Gift reviews
One present each, for the point where you have already decided what to buy and want to know the reason not to. Every review names the real weakness in its own section, and several recommend something cheaper.
Still choosing between two things? The comparisons are the faster way in.
Breville Barista Express review
A grinder and an espresso machine in one, which is either the best gift a coffee drinker ever gets or an expensive countertop ornament.
$500 to $1,000
Best gift for a dedicated gamerPlayStation 5 review
The most wanted gift on most lists, and the three questions to answer before you buy one for someone else.
$500 to $1,000
Best gift for a householdNintendo Switch review
Three play modes and two controllers in the box, which is why it works as a gift for a family rather than a person.
$250 to $500
Best heirloom kitchen giftLe Creuset 7.25 qt Dutch oven review
Enamelled cast iron that outlives the person who receives it, and the honest case for spending a third as much.
$250 to $500
Best gift for an iPhone ownerApple Watch Series 11 review
Sleep scores, fall detection and hypertension notifications, and the one requirement that rules it out for half of all recipients.
$250 to $500
Best gift for a commuterBose QuietComfort headphones review
Noise cancelling that works on planes and in offices, with 24 hours of battery and a cable for when it runs out.
$100 to $250
Best gift for a readerKindle Paperwhite 16GB review
Twelve weeks of battery and no notifications, which is the entire argument for it over a tablet.
$100 to $250
Best gift for someone who trainsBeats Powerbeats Pro 2 review
Earhooks, heart rate from the ear and 45 hours with the case, for the person who breaks or loses ordinary earbuds.
$100 to $250
Best desk upgrade giftLogitech G915 TKL review
Low-profile mechanical switches in an aluminium body, and the one decision you have to make on someone else's behalf.
$100 to $250
Best gift for a distant relativeAura HD digital picture frame review
Unlimited free cloud storage with no subscription, and a frame you can fill with photos before it is unwrapped.
$100 to $250
Best gift for a returning potterVEVOR 14 in pottery wheel review
A 450W wheel with tools included, and the four things nobody tells you that you also need.
$100 to $250
Best complete hobby kitNorthern Brewer homebrewing starter kit review
A kettle, a fermenter, a bottling setup and an IPA recipe, which is a rare gift that is genuinely complete.
$100 to $250
Best classic instant cameraPolaroid Now 3rd generation review
Autofocus, double exposure and 16 photos in the bundle, and film that costs about two dollars a shot.
$100 to $250
Best e-reader for comics and librariesKobo Clara Colour review
A colour E Ink screen for comics and highlights, and a realistic description of what colour E Ink actually looks like.
$100 to $250
Best heirloom kitchen gift under $150Marcato Atlas 150 review
A hand-cranked pasta machine made in Italy, with no motor, no electronics and nothing to break.
$100 to $250
Best gift for outdoorsJBL Charge 5 review
IPX7 waterproofing, 20 hours of battery and a power bank built in, which is why it ends up at every barbecue.
$100 to $250
Best gift for a runnerGarmin Forerunner 55 review
Two weeks of battery, suggested workouts and a company that says plainly this is not a medical device.
$100 to $250
Best small smart speakerAmazon Echo Dot Max review
Nearly three times the bass of the previous Dot, a smart home hub and an eero mesh extender, in one small object.
$50 to $100
Best easy coffee giftNespresso Vertuo Pop+ review
Coffee in under a minute with no technique, and a capsule system that ties them to one supplier.
$100 to $250
Highest hit rate kitchen giftInstant Pot Duo Plus 6-Qt review
Nine functions in one pot, and the honest admission that most owners use three of them.
$100 to $250
These reviews draw on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested these products ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.