I am a father of 5 and a grandfather of two. I am additionally a full-time digital nomad, which suggests I work remotely whereas touring in an effort to see the world. Lengthy-haul solo journey beforehand meant you would go weeks and even months with out interacting with your loved ones, however fortunately as we speak’s applied sciences let me keep related with the push of a button.
Since I’m often only catching up with my children on Zoom or FaceTime, I miss out on those day-to-day IRL moments when a parent overhears small talk or notices what items the kids are using and leaving around the house. Fortunately for me, my kids are all tech nerds like I am, and they’re happy to tell me what gear is most helpful in their lives as they navigate early adulthood.
My kids range in age from 21 to 29, so the last several years have seen plenty of college drop-offs, first apartment setups and back-to-school supply grabs.
If you’re looking for a small (or splurge) gift for the young adult in your life as back-to-school season approaches, these tech gifts have been winners for both me and my family.
Working as a digital nomad means spending a variety of time on airplanes. One expertise I have never loved on a aircraft is utilizing wired headphones for the leisure system.
Since buying an AirFly Bluetooth adapter, I have never appeared again. This Bluetooth wi-fi audio transmitter and receiver works with AirPods or wi-fi headphones. You plug the gadget into an airplane’s or prepare’s leisure heart, permitting you to pair your wi-fi gadget. It creates a Bluetooth connection wherever there is a common headphone jack.
Your graduate will most probably wish to journey in some unspecified time in the future (or higher but, journey with you!), so this can be a present they will take pleasure in.
With regards to my youngsters, 3 out of 5 choose an Apple laptop computer. I’ve bought a 14-inch MacBook Professional, a 15-inch MacBook Air and a 16-inch MacBook Professional.
My 22-year-old daughter likes the 14-inch MacBook Professional, proven right here, as a result of it is the glad medium of the three units. She codes, however as a result of she travels, she does not desire a larger display screen. My 24-year-old son prefers the 16-inch MacBook Professional as a result of he does each coding and graphics work, so he needed an even bigger display screen. And my 21-year-old daughter likes the 15-inch MacBook Air as a result of the display screen is large however the laptop computer is gentle.
Although I journey with headphones, I usually use a Bluetooth speaker when watching exhibits and listening to music. I just like the JBL Flip 5 moveable Bluetooth speaker as a result of it is sufficiently small to slot in my journey bag and it is easy to make use of.
It is a middle-of-the-road speaker by way of worth. The audio high quality is nice sufficient for me, and the product is each sturdy and waterproof.
Two of my children are avid gamers, so they like PCs over Apple computer systems. For them, I’ve bought the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop computer. They each love this laptop computer as a result of it is quick, has a formidable Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card and has refresh price for gaming.
As I’ve discovered from private expertise, in the event you shock your youngster who loves gaming with an Alienware laptop computer, you will get main parenting factors.
Battery Life Rated as much as 20 hoursNoise Canceling Sure (ANC)Multipoint SureHeadphone Kind Over-ear wi-fi headphonesWater-Resistant No IP ranking
Curiously, when dad was shopping for, all my children opted for over-the-ear headphones as a substitute of earbuds.
I’ve appreciated the Bose Headphones 700 for journey, and because it seems, my children love them, too. The sound is nice, they match comfortably over the ears and so they’re wi-fi. A few of my college-age youngsters are Apple heads whereas others choose Android, however they name a truce and are available collectively for his or her mutual love of Bose.
Read our Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review.
I am an Apple person, so the Apple MagSafe moveable charger is a pure match for my iPhone 15 Professional Max, and it is sufficiently small and lightweight sufficient to slot in my pocket. I’ve bought Apple’s MagSafe chargers for 3 of my children; they recognize the flexibility to maintain their cellphone charged by simply setting their cellphone down, reasonably than having to seek for cords on a regular basis.
A pill makes an amazing present as a result of it is a gadget that may deal with many of the work of a laptop computer however in a cell means. I personally use my iPad on flights and in accommodations, because it’s a lot simpler to deal with than my laptop computer. All 5 of my grownup children choose Apple merchandise in the case of tablets, primarily for note-taking or streaming exhibits in a cushty place.
Tablets have come a good distance by way of pace, display screen readability and the highly effective processors constructed into them. I can now do enterprise duties on my iPad on the go, which is extra handy than pulling out my laptop computer.
I’ve bought this Bluetooth speaker for myself and a few of my children as a result of it is cheap however nonetheless good. This cell speaker is nice to make use of whereas watching films in accommodations and Airbnbs (and let’s not neglect blasting my favourite Taylor Swift songs).
My children take pleasure in this properly priced speaker as effectively, and so they say it is a present they really use, which is all the time a plus.
Read our Anker SoundCore 2 review.
To energy my devices on the go, cell vitality is important. There’s not all the time an outlet out there when touring on planes, trains and buses, or in a ride-hailing automobile. Anker’s MagGo energy financial institution is my go-to cell energy provide for my travels.
Fortuitously, my children agree. They just like the Anker MagGo as a result of it is moveable and never overly clunky. Having the ability to energy devices whereas in school, work or on the go is a present your older children will recognize.
A few of my children need top-notch audio high quality in an exterior speaker, so it is again to Bose we go. They instructed me they like this Bose Bluetooth speaker as a result of it is small, but mighty in its audio output. The speaker can work the room for a celebration but additionally can match right into a backpack or carry-on simply.
Tech presents are a win-win
Tech presents are a straightforward strategy to deal with your children to a better high quality of life once they do not fairly have the wage but to do this for themselves. They’re going to recognize it, and you may recognize getting them a present they really need and can use. You possibly can’t go incorrect with any of those presents as you ship your younger grownup off on their subsequent journey.
