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I'm a dad and these are the tech gifts I really want for Father's Day 2023
Let's cut to the chase: I want man toys and I want them now (or, technically, on June 18).
Father's Day is just around the corner: Sunday, June 18, to be exact. Fortunately, you still have time to find a great gift for dear old Dad — who, unlike Mom, can't be placated with mere flowers and brunch. I speak from experience: I'm a dad, and I want gear. Stuff. Man toys! OK, yeah, some of my wish-list stuff is on the pricey side, so I've included a few affordable options as well. And, full disclosure, I already own some of these. But that's how I'm able to so enthusiastically recommend them. I'm pretty certain any dad anywhere would be overjoyed to get one of these tech gifts.
Dads love tools, and tools don't come much cooler than this super-bright keychain flashlight. Able to pump out a whopping 900 lumens (an iPhone flashlight does about 50) but small enough to ride shotgun on a keychain, this rechargeable mini-light looks suitably futuristic and doubles as a UV light (for Dad's CSI side-hustle). It can also display red or blue light if the situation calls for it — and just for kicks, it glows in the dark, too! This is a fun little item, great for dads who like gadget-y things.
$21 at AmazonIt's right there in the name: An Amazon Echo for your Pop! OK, so the true meaning here is more likely a "pop" of color or sound that really "pops," but either way this makes a nice alternative to Amazon's dorky-looking Echo Dot. Like all Alexa-powered smart speakers, this one responds to all manner of voice commands, serving up news, weather, music, podcasts, smart-home controls and much more. I could see this finding a home in Dad's office or workshop or on his nightstand. As an added bonus, it's an Eero range extender, able to expand Wi-Fi coverage in homes that have an Eero mesh network.
$40 at AmazonDad may be superhuman, but even he misplaces things from time to time. Tile trackers are sanity-savers, able to locate stray keychains, wallets, phones, etc. This 3-pack includes a Tile Slim to tuck inside a wallet and a Tile Mate and Tile Pro for keychains, backpacks or the like. (The Pro has the longer range and louder speaker of the two.) Why not choose Apple AirTags instead? They work only with iPhones, not Android phones, and they're one-way trackers: You can use your iPhone to find an AirTag, but not the other way around. Tiles work in both directions.
$55 at AmazonRead more: The best item trackers for finding lost stuff
JBL makes some of the best portable speakers, full stop. And the Flip 5 ranks as a favorite in JBL's lineup, as evidenced by the virtually unrivaled 4.8-star average rating from over 17,000 Amazon customers. Available in a choice of 12 colors and able to run up to 12 hours on a charge, the fully waterproof Flip 5 delivers big, bright sound from a relatively compact package. Dad can easily take this to the garage, backyard garden, pickleball court or wherever. And as an added bonus, it comes with a Divvi protective case for easier transport.
$89 at AmazonRead more: The best outdoor speakers of 2023
Apple AirPods Pro may be the gold standard in wireless earbuds, but they're expensive and not especially great for non-iPhone users. The 1More Aero is a great alternative, nearly matching every AirPods Pro feature — most notably spatial audio, which makes sound seem like it's coming from all around you — for about half the price. I also like the Smart Loudness option: It dynamically adjusts bass, mids and highs, the idea being to preserve the full range of sound at all volumes. If you want to treat Dad to a new pair of earbuds without going into debt, this is the product I'd pick.
$72 at AmazonRead more: The best AirPods Pro alternatives priced $100 or less
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Sony is known for making some of the best noise-canceling (ANC) headphones on the market, but maybe your dad-budget falls a bit short of $300-400? Understandable — and not a problem. The CH720N headphones pack the same ANC hardware as much pricier models, but in a much more affordable package. Available in black or white, these over-ear cans can play for up to 35 hours on a charge and pair with Sony's app for lots of audio fine-tuning. I've tested these; they're super-comfortable and they sound amazing. Dad will be pleased.
$128 at AmazonRead more: The best wireless headphones you can buy in 2023
If Dad likes coffee, even a little, I'm about to make his entire year. Ember makes a self-heating mug that can keep his brew at a consistent temperature from first sip to last. A companion app (yes, this mug is Bluetooth-equipped) allows for precise temperature selection, to say nothing of battery monitoring and even LED color selection. Not to overstate it, but this may be the single greatest thing in the history of things. I love mine and will surrender it when it's pried from my cold, dead fingers. (And, yes, the coffee will still be hot.)
$92 at AmazonRead more: The best heated coffee mugs of 2023
A great gift for Dad but arguably even better for Granddad, the Aura Carver displays photos and videos in a running slideshow. Why? So he gets to enjoy precious memories that would otherwise stay squirreled away in a photo album. The Carver features a 10.1-inch display and can be configured in advance, making it a smarter gifting choice than most other frames. (Less out-of-box setup hassle for the recipient.) Best of all, you can invite other family members to send new pix and vids to the frame, which includes unlimited cloud storage (and no subscription fee, always a plus).
$149 at AmazonRead more: The best digital photo frames of 2023
The Apple Watch is without question the best iPhone companion, displaying all manner of real-time information (calendar entries, notifications, text messages and so on) and letting you compose and reply to messages and make and take calls. (No other smartwatch or fitness tracker can do likewise with an iPhone.) Plus, it tracks everything: steps, sleep, heart rate, exercise, even falls and crashes. The Watch SE may be Apple's most affordable model, but it's incredibly feature-rich — just like Dad!
$235 at AmazonMost dads I know are like me: They like TV. They probably really, really like TV, in which case there's no better gift/upgrade than a soundbar. The Sonos Beam bypasses the TV's anemic built-in speakers in favor of a robust, multi-speaker cabinet that includes a must-have for movies: Dolby Atmos. Dad will love this: The sound seems to fill the space, just like in a theater. All this courtesy of a single unit; no need for a bunch of additional speakers all over the room. My hot take: If Dad has ears and loves TV, he'll love this.
$460 at AmazonRead more: The best soundbars you can buy in 2023
Look, if your goal is to win Dad's love, this is how you do it. The DJI Avata is the coolest drone I've ever tried — and I've tried a lot of them. Strap on the goggles, grab the motion-controlled joystick and take to the skies, seeing everything the drone sees from its dazzling 4K camera. In real-time. With no lag. The experience is utterly breathtaking, akin to becoming a bird but with a lot more speed and maneuverability. I'm not saying this kit isn't a splurge, but isn't your pop worth it?
$759 at Amazon