The best tech gifts for non-tech people are the ones they never have to think about. A gadget that needs an app, an account and a password before it does anything is homework, not a present. This guide gives you four questions to ask before you buy for a parent, grandparent, partner or friend who would rather not deal with tech, plus what to do before you wrap it.
The short version
A good tech gift for someone who is not into tech works on day one, fits something they already do, has no surprise monthly fee and has a named person to fix it.
- Ask four questions before you buy: does it work out of the box, does it fit a habit they already have, is there a monthly fee, and who fixes it.
- A $5 a month subscription that comes with a gadget adds $60 a year to the real price of the gift.
- Set the device up yourself before you give it: update it, sign in, and turn on the settings they will need.
- Write a one page card with the three things they will do most, in plain words.
- The downside of the simplest gifts: they do fewer things, which is often exactly the point.
The four question test for tech gifts for non-tech people
Run any gift idea through these four questions. If it fails two, pick something else.
1. Does it work the day it comes out of the box?
Look at the box or the maker’s page for words like “requires app,” “account required” or “Wi-Fi required.” Every one of those is a step someone has to finish before the gift does anything. The fewer steps, the better.
2. Does it fit something they already do?
A gift that makes an old habit easier, like reading, listening to the radio, looking at family photos or walking every morning, has a head start. A gift that asks for a brand new habit is a harder sell. Buy for the life they have, not the one you wish they had.
3. Is there a monthly fee after the gift?
Some gadgets only work fully with a paid plan for storage, music or extra features. Do the math before you buy. A $5 a month plan adds $60 a year. A $10 a month plan adds $120 a year, which can be more than the device itself. If there is a fee, decide now who pays it, and say so on the gift card.
4. Who fixes it when it stops working?
Name the person before you buy. If the answer is you, choose something you know how to fix over the phone. If you live far away, pick a device that someone nearby also knows how to use.
If you have ever watched a gift go back in its box by New Year’s, this is the checklist that stops it. The goal is a gift that still gets used in March.
Gift ideas that usually pass the test
- A digital photo frame you load with family photos before you give it, so it works the moment it is plugged in.
- An e-reader with the text size and brightness already set the way they like it.
- A smart speaker for the kitchen, set up for radio, weather and timers, if you are happy to manage the account yourself. Our guide to which Amazon Echo to buy compares the current models.
- A simple fitness tracker for someone who already walks every day. See our fitness and health tech gifts.
- A good charger or power bank with a long cable for the chair they always sit in. Small, useful and nothing to learn.
Need ideas at a lower price? Our list of tech gifts under $50 has more.
Gifts that often end up in a drawer
- Anything that needs a hub, several apps or a phone they do not use much.
- Gadgets with tiny buttons, or touch controls with no buttons at all.
- Devices that need a paid plan to do the main thing on the box.
- The newest version of something they already use and like. A new layout can feel like a step back.
Set it up before you wrap it
The best gift for someone who is not into tech is a device that is already set up. Before you wrap it:
- Charge it and install any updates, so the first hour is not spent waiting.
- Sign in to the accounts it needs, and write the passwords somewhere safe that they can find.
- Turn on the settings they will need, like bigger text, louder volume or fewer notifications.
- Write a one page card with the three things they will do most, in plain words like “To see new photos, just leave it on.”
Then give them a call a week later. A quick check in the first week catches the small problem that would otherwise send the gift to a drawer.
Keep the total in check
Add any monthly fee to the price when you set your gift budget. Our guide on setting a holiday tech budget you can stick to walks you through it.
