You already know what they’ll say: “Oh, I don’t need anything, honey.” In my case, my Asian grandpa, aka my gung gung (my mom’s dad), always adds, “Don’t go wasting money, silly.” But Grandpa, it’s not wasting money if it makes life easier for you. Sure, nobody really needs much—but a few thoughtful gadgets can make life a whole lot lighter.
If you’re also searching for the best gifts for your grandparents, you’re in the right place. Here are 8 ideas that could brighten their days—and yours, too.
Help them stay healthy and active
Back when I was scraping by as a jobless five-year-old, I could only afford stolen makeup from my mom’s drawer…Now that I have a bit of adult money, I can give gifts that actually make a difference—things that say, you mean the world to me, and I want you to stay strong and safe. After all, I’m pretty sure my grandpa needs more than half a tube of Chanel Rouge Coco Glossimer (which, fun fact, Best Buy sells it too!).
Garmin vivosmart 5 fitness tracker with heart rate monitor
My 80-year-old gung gung still sprints around like he’s in a race—good for him, slightly terrifying for us, especially when he disappears down the block. This fitness tracker does more than count steps and monitor his sleep and heart rate. It also sends alerts in case of a fall or emergency, so we will know exactly where he is right away. It keeps him safe without slowing him down.
RingConn Gen 2 Air AI smart ring
My grandma refuses to wear a fitness tracker because it “feels bulky.” This sleek ring is the sneaky workaround. It tracks all her key health metrics and even comes with an AI assistant that offers personalized insights to support her wellness and daily habits. And if it ever goes missing, the “Find Your Ring” feature saves everyone from crawling around and checking every nook and cranny.
Fuel your grandparents’ favourite hobbies
These gifts say, I see what you love doing, and I want you to enjoy it even more.
Bird Buddy Pro solar smart bird feeder
With this smart bird feeder, my maa maa (my dad’s mom) can keep tabs on his favourite chickadees without climbing trees. The built-in camera captures crisp photos and videos, while AI recognizes over 1,000 species. Every little visitor sends an alert straight to her phone, so she never misses a moment.
LEGO Botanical: Orchid
My grandma also loves gardening (yes, she’s a lady of many hobbies), but her knees disagree. This Orchid LEGO set could be the next best thing. Modelled after a real orchid, she can rotate the blooms, stems, roots, and leaves—plus, it never wilts.
Kobo Libra Colour 7″ digital eReader with touchscreen
My je je (my dad’s dad) loved getting lost in a good story. With this lightweight, easy-to-hold eReader, he could carry an entire library with him, and the glare-free screen made every page comfortable on his eyes.
Make thier day-to-day easier
These gifts say, you don’t have to do all the heavy chores—these tools can help.
Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum & mop
This robot vacuum helps my OCD po po (my mom’s mom) keep every corner of the house perfectly clean. With strong suction, smart navigation, and obstacle avoidance, it does the hard work for her, and she can control everything right from the easy-to-use Roborock app.
Snow Joe Ultra electric snow blower
Luckily my hometown never snows. But if it did, I know my grandpa would insist on shovelling it all by himself, because asking for help is just “not his style”. If your grandparents are just as stubborn, the Snow Joe can save them from lifting heavy shovels and risking an ER visit. Its 15-amp motor clears up to 720 pounds of snow per minute, plowing an 18-inch wide, 10-inch deep path quickly, so he can be back by the fireplace in no time.
Amazon Echo Show 11 smart display with spatial audio & Alexa+
I haven’t seen my gung gung in years, but this smart display helps shrink that distance. Its spatial audio makes us feel like we’re in the same room. With Alexa and the big screen, he can start a video chat without any fuss. And when we’re not on a call, it doubles as a digital photo frame, so he can see our pictures all day and feel a bit closer to us.
I still carry this photo of my je je and me wherever I go. It was taken on his 80th birthday, he passed away just a few days later.
You’d think memories fade over time, but our minds work in mysterious ways. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning, yet I can still describe every detail leading up to this frozen moment. Early that morning, my dad and I scoured every bakery in town for the biggest cake we could find. We fought over who should pay—and of course I won, because who could beat a little girl throwing a tantrum, face streaked with tears and fists clutching the crumpled bills she’s saved all summer? I’ll never forget the way my grandpa’s face lit up when he saw 50-pound me struggling to hold that ridiculously large cake, as if I were handing him the moon. That moment will always stay with me, both in my head and in my wallet.
I guess what I’m trying to say is always, always make sure your grandparents feel loved. Surprise them with presents. Take them on movie dates. Cook them dinners. Buy them flowers. They might never really need much, but that’s not the point. It’s about showing them, in all the ways, that you love them just as fiercely as they’ve always shown they love you.
