It's that time of the year again: hearts abound in advertisement everywhere, and it's hard not to know that Valentine's Day approaches. For those who've chosen to take part in this celebration, we've created a guide with tech gifts for Valentine's Day to make your decision easier (and your gift more original).
It may be the case that you are not in a relationship, but you know what? February 14th doesn't have to be upsetting! Why can't you be your own Valentine, spoiling yourself as you would others? Rest assured that whatever your situation, we had you in mind when creating our gift guide. Asides from a significant other (or yourself), you may want to celebrate love and affection with your best friend – human or four-pawed. One more thing: we didn't want this to be yet another gender-binary gift guide, which means you won't find "his" and "hers" sections, but we sure hope you'll find a gift that you love for whoever you chose to cherish this Valentine's Day!
So you want to treat someone to a gift that appeals to their techie side while being romantic... and to make things more complicated, you're on a budget. Tough one, but chill: we're here so that you don't have to torment yourself. This cute heart-shaped key is also a USB stick, granting access both to your heart and to up to 16GB or 32GB of data (the sentimental flash drive is available in both versions). To top it off, the product is waterproof, shockproof, magnet proof, X-ray proof (!) and extreme-temperature proof... yeah, that's a lot of "proof," which makes this gift suggestion an even greater bargain.
Love can often get you tangled up in blue, as Bob Dylan’s famous song says, so there’s no reason to get tangled up in cables as well. The wireless Urbanears Plattan headphones connect via Bluetooth 4.0 with a wide range of devices and last for approximately 30 hours on one charge. They have a stylish design and are available in an extensive selection of lively colors. In terms of audio quality, the headset covers the average 20–20,000 Hz frequency range, and its large 40mm drivers offer powerful sound.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are useful companions in our daily life: besides providing notifications and reminders, most wearables nowadays have health and fitness tracking features like step count, distance tracking, heart rate monitoring and inactivity alerts. These personal fitness trainers can surely help us stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle; however, one common complaint is that they are uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and, sometimes, it’s difficult to match a smartwatch or bracelet-type fitness tracker with your outfit. Luckily, smart rings solve both issues: they are discreet, fashionable, and pack all crucial health and fitness tracking features. If you are not ready to put a ring on it but want to show your love and commitment, putting a smart ring on it may be your best bet.
Jakom R3 NFC ring → from $24.95
Pop culture throughout the decades continually reminds us that music is one of the best ways to declare one's love. If you are not a particularly talented singer, why not opting for a powerful portable Bluetooth speaker as a gift? It can surely bring joy to any audiophile, traveler, or simply gadget lover. The JBL Flip 4 is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers available at the moment: it features a 3,000mAh battery that guarantees up to 12 hours of playtime, and you can pair it with any mobile device via Bluetooth 4.1. Besides two powerful 8W drivers and wide frequency range, the Flip 4 has a built-in noise-cancelling speakerphone that not only allows you to take calls but also supports voice assistants such as Apple's Siri and the Google Assistant. This stereo speaker is also ideal for outdoor parties: it is waterproof (IPX7 rating), durable and lightweight, so you can easily carry it everywhere.
This is a perfect choice for dog fanatics – even better if your Valentine adores french bulldogs! What one might think is only a piece of pop art is also a portable Bluetooth speaker, and just like dogs, it can be your sidekick in all sorts of adventures. Jarre Technologies' AeroBull Nano is available in matte dark, glossy red and glossy white versions, all with cool-looking black shades that one would probably like to see a dog wearing (if, you know, dogs wore sunglasses). The AeroBull Nano weighs only 141 grams and features two full-range drivers and a subwoofer, so don't judge the sound by the size, and check out more specs on our product page.
This is a suggestion for those who love a clumsy techie and don't want them to resort to pricey repair services each time they damage a gadget. It may also be that you've smashed your phone after your beloved one decided to go on a solo trip over Valentine's Day... Though one, but in either case, this product would come in handy.
Amazon's own brand, AmazonBasics, offers a repair kit that can be used for smartphones, tablets, wristwatches, game consoles and controllers, and even... eyeglasses. The repair tools include a precision anodized-aluminum screwdriver with extended reach, a pry bar to safely open housings, a suction cup, a SIM card ejector tool and different screwdriver bits (including pentagonal size for Apple products). Use the tools at your own discretion, and perhaps do the repair yourself if your Valentine is excessively clumsy.
If your Valentine often snaps photos with their phone, a smartphone camera lens would undoubtedly be a safe bet. Clip-on lenses help enhance photos and expand one’s artistic possibilities. The Amir phone camera lens kit includes a super wide-angle lens and a macro lens. The 0.45x wide-angle lens is ideal for shooting large scenes without distortion, while the 12.5x macro lens can capture breathtaking object details, even from a distance of 1.18 to 1.57 inches. The versatile 2-in-1 lens design helps photo enthusiasts add a DSLR-like flair to their photos without having to carry around a large photography kit. The Amir lens is compatible with most iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices, as well as Motorola and Huawei phones.
This isn't a tech-related gift, but I'm yet to meet a techie who can't have some fun (well, loads of it) with Cards Against Humanity, the "party game for horrible people." In case you've never heard of this incredibly politically incorrect game, let me briefly explain, though no description could suffice to express how entertaining Cards Against Humanity is. Each round, one person picks a black card with either a question to be answered or a sentence to be completed. Want some examples? "Instead of coal, Santa now gives bad children ______." or "What ended my last relationship?" The other players have white cards, from which they need to choose one as a response to the question or to fill in the sentence (this sometimes requires more than one card). The funniest and usually most absurd combination wins the round. Now match the examples above with the following white cards, and you'll see what I'm talking about: "Grandpa's ashes" and "Ebola." Not for everyone, I know, but it might just be your Valentine's cup of tea...
PS: The examples above were taken from real Cards Against Humanity cards, therefore (and unfortunately) not being my creation.
You’ve probably often heard that it’s better to give experiences, not things... but why not both? Oculus Rift is one of the most powerful VR headsets on the market, and besides its great hardware, it offers hundreds of games and experiences. With a high-resolution OLED display, a wide field of view of 110° and integrated headphones that make for a 3D audio effect, the headset is perfect for immersive gaming sessions. It features one of the most advanced positional tracking systems (named Constellation), which uses stationary infrared sensors that detect light emitted by the infrared LEDs integrated into the headset. Depending on how far you want to venture, you might need up to three sensors. The headset comes with two infrared sensors and, if you purchase it from Amazon, you'll also get six games at no additional cost: Robo Recall, Luckyʼs Tale, Quill, Medium, Dead and Buried and Toybox.
This Canon camera lens mug is the perfect gift for photography (and warm beverages) enthusiasts: it looks just like a professional SLR lens and has a sipping lid, so your loved one can enjoy their beverage of choice on the go. With a capacity of 13.5oz/400ml and a stainless steel interior, it will definitely make your Valentine enjoy their morning coffee or tea even more.
I don't know about you, but I like the idea of an astronaut floating above my laptop to bring me more light. You or your significant other may also just want to have this budget-friendly USB-powered LED lighting device as a buddy who'll stay by your side as you explore the strange universe of the web (or as you work, read, binge-watch...). If you want the astronaut's help with extra light, all you have to do is lift his helmet visor – unlike it'd happen in space, this Starman's life won't be endangered.
You or your loved one may not have experienced the Polaroid days (admittedly, I can't say the same), but you may have recently gotten caught up in the instant still photography trend. If you're looking for an affordable instant still camera, we'd recommend Fujifilm's Instax Mini 9. The product is available in five colors: the flashy lime green, flamingo pink, ice blue and cobalt blue, and the discreet smokey white. The selfie-addicted Valentine will be particularly satisfied with this gift, as the Instax Mini 9 includes a selfie mirror; moreover, an included lens attachment allows close-up shooting up to a distance of 35cm, and a brightness adjustment dial helps you determine the best photography settings for different situations.
Now, if you really wanna kick it up a notch, you might consider buying a selfie-style lens for this camera – it is shaped like a bunny, and there's an even broader range of colors to choose from. It's an entirely inexpensive add-on, so even if your Valentine wouldn't want to be seen walking around with a bunny lens, they can still use it at home (plus, it makes for a cute little joke).
We've told you that we haven't forgotten about those who will enjoy Valentine's Day next to their lovely four-pawed friends. Your buddy may not be aware, but an automatic pet feeder could facilitate your life as a "pet parent" – that is, of course, if you have opted for kibble as your pal's primary source of nutrition. Suitable for dogs and cats alike, Home-Neat's smart food dispenser features really cool tech: the device can be set up to serve up to four meals per day, with ten portion sizes to choose from, adapting the automatic meals to your pet's needs. You can connect to the smart (pet) home device via WiFi (downside: not compatible with 5GHz networks) and operate it using a dedicated iOS or Android app. The coolest of all features? A webcam system, so you can check in on your pal, no matter where you are, and even take HD photos of them. You can also record voice messages, which will be played by the smart food dispenser upon every meal – your pet may feel pleased to hear your voice and will probably wiggle its tail!
If you and your partner have gone through a lot together over the years, you’ve probably collected tons of digital memories. Your laptops or PCs are probably filled with vacation photos, video recordings of precious moments and other "memory lane" files. The Toshiba Canvio Connect II portable hard drive offers enough storage space for all your data, as well as a cloud-enabled backup solution that allows you to schedule automatic updates. It’s easy to set up and connects to your computer via USB 3.0. The Toshiba Canvio Connect II is available in several configurations, from 500GB to 3TB.