their peers aren’t bringing to the table.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 stabilized 4K handheld camera

My #1 tech gift recommendation for content creators is the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It’s a compact, high-quality creator camera that makes content creation feel easy and seamless. Creator cameras are a newer category of products, designed for things like live streaming and creating day-in-the-life content. They film smooth, self-stabilized content that’s sharp and high-res, giving your teen a leg up when it comes to building their platform.

Fujifilm X-T30 III mirrorless camera

Creation isn’t just a job—it’s a drive. It feels good to create something new, whether you’re doing it as a job or you’re making something just for you and your friends. The Fujifilm X-T30 III is a new launch that caught my eye with its hybrid design. It’s a mirrorless camera that can perform on a semi-professional level, but it allows photographers to capture in-camera with vintage-inspired, filtered film simulations. If you have an artistic teen with serious talent, trust me: they’re going to love this gift.

WaterH Boost smart bottle

Encourage your teen to embrace style and wellness with a smart water bottle. The WaterH Boost syncs their water intake with their phone, and that data is sharable if you need to keep on top of their intake, too. It features a BPA-free, stainless steel bottle and a travel-friendly lid design that won’t leak in the car or in their bag. This smart bottle is a practical, portable tech gift for Gen Z that you might not have considered. Plus, it’s great for keeping on top of water levels if they’re taking fibre or electrolyte supplements.

Elago magnetic silicone iPhone case

Fun, aesthetic smartphone cases are a great gift or stocking stuffer option. For university and high-school aged kids, soft prints and pastels are huge again—a fact that I’m loving as a big fan of beige and lilac. Opt for MagSafe cases if you’re buying for someone with an iPhone, or just go for something grippy if they have an Android.

j5create eco-friendly USB-C multi-port hub

Hubs and other docking devices are a great way to buy practical gift for Gen Z that’s both useful and appreciated. If your teen or young adult works off of a laptop, chances are they don’t have quite enough plugs in it—or, if they do, not all of those plugs are the ones they need. USB-C hubs are one of life’s little practicalities that can be made just a tiny bit more fun with a pop of colour.