X

Best gifts: Top tech for co-workers

From more lavish gifts to stocking fillers and Secret Santa, there are great gadgets out there that your colleagues will love.
By Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer
screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-39-32.jpg
1 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Cloud storage desk tidy

A gift for co-workers with an interest in technology, this cute cloud storage desk tidy can be used to stash away all the little things that accumulate on our desks.

Price: $20 (£16.95)

Via: Geniegadgets UK | US Iwantoneofthose

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-33-36.jpg
2 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Magni-Viewer

Something which could be a valued gift for a colleague this Christmas is the Magni-Viewer, an interesting gadget which magnifies films and TV shows on a smartphone so users do not have to hold the screen close to their nose in order to see what is going on.

Price: $29 (£21.99)

Via: Firebox

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-37-20.jpg
3 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Mobile camera lens kit

Affordable and enjoyable, a mobile lens kit -- which includes a variety of lenses which snap onto a smartphone or tablet's camera -- could be a great gift for co-workers with an interest in mobile photography this year.

Price: $16.99 (£13.49)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-30-52.jpg
4 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Amazon Fire 7 tablet

If your budget is around $50, you could give your colleague an Amazon Fire 7 tablet this year.

The Amazon Fire 7 tablet is a thin, lightweight device suitable for those who want instant access to the Internet, light reading, and basic tasks. The Fire 7 sports a 7-inch display, a 1.3 GHz processor, and access to both the Alexa assistant and Amazon apps, such as the Kindle store and subscription services.

The tablet is available with 8GB or 16GB storage.

Price: $49.99+ (£49.99+)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-38-01.jpg
5 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Syma pocket drone

While many drones can be pricey, a novel idea for a co-worker's gift is the Syma pocket drone. The quadcopter comes with a handheld controller for simple stop-and-start action.

Price: $26.90 (£23.50)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-36-19.jpg
6 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

USB desk charging hub

Another gift for co-workers who have multiple devices on hand, this USB desk charging hub, complete with six USB ports, can be a great desk addition to reduce clutter and cable knotting.

Price: $18.99 (£14.99)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-40-16.jpg
7 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

USB cup warmer

A simple stocking filler or Secret Santa present this year is this USB-charged cup warmer, which can be plugged in and kept on a desk to keep beverages warm as you work.

Price: $13 (£9.99)

Via: Iwantoneofthose

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-31-48.jpg
8 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Flic

Flic is an interesting connected home gadget which would make an affordable stocking filler or Secret Santa gift this Christmas.

The button can be placed on a wall or other surfaces and, once pressed, can be programmed for a variety of purposes. One click, two, three, or hold -- each one can be selected to do anything from sending a text to someone, dim smart lights, turn streamed music up, and more.

Price: $34.99 (£29.99)

Via: Flic (UK: Amazon)

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-38-56.jpg
9 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

WD 1TB My Passport external hard drive

If you're willing to spend a bit more, the WD 1TB My Passport external hard drive is a gift your co-workers are likely to appreciate.

The small external hard drive can be stashed in a bag or on a desk and provides additional space for all-important documents and media.

Price: $57.88 (£52.99)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-31-06.jpg
10 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Misfit Shine

The Misfit Shine is an affordable health and activity tracker which can be worn in many ways including as a watch, necklace, or as part of another accessory.

The tracker is able to monitor steps taken, exercise, as well as sleep patterns -- and this data can then be sent to an accompanying app for analysis and recommendations, and so could make a great and inoffensive gift for your co-worker.

Price: Sale: $44.99 (£39.99)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-34-12.jpg
11 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Blockhead

Blockhead is an interesting gadget which snaps onto existing Apple chargers, allowing it to sit flat against a wall. The side-facing plug is a handy gift which can ensure you take out the annoyance of finding a place to charge your Apple device, especially if travel is a constant in the workplace.

Price: $19.95

See also: Best gifts: MacBook and Mac accessories

Via: Ten 1 Design

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-33-55.jpg
12 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank

When you are on the move or traveling for work, running out of juice and dead mobile devices can be a nightmare.

A useful gift this holiday season for co-workers is a power bank, such as the Anker PowerCore 10000, which can be thrown into a bag or suitcase and pulled out when needed to give smartphones and tablets juice on the go.

Price: $25.99 (£20)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-31-22.jpg
13 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot is an affordable entry into the realm of smart homes which could be a great gift for tech-savvy co-workers this year.

The smaller version of the Echo comes with the same features for controlling smart devices, using the voice assistant and more, but just has a smaller speaker.

Price: $49.99 (£49.99)

See also: Best gifts: Top tech, gadgets for under $100

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-34-55.jpg
14 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Kayond Herringbone laptop sleeve

A gift both stylish and useful, the Kayond Herringbone laptop sleeve is suitable for protecting 15 - 15.6-inch laptops in bags and on the move.

Price: $16.99 (£15.99)

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-31-33.jpg
15 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Roku Premiere+

The Roku Premiere+ is an update on the previous Roku streaming stick which is able to support HD and 4K Ultra HD content streaming. Roku grants access to free television channels and is also able to stream subscription-based content from providers including Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Price: Sale: $64.99

Via: Amazon US | UK alternative

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-33-28.jpg
16 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Superhubs USB hub

A small Secret Santa gift likely to prove a hit with retro gaming fans and co-workers constantly on the hunt for spare USB ports, the Superhubs USB hub is a gamepad-style hub complete with four USB slots.

Price: $9.39 (£6.99)

Via: Iwantoneofthose

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-33-41.jpg
17 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Google Chromecast

A Google Chromecast could be an appreciated but affordable gift for co-workers this Christmas.

The device plugs into TV HDMI ports and is able to stream media including YouTube videos, mobile games, and apps, as well as tap into sources including Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other subscription services.

Price: $35 (£30)

See also: Best gifts: Top tech, gadgets for under $100

Via: Google

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-34-34.jpg
18 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Tile Mate Bluetooth tracker

The Tile Mate could be a valued gift for co-workers this Christmas.

The tiny Bluetooth tracker can be attached to everything from keys to a wallet and should the user misplace their valuables, they can use the device's accompanying app to make the tracker ring.

Price: $24.99 (£19.00)

See also: Best gifts: iPhone accessories for under $25

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-09-30-20.jpg
19 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker

For a small but quality speaker as a gift this year, you may want to consider the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker. Available in different colors, the mobile waterproof speaker has up to six hours' battery life on a single charge and includes a built-in speakerphone for taking calls via Apple's Siri or Google Assistant.

Price: $109 (£94.95)

See also: Best gifts: Top tech gadgets of 2017

Via: Amazon US | UK

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-34-08.jpg
20 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Grip Strip

Small but useful, this grip strip, made of a polymer compound, sticks on surfaces to keep smartphones, keys, pens, and more in place.

Price: $9.39 (£6.99)

Via: Firebox

screen-shot-2017-11-29-at-10-35-25.jpg
21 of 21 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Smartphone projector

A simple, affordable, but fun smartphone projector for blowing up content on-screen could make a great gift for co-workers over the holiday season.

Price: $13 (£9.99)

Via: Iwantoneofthose

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos