32 Gifts Teens May Actually Like

Being a teenager is hard. Aside from being trendy, weighted blankets can feel like a big ol' hug, helping to ease stressed-out feelings. Bearaby makes the best weighted blanket—it's available in many gorgeous colors, it's breathable, and the Tencel version is biodegradable. We have plenty of recommendations (and advice on which weight to buy) in our Best Weighted Blankets guide.

Hugz weighted stuffed animals are the best. They're available in a ton of cute, cuddly varieties. I've slept with Shelly the Turtle every night since she got to my house, and Toffee the Highland Cow is great, too. Each critter weighs 3.8 pounds, which is just heavy enough to feel like a hug without feeling too heavy or overwhelming. They can be placed in the freezer or microwave for additional sensory goodness. Miniature sizes are available, but I think it's worth getting the bigger versions. And I like that I can get the benefit of a weighted blanket without all the bulk of one.

In the era of streaming, it's easy to feel a disconnect with music, and it can be difficult to find new artists. Physical records let you play a whole album front to back, and there's a tactility that makes you appreciate the art more.

Victrola's Re-Spin is an affordable way to bring the teen in your life in on the vinyl fun. This suitcase record player is lightweight and easy to tote around from room to room (or to a friend's house), and the removable cover can convert into a stand for record covers. It has a built-in speaker that sounds pretty decent and can fill up a room. If they've gone through all their records, there's a switch to turn the whole thing into a Bluetooth speaker to keep the party going via a connected smartphone. It's made of 25 percent recycled plastic.

These are some of our favorite smart ambient lights. From TikTok videos to gaming setups, they look good in any background. You can also place them on a bedroom wall or behind a TV for lighting that's easier on the eyes. The colors are customizable via an app, so your teen can set the mood with a rainbow of hues, as well as multiple white shades. The app also includes preset scenes, scheduling options, and voice control.

Added bonus: LED lights are cheaper to run than incandescent bulbs. Check out more recommendations in our Best Smart Lighting guide. We also have a dedicated guide to help you decide which Govee smart lights you should buy.

There's no doubt that the Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds look cool. But they sound even better. They're our favorite wirefree earbuds. With solid noise cancellation, fantastic touch controls, easy pairing, and customizable EQ, they're feature-rich as well as affordable.

If your teen just wants AirPods and nothing else will do, go for the great but pricey Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 3). For additional recommendations, read our Best Wireless Headphones guide (or our guide to the Best AirPods Pro Alternatives.)

An iPad is seemingly superfluous—until teens start using it to watch shows, do homework, or hop on Zoom meetings. They're actually quite handy to have around. Apple's 11th-generation model has a slick, modern design and is available in many fun colors. It's fast and snappy, it has an improved base storage capacity, and it still charges via USB-C.

Check our Best iPad and Best Tablets guides for more options. Don't forget to read our Best iPad Accessories guide to trick out their slate with keyboard covers and stands.

Like a good set of sheets or your first tools, a wallet is a gift you only get excited about when you're almost an adult. SlimFold makes great gear. My friend has used this wallet daily for over eight years, and it's still going strong. It has just enough room for cash and cards, preventing it from becoming bulky or obtrusive (or leaving a wear mark on pants pockets). The material is durable, stretchy, and flexible, and even when stuffed full the wallet remains lightweight. If your teen is preparing to fly the coop, this is a gift they'll use almost every day.

Note that there's an RFID-blocking option available from SlimFold's website for an extra $4, which you should avoid for two reasons. The first is that I don't love SlimFold's RFID blockers, which are basically removable cards that cause a nuisance when you're trying to store bills or credit cards. The second is that RFID-based crimes related to skimming credit cards are nearly nonexistent. Skip it and save your money.

Maybe your teen is already into skincare and stealing copious amounts of your expensive under-eye cream, despite the fact that they don't even have dark circles yet. Bubble is a gender-neutral, teen-friendly company that makes products specifically designed for adolescent skin concerns, like acne and sweating. The ingredients are simple, but there are Bubble products for every step of a skin-care routine (except for SPF). All of them are cruelty-free, vegan, fragrance-free, and gentle enough for sensitive skin. I'm also a fan of the lip balm—it feels like a traditional balm, but the packaging is extra-cute, especially the little charms that you can get.

This set includes a basic three-step routine, but there are other kits available. Bubble also has a fantastic resource called Skin School that will teach teens about things like skincare myths, skin types, and how to safely add products into a routine. Hopefully, it'll help save your teen from the long-term consequences of using harsh cleansers or aggressively popping zits.

Phone games are getting bigger and better every year. This controller works with compatible apps to essentially morph a smartphone into a mini gaming console. The Backbone One is our favorite mobile controller—just make sure you pick the right connector, whether that be USB-C or Lightning. Both include robust social features that make it easy to play with others, record clips, and (of course) play games.

If your teen giftee is always playing one mobile game or another, they’ll probably love this gizmo. We have additional recommendations in our Best Mobile Gaming Controllers guide.

A smartwatch can help your giftee leave their phone in their pocket more often and only take it out when they deem a notification to be important. These wearable gadgets can also track health and fitness features, control smart-home devices, and can even detect if they've taken a hard fall (and contact emergency services). Plus, smartwatches are just plain cool.

If they have an iPhone, gift them the Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen). It has tons of great features, like fall detection and mental health tracking, gesture controls, AI workout assistance, and more—read our Best Apple Watch guide for help deciding on a model.

Alternative: Are they proud Android phone owner? Go with the Google Pixel Watch 4 for $350 (see our full review). It is stunning and has a similar suite of features. Our guide to the Best Smartwatches has additional recommendations.

The Asus Vivobook 14 is our favorite cheap laptop. It has a full day of battery life and can handle most day-to-day tasks, and the memory specs are impressive for the price. We do wish the display was brighter and more color-accurate, but when it comes to doing homework and falling down YouTube rabbit holes, this Zenbook is hard to beat—especially for the price.

Looking for a MacBook, a Chromebook, or a different Windows machine? We've got more recommendations in our Laptops Buying Guide.

The MacBook Air M4 is our favorite laptop overall. It strikes the perfect balance between performance, battery life, portability, and quality. It's ultra quiet, being fanless and all, and there's support for external monitors. There's also onboard AI processing for Apple Intelligence, and the webcam looks nice too. Upgrades can be expensive, but this still offers excellent value at the base price, and it should last your teen well into college.

Find additional recommendations in our Laptops Buying Guide.