Best holiday gifts for every type of dad

Dads and tech go together like peanut butter and jelly, so when it comes to gifts for dads this holiday season, you can’t go wrong with tech. Even dads who aren’t particularly proficient with the latest tech are probably at least intrigued by it. And many tech products aren’t just for fun: they offer plenty of value for dads of all ages.

With that said, remove that pair of designer socks, tie, and monthly subscription box you might have had sitting in your virtual cart for the last few days. Instead, consider getting dad a cool tech gift this holiday season that he’ll not only use, but also love. From smart home tech to cameras, drones, big screen TVs, and more, fathers will welcome all of it with open arms. Plus, they’ll appreciate the extra thought that went into these gifts for dad.

Smart home gifts for dad who loves to tinker

Being able to control everything from lights to a security camera, music, TV, and more from the comfort of your couch is worth the set up required for a smart home. And with the latest tech, set-up can be done within minutes.

Start dad off with some smart lights in a starter kit to replace his old halogen bulbs in one room. Chances are, he’ll love it. At the next occasion, you can expand the system for him (if he hasn’t done it already himself!).

Not only can dad control the lights from an app on his phone while relaxing at home, he can also set schedules and remotely control the lights from anywhere. With colour bulbs, he can also set the mood with a vibrant blue for video game night and a sultry red for date night with his partner. Smart entertainment lighting includes things like strip lights and smart light panels. These can create ambiance in the living room, den, games room, or other room of the home where dad tends to spend a lot of his time.

An outdoor smart security camera is also something dad will love tinkering with. Or consider a video doorbell, which provides the freedom of not only being able to know when someone is at the door, but also seeing them. Many video doorbells work with smartphone apps. They also include features like smart replies, motion detection, night vision, and more. My son’s father loves using customized greetings and often chats with my son using the two-way feature of our video doorbell while he’s on the porch organizing the recycling once each week.

The hub of every smart home is a smart speaker. By now, dad probably has one like an Amazon Echo or Google Nest device. Add a smart display to the mix as a Father’s Day gift idea for dad so he can set up on his bedroom nightstand, in the kitchen, study, home office, or wherever else he might find it useful. This gift for dad adds the element of video along with audio. He can watch streaming videos, pull up a live feed from the security camera outside, make video calls, see the weather, and more.

Go the extra step and get him the Amazon Echo Hub, which serves as a smart home control panel for access to all the smart devices in the home. He can wall mount or set it up tabletop and use both voice commands and touch to control everything from lights to camera, music, and more, all from the single device.

Cameras for the creative and adventurous dad

Dad might be a budding photographer or maybe he’s always looking for a new hobby. Even those who aren’t into photography might be inspired with a premium camera and see it as a reason to start learning. One of the best options would be a compact mirrorless camera, which is lightweight, compact, and a nice in-between a point-and-shoot and larger DSLR that won’t be too complicated but have tons of manual features once he gets more familiar with using it.

A new model to consider is the Sony A6700, which my colleague Ted Kritsonis recently reviewed. He loved the precision afforded with this compact mirrorless camera, especially when shooting people, action shots, animals, and other similar subjects. He says it’s lightweight enough to bring with you, so dad will be using it everywhere from the kids’ soccer and hockey games to the next family vacation.

Another good option to consider is a camera or recording device dad can use for content creation, like the new DJI Pocket 3 handheld camera, which is perfect for shooting action on the go for dad’s podcast or social channels. He’ll love being able to capture all types of footage no matter where he is, and being able to easy throw this into his backpack or briefcase.

Keep in mind that most smartphones nowadays function as high-end cameras, too. So you might want to consider upgrading dad’s phone with a newer model, like the Apple iPhone 15 or even go for the new Google Pixel 8 Pro. f you have access to dad’s carrier plan, you can work out the details, or grab him an unlocked device.

Want to really impress dad? Get him a pair of the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses, which allow him to capture moments, communicate, listen to tunes, and more, all inconspicuously from these super-cool sunglasses. They have a built-in 12MP camera and a feature that allows him to livestream directly to Facebook or Instagram. He can use them as a Bluetooth speaker for listening to music and answering calls, too, thanks to the built-in speakers. He can store up to 100 videos or 500 photos in them glasses, uploading content to his computer later when he gets home. For a dad who always loves to be on the cutting-edge, this is a gift he’ll be “wowing” about and showing off to all his buddies.

Drone gifts for dad who loves to have fun

Every dad loves having a new tech toy to play with, becoming like a kid in the candy store when the opportunity arises. It’s for this reason that fun gifts for dad will always go over well. Drones are one of the most popular ones, and you can get dad an entry-level model he can use to practice and get familiarized with the process of navigating it at home in the backyard before taking it out to another approved area for use. He’ll be flying, doing stunts, and snapping aerial photos and videos in no time. If you want to go the extra mile, set him up for drone pilot training courses, too.

Entertainment for the dad who loves to sit back and relax

Who wouldn’t love a brand-new big screen TV for the home? As a great gift idea for dad, it’s a definite winner. Whether it’s for the family room, den, basement games room, or bedroom, looking at something 4K so he can get the best of the best when it comes to picture quality. A smart TV, which almost all of the latest TVs today are, will make it easy for him to access all his favourite streaming services right from the TV interface.

Want to really impress dad? Get him an outdoor TV like the Samsung The Terrace TV (shown at the top of this article) he can set up on the back deck for catching the game or the latest action flick while relaxing outside.

Complement the TV with great audio through a compact soundbar or home speaker system; or perhaps even a few Sonos Era 300 speakers combined with the Sonos Arc soundbar. He can be totally immersed in the action, whether he’s watching the big game or playing video games.

Gaming for the dad who loves to play

Speaking of which, if dad has been getting back into gaming, or has been an avid gamer for years, one of the great gift ideas for dad to consider is upgrading his old console with a new one like the Xbox Series S or X, or the PlayStation 5. Grab a bundle that includes a game he can start playing right away. Hint: a lot of dads, including my son’s father, are anxiously awaiting the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Or get the console on its own and grab a few new titles or an online pass so he can log in and download to get playing right away. Don’t forget useful accessories like a gaming headset, extra controllers, and maybe even a fancy new gaming chair.

Help him take his gaming to the next level with a virtual reality (VR) headset. He can enjoy a totally immersive experience either on his own, with the entire family. Plus, he will impress his buds during a guy’s night at home. With a VR headset, he can play games while on his feet versus sitting passively on the couch, explore virtual worlds, and more.

Get tech gifts for dad that he’ll love

It’s time to leave the boring, old traditional gifts behind and opt for something dad will truly love this holiday season. It might be something to facilitate his passion for gaming and entertainment, a gift that might spark a new hobby, or simply a new tech toy he can tinker with. There are plenty of options to consider when it comes to great gifts for dad.

See lots of great gifts for dad at Best Buy Online.