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It’s easy to run up a huge bill when buying the latest and greatest tech. And who deserves the best more than dear old Dad? Your credit card limit might not agree, of course, so your geeky dad, uncle, or father figure might need to wait a bit longer for that pricy stuff.
Luckily, there are plenty of must-have gadgets that won’t put you in debt. Not only does everything on this list come highly rated in our testing or otherwise recommended by our team, nothing rings up for more than $100—and many cost much less.
The Music-Loving Dad
Best Sound Under $100
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
Whether Dad is rocking out to his favorite tunes via a top music-streaming service or leaning into the vinyl resurgence(Opens in a new window), don’t let him listen on lackluster headphones. If your pops prefers over-ear headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT wireless headphones deliver strong audio in a handsome design at a surprisingly affordable price.
MSRP $79.00
For Music Listeners Who Crave Quiet
Anker Soundcore Space A40
For something a little more discreet, true wireless earbuds fill the bill—and you can’t beat the Anker Soundcore Space A40, which offer powerful audio performance with active noise cancellation for under $100.
MSRP $99.99
For Music-Loving, Outdoor Party Papas
If Dad likes to stay outside during the summer months, why not get him a good outdoor speaker at an affordable price? The Soundcore Rave Neo packs a powerful punch and has the lights to make a party shine. And it’s a lot cheaper than the newer Rave Neo 2 model.
MSRP $99.99
For the Aurally Obsessed
Bebird R1+ 1080p Otoscope
Let me be clear: No one, including you and your dad, should be putting anything in their ears; nothing bigger than an elbow, as any ENT will tell you. That said, dads and earwax seem to go together, and getting it out is a national pastime. Now, imagine the joy you’ll bring your old man when he gets this kit, which gives him a full view down the ear canal right on his smartphone screen, plus silicone tools for “safely” (we hope) scraping out the accumulated gunk. Bebird Otoscope(Opens in a new window) connects to the phone via a Wi-Fi connection and delivers a 1080p live video. The light on the end of the 3.5mm scope camera has a temperature control to avoid burning the ear. Naturally, he can also record his ear adventures to share with the doctor—or anyone else he wants to entertain.
MSRP $34.99
The Gamer Dad
For iPhone Gamers
Backbone One Mobile Controller for iPhone
No father should have to hold his phone for gaming, obscuring the screen with those big sausage fingers. The Backbone One(Opens in a new window) puts his iPhone between two controllers much more suited to mobile gaming, thanks to analog triggers, thumb sticks, and tactile buttons. It even comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so he can try some Xbox games on his Apple-created handset. Dad can also play iOS games that have controller support(Opens in a new window).
MSRP $99.99
For a Clear View
Screen Mom Natural Screen Cleaner
Yes, it’s called Screen Mom(Opens in a new window), but Dad is the one who’s going to baby that flat-screen TV’s display after the kids scuzz it up with their greasy fingerprints. So he’ll appreciate a spray bottle of this all-natural LED and LCD cleaner, complete with a premium microfiber cloth. It won’t scratch, it won’t streak, and it contains nothing damaging like alcohol or ammonia.
MSRP $21.95
For Precision PC Gaming for Large Hands
Corsair Ironclaw RGB Wireless
This is the kind of mouse competitive-esports players use, but it’s built for big dad hands. The Corsair Ironclaw has about 50 hours of battery life (albeit without wireless charging to keep the cost down); but with stellar wireless connectivity, all the better to deliver some excellent performance and gaming precision.
MSRP $79.99
The Power-on-the-Go Dad
For Power-Hungry Apple Fans
Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand
If Dad’s an Apple guy, free him from the tangle of cords on his desk or bedside table with the Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro. It’s a MagSafe charging stand can juice up two Apple products at once. It’s the perfect gift for anyone with an iPhone 13 and a pair of AirPods.
MSRP $99.99
For Dads Who Don’t Need a Smartphone
Dad might be tech-savvy, but he doesn’t have the patience for a smartphone; or maybe he wants to cut down on his screen time. This dual-SIM quasi-smartphone is a great companion for adventures on the town or around the world, especially if he’s a T-Mobile or AT&T customer. It has just enough smarts to help him navigate, play some music, and keep him connected around the globe, and it earns our Editors’ Choice award for simple voice phones on T-Mobile’s network.
MSRP $69.99
For Fun Using the Sun
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
Another tool for the dad who needs mobile power on the go, the portable BigBlue 28W Solar Charger(Opens in a new window) is small (11.6 by 6.3 by 1.3 inches when folded up) and light, and ready to charge up to three devices via its USB-A ports running at 2.4A. Dad can take it to the beach, too, since it’s IPX4 waterproof and dustproof.
MSRP $69.96
For Safe, Stylish Charging
Dad probably sneaks looks at his phone while he’s driving; maybe he even tries to plug the phone in while backing out of the driveway. He shouldn’t. Keep him safe: Get the fast-charging iOttie Easy One Touch(Opens in a new window) phone holder that supports wireless Qi charging. Best of all is auto-load sensing—just set the phone down, and the cradle on the 5 to 8-inch extending arm hugs it in place. Dad can release the handset with one touch.
MSRP $24.95
The Smart Home Dad
For Unobtrusive Alexa Access
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
“Alexa, what does Dad want for Father’s Day?” How about a digital assistant all his own? The fifth-generation Echo Dot smart speaker retains the spherical design and small footprint, allowing your pops to set timers, listen to podcasts, ask questions, and get the weather with his voice. It remains the best gateway to Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.
MSRP $64.98
For Taking the Smart Home Outside
Smart home devices abound, but few dads can afford to swap all their existing gadgets for high-end, internet-connected ones. That’s where smart plugs and power strips come in—they make ordinary appliances, lighting, and other electronics smart, letting you control them from your smartphone. One of our top picks among smart plugs with voice control is the Wyze Plug, which sells for less than $15. Now imagine the same thing built to withstand the elements with dual plugs: That’s the Wyze Plug Outdoor, a great way to take control of outdoor lighting and more, smartly.
MSRP $11.99
For Dads Who Keep Tabs on the Front Door
Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
Does Dad always have the hot neighborhood gossip? Give his nosiness a leg up, and turn his doorbell into an internet-connected smart device with the affordable Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi video doorbell. It’s loaded with features, including excellent hir-res video, intelligent motion detection, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT. Cloud backup of video costs extra, however you can insert a microSD card for storage.
MSRP $99.99
For Sleep Tracking and Home Automation
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
How has Dad been sleeping lately? Google’s updated Nest Hub adds some unique sleep-tracking options. In addition to the usual features you’d final on a Google smart display (timers, music, queries, weather, photos, and more), the Nest Hub’s built-in Google Soli motion-sensing chip tracks sleep and breathing when placed on a bedside table. Offering tremendous value for the price, it earns our Editors’ Choice award for Google Assistant smart displays.
MSRP $99.99
For Dads Who Like to Put on a (Light) Show
If your father’s just starting out with smart home tech, lightbulbs are a good jumping-off point. The Wyze Bulb Color is a refreshingly affordable option he can control from a phone or via voice through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It supports device-triggered automations, schedules, sleep routines, and more.
Starts at $20.99
For Shopping Without Standing
It’s possible your dad has more money than sense but is too busy to order things he needs. For him, the Amazon Dash Smart Shelf(Opens in a new window) was created. It’s a scale (available in different sizes) on which you place food, drinks, or household items. When the weight goes low enough, the shelf places a replacement order—or at least, it can let Dad know he should place one. It simply has to be paired with an eligible product(Opens in a new window) that you can subscribe to on Amazon.
MSRP $19.99
The Tracker Dad
For Forgetful iPhone Owners
Is your father constantly losing his keys? Have him clip an Apple AirTag to his keychain, and the tracker leads him to the misplaced item via audible alerts or iPhone-based on-screen directions, even if it’s miles away. Setup is easy, there are engraving options, and a four-pack is $99.
MSRP $29.00
For Easy Device Tracking on Android
If Dad’s on Team Android, device trackers from Tile are a top alternative to AirTags. With a loud built-in speaker, a durable body, and excellent connectivity, the Tile Pro is the best tracker for Android users. Best of all, Tile trackers work on both Android and iOS.
MSRP $34.99
A Wearable for an Unbeatable Price
If Dad is ready to increase his daily steps, the Wyze Watch is a great way to start. This timepiece and barebones fitness tracker lasts up to 9 days on a charge and can stand up to a little rain. He can track his progress in the Wyze app. The Watch is available in 44mm (for smaller wrists) and 47mm sizes. It’s as basic as a smartwatch can get, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
MSRP $19.99
For Naming All the Stuff
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX300
Fathers need to know where stuff is, so they name it. But stuff names can be elusive, so labels help—lots of them. This unit delivers industrial-style, professional-looking labeling at a low price, perfect for hobbyist pops.
MSRP $89.00
The Work-From-Home Dad
For Dads Who Need Backup
No PC lives forever. If your father’s keeping a large collection of files, videos, or photos on his computer, give him the gift of backup this Father’s Day. A good external hard drive doesn’t have to break the bank: Combining on-point performance and strong encryption, the WD Black P10 Game Drive is available with up to 4TB of storage, but the 2TB model is only $79.99. At this price, it’s a great choice for everyday backups; just don’t expect SSD speeds.
Base Configuration Price $79.99
For Totally Wireless Home Security
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
If Dad wants a more comprehensive view of his surroundings, an indoor/outdoor security camera can do the trick. The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is battery-powered, so he won’t have to fuss with wires, and it connects via Wi-Fi to record motion-triggered video and store it in the cloud. You pay for that storage, but we found that Ring’s cloud plan(Opens in a new window) is one of the more affordable and generous plans around: For $3 per month or $30 per year, you get 60 days of cloud storage for one camera or doorbell.
MSRP $99.99
For Dads Who Need a Video Call Upgrade
Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2
If Dad often falls prey to the “up the nostril” shot when video chatting, set him straight with the Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2. It offers a nice upgrade in video-call quality over your computer’s built-in webcam for just $60.
MSRP $59.99
For the Idea Man
Rocketbook Fusion Smart Notebook
Dad may have deep thoughts, but he doesn’t really know how to keep track of them with all those apps on his phone. He has to master just one thing to save his notes to the cloud: the Rocketbook Fusion(Opens in a new window). The whole notebook, full of templates for sketches, lists, calendars, and more, is reusable: When he uses the right pens from the Pilot Friction line, everything can be wiped clean. Get the notebook in red, orange, grey, black, blue, teal, scarlet, or green. Executive size is a handy 6 by 8.8 inches, or get the full letter-size book at 8.6 by 11 inches.
MSRP $37.00
For Hearing Every Keystroke
If Dad types a lot, he needs a mechanical keyboard that will make the best of his keyboarding skills. NZXT’s Function Mini TKL is a premium build on an extra-petite tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard (the type that uses 87 or 88 keys, dropping 20 or so keys found in a standard layout). Yet it loses nothing in functionality. You can customize the color scheme to suit Dad’s favorite colors, but that’ll increase the price.
MSRP $119.00
For Handsome Yet Inexpensive Visuals
This is a pretty basic 21.5-inch monitor(Opens in a new window) with not a lot of ports (just HDMI and VGA for older PCs) and a 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz resolution—but it’s a solid display that will help Dad get a lot more work done. At this price, buy him two.
MSRP $189.99
For Entry Level Home Printing
Canon Pixma TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer
Dad’s home office will never truly be paperless. For an inexpensive way for him to generate even more paper, snag him the Canon Pixma TR4720 Wireless All-in-One Printer. It’s not fast and takes up space, but when he needs it, it has terrific print quality—in particular for photographs.
MSRP $119.99
Last-Minute Dad Gifts
For the Tech Obsessed Padre
Get your father an ongoing gadget subscription(Opens in a new window). Each quarter of the year, he can get a box filled with one to four different random gadgets worth more than $125. But you pay $99 per box (or less, if you subscribe him for multiple boxes; the price is as low as $89 per box for 4 boxes).
Want to get him other great gifts at the last minute? From clothes to tools and beyond there are plenty of other great subscription boxes you should check out for dad.
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