10 Cool Tech Gifts For Dad: Father’s Day Gift Guide
Our list of Father’s Day tech gifts for 2021 includes smart speakers, wireless earbuds, media streaming devices and more.
Tech Gifts For Dad
No matter what you’ve got planned for Father’s Day this year, there’s no shortage of great tech gifts to choose from for your gadget-loving dad. We’ve rounded up a number of gift recommendations for some top tech gifts for dad this year. Our Father’s Day gift guide for 2021 includes iPhone accessories, Bluetooth smart speakers, wireless earbuds, media streaming devices and more. Gift choices on our list for Father’s Day—which falls on June 20 this year—include the latest Amazon Echo Dot, Apple AirTag and the Roku Ultra.
In the following slides, we present our Father’s Day gift guide with 10 cool tech gifts for dad.
Google Nest Thermostat
A gift that can help with saving money (and lowering a home’s eco-footprint) is something that dad is sure to appreciate this Father’s Day. With the recently launched new version of Google’s Nest Thermostat, he’ll get both of those benefits—while the device itself is also more affordable than past models. (The lower price is due in part to the removal of the physical dial for operating the device, replaced with a touch-sensitive strip.) The new Nest Thermostat is designed for users to easily install themselves, and the device can also be operated from the Google Home app or using voice control (either the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa). Like prior models, the new Nest Thermostat has the ability to automatically turn the temperature down when users are away. Ultimately, Nest says that its device saves an average of 10 percent to 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills.
The Google Nest Thermostat is priced at $129.99.
Apple AirTag
If your dad happens to be one of the many people who is prone to misplacing things, the Apple AirTag is one gift that’ll be OK for him to lose. The small accessory can be attached to keys, a backpack or virtually anything that your dad would want to be able to track down. Users can locate their missing item with an attached AirTag by using the Find My app on their iPhone. The item’s location can be viewed on a map, and can also have the AirTag play a sound if it’s within Bluetooth range. Additionally, users can get guidance leading them directly to their lost item.
The Apple AirTag is priced at $29 for a one-pack and $99 for a four-pack.
Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe
If your dad is a major user of Apple devices, he might appreciate a simpler way to charge them. The Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe can charge the iPhone 12, along with an Apple Watch and AirPods, simultaneously—and do so fast. The wireless charger features a 15W charging stand that uses the iPhone 12’s MagSafe capabilities to magnetically attach—and perfectly align—an iPhone 12 for wireless charging. Meanwhile, users can also re-charge their AirPods and Apple Watch using two other charging modules on the Boost Charge 3-in-1 charger.
Belkin’s Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe is priced at $149.99.
Roku Ultra
If dad could use a new media streaming device this Father’s Day, you can’t go wrong with getting him the Roku Ultra—which Roku calls its “fastest and most powerful player ever” (thanks in part to the inclusion of a new quad-core processor). The Roku Ultra enables high-quality Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos sound on compatible TVs and sound systems, along with offering a 50-percent improvement to wireless range over previous players. The device also comes with a remote that can be voice controlled, and features both USB and Ethernet ports for expanded connectivity options.
The Roku Ultra is currently priced at $69.99.
Meater Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer
While dad may have missed getting the chance to have everyone over for a barbecue last summer, he probably didn’t miss some of the associated duties. If dad usually ends up working the grill, the Meater Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer can make backyard get-togethers a bit more relaxing for him this summer (or whenever the time comes to gather again). With its connected meat probe, the Meater Plus takes the guesswork out of grilling while also freeing users from having to stick close by the grill. The Meater Plus allows users to monitor the meat temperature on their phone, even over a long distance—from up to 165 feet away. Users can also receive alerts based on the ideal temperature and/or cooking time.
The Meater+ Long Range Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer is currently priced at $99 on Amazon.
Nomad Rugged Case
If your dad needs a protective case for his new iPhone 12, maybe a nice leather case would be the way to go? Nomad makes an appealing one for the iPhone 12, using leather from Chicago tannery Horween Leather Co. And the case offers major durability thanks to a new internal bumper for shock absorption along with a 360-degree exterior bumper (made from thermoplastic polyurethane). Nomad promises protection against drops as high as 10 feet, as well as compatibility with MagSafe.
The Nomad Rugged Case is priced at $59.95.
Klipsch Bluetooth Speaker - The One II
For your music-loving dad, The One II speaker from Klipsch could be a great choice. The tabletop speaker’s retro design uses real wood for its cabinet as well as metal knobs and switches—all a bit of a novelty at this point. The stereo system is also compact in size, measuring about a foot wide and a half-foot tall. And even though it may not look like a speaker system from 2021, it does include Bluetooth connectivity (as well as a 3.5mm analog input). In terms of audio quality, The One II is professionally tuned and features 2.25-inch full-range drivers along with a 4.5-inch woofer—ultimately providing the “legendary Klipsch sound,” according to the company.
The One II from Klipsch is currently priced at $169.20 on Amazon.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)
If a smart speaker might be more your dad’s thing, the latest Amazon Echo Dot is a solid gift option. For the fourth-gen Amazon Echo Dot, the smart speaker now has a spherical design as well as a fabric exterior. The latest Echo Dot features a 1.6-inch, front-firing speaker and adds the ability to snooze the device by tapping on it—while also including the full voice control functionality of the Alexa assistant, of course. Additionally, there’s now a spherical Echo Dot with clock version—which includes an LED display for showing the time, temperature, alarms and timers.
The Amazon Echo Dot, 4th Gen, is priced at $49.99. The new Echo Dot with clock is priced at $59.99.
Apple AirPods Pro
Even if dad hasn’t seemed like the kind of person who’d use wireless earbuds in the past, a pair of AirPods Pro could be the game changer. The AirPods Pro are hugely popular for good reason: not only do they sound great, but they also pair and unpair from an iPhone automatically; include mics that are excellent for calls; come with three different silicone ear tips to choose from; and, best of all, feature terrific Active Noise Cancellation—something not available in standard AirPods. The AirPods Pro also include Siri voice control and “transparency mode” for being able to listen to music while also hearing the sounds in the environment.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are priced at $249.
Belkin Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe
If dad frequently uses his new iPhone 12 in the car, the Belkin Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe could be an extremely thoughtful gift. For many users, mounting a phone in the vehicle can be a real ordeal—something that the MagSafe capabilities in the iPhone 12 can help to solve. With Belkin’s MagSafe-enabled car vent mount, the iPhone 12 can magnetically snap onto the mount—a much easier prospect than fiddling with other non-magnetic mounts or sticking magnets onto the phone itself. While Belkin Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe does not also provide wireless charging, the design of the mount allows for easily running a cable from the iPhone 12 to the car outlet.
Belkin’s Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe is priced at $39.95.