MacRumors 2025 Spring Gift Guide

If you're looking for the perfect tech or tech-adjacent present for someone who loves Apple products or just uses them daily, we've come up with useful suggestions that might be helpful to you.

Apple Logo Gift feature
These are some of our favorite products, many of which we use personally or have gifted to our friends and family members in the past. We'll be adding to the list regularly, so make sure to check back often.

Apple Music: 100 Best Albums

Last year, Apple announced a partnership with the luxury book company Assouline for the Apple Music: 100 Best Albums coffee table book, priced at $450. The book features gold-edged pages encased in a linen hardcover, and it highlights Apple Music's list of the 100 best albums ever made across 208 pages.

Apple Music Top 100 Albums Book
Although expensive, the ‌Apple Music‌: 100 Best Albums book is a solid addition to anyone's coffee table book collection.

Sonos Ace Headphones

Apple's 2024 AirPods Max "refresh" was disappointing and only added a USB-C port, and there are several other noise cancelling headphones on the market that are a better investment in 2024, like the Sonos Ace. Normally priced at $449 but available for $349 in a Black Friday sale at Best Buy, the Sonos Ace are cheaper than the ‌AirPods Max‌ and offer a more comfortable fit thanks to a lighter weight. There isn't as much pressure on the head with the Sonos Ace, and the ear cups are a comfortable memory foam that can fit a wide range of ear shapes and sizes.

sonos ace headphones
When we tested out the Sonos Ace earlier this year, and we were impressed with the sound quality. Sonos added support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, and there's a TrueCinema feature that maps the space around you for the best surround sound. ANC blocks out irritating noise around you as well as the ‌AirPods Max‌ do, but if you need to hear sounds from the surroundings, there's an Aware Mode.

sonos ace purple
You can also pair the Sonos Ace with the Arc and the Arc Ultra Soundbars, which makes them a solid gift for someone in the Sonos ecosystem or someone looking for comfortable, premium over-ear headphones.

Aura Frames

Priced starting at $149, Aura digital frames make a good gift for anyone who has digital photos, which is most of us these days. You can load photos on the frame using the Aura iPhone app, and since images are stored in the cloud, there's no limit.

aura frames
Multiple people can upload images to a single frame, so it's a great way to share photos with friends and family members. If you know someone that's not technically savvy, like a grandparent, it's still the perfect gift because you can load photos for them remotely. The $149 10.1-inch Carver is Aura's most affordable option, but there are sizes up to 15 inches, like the $299 Walden. Aura also makes higher resolution options, including the $199 Mason, and all the frames come in multiple colors to match any decor.

aura frame bright
Everyone I've gifted an Aura frame to has loved it, and it's my go-to for people that are hard to shop for.

LEGO Retro Radio

Priced at $100, the Retro Radio from LEGO has a sweet, nostalgic design, complete with a tuner, knobs, and speaker grille. It's actually functional, because you can remove the back plate from the set and place an ‌iPhone‌ inside so that the radio plays music.

lego retro radio
There's a built-in smartphone stand that holds the ‌iPhone‌ in place, but if you don't want to use an ‌iPhone‌, there's also a little sound brick that plays different sounds when you turn the knob.

Nanoleaf Light Panels and Display Boxes

Nanoleaf recently came out with some of its most useful light panels to date, the Blocks. Priced starting at $225 for the combo kit, the Blocks come with different options like a pegboard you can hang things on, a shelf for knick knacks, and a texture panel that adds visual interest. There are smaller and larger squares, and all of the pieces are interchangeable for creating a unique setup.

nanoleaf blocks 2
Like all Nanoleaf products, the Blocks can be controlled with the Nanoleaf app or with HomeKit, and can be set to multi-colored patterns in a range of shades. These lights are bright enough to serve as a replacement for a standard light, which makes them extra versatile. Any gamer would appreciate these panels for a gaming setup, but they also work around TVs, in offices, and more.

nanoleaf blocks
If you know someone that has collectibles, Nanoleaf also has the $250 EXPO Smart LED Display Case. This is the perfect gift for someone that collects high-end sneakers, anime figures, or anything in that vein. It can be set to 16 million colors or shades of white, and colors can change in time with music.

nanoleaf display case 1
For those that already have a Nanoleaf setup, the $27 Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch is a sensible and inexpensive add-on that's super useful. It provides a physical control option for ‌HomeKit‌ lights, and there are built-in motion and daylight sensors for automating scenes. The Sense+ can be used for turning lights on or off, dimming lights, and swapping scenes.

nanoleaf smart switch

AirPods

You'll never go wrong with AirPods as a gift, and this year there are three solid options to choose from. For the best noise cancelling, Apple sells the $249 AirPods Pro 2, but you can probably find a pre-holiday sale to get them even cheaper.

airpods pro 2 gradient
The AirPods Pro 2 have silicone tips that fit snugly in the ears to drown out sound, and with hearing aid support, these are the best bet if you have a family member that has mild hearing loss but doesn't wear hearing aids.

People with hearing loss that have tested this out have been impressed with how well the hearing aid capability works, and ‌AirPods Pro‌ are much, much cheaper than traditional hearing aids. Hearing aid capabilities aren't yet available everywhere, including Canada and Australia, but support is available in Europe, the U.S., and 90+ other countries and regions.

If you're purchasing for someone who doesn't like silicone ear tips, the AirPods 4 are an option. You can get them with or without Active Noise Cancellation. The ANC version doesn't cut out quite as much noise as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, but it's enough to make a difference.

airpods 4 blue
With ANC, the AirPods 4 cost $179, and without ANC, they're $129, which is the cheapest price Apple offers for AirPods. You might see some minor sales around Black Friday, but deep discounts are unlikely because the AirPods 4 are newer.

Aqara U300 Smart Lock

It's probably a little weird to gift someone a Smart Lock as a gift, but it's a genuinely useful home product that a lot of people probably don't have already.

I've tested a few different smart locks, and I'm a fan of Aqara's options. The $200 U300 is the newest model, and it's for doors that only have a handle and not a deadbolt, like a door into a garage.

aqara u300 1
The $270 U200 is designed for doors that have a deadbolt, so your standard front or back door, plus there's the more affordable $190 U100 version. I like Aqara locks because there are so many ways to unlock them. They have support for Home Keys so you can use NFC with your ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch Wallet app, but there are also passcodes you can enter with the keypad, NFC cards, and even a fingerprint sensor that works surprisingly well. You can let in guests, have the door autolock after it's closed, and set alarms.

aqarau100
Aqara does recommend a hub with its locks so you can control them away from home, but it's not entirely necessary. I also like a hub, because it ensures my locks are always connected to Wi-Fi and I don't run into connectivity issues. Aqara has some other useful sensors like its Presence Sensor for motion detection and activating ‌HomeKit‌ scenes, but I haven't tried them out. They're worth looking at if you're considering an Aqara lock and hub, since they also connect to the hub.

Philips Hue Lights

I think I've tried every ‌HomeKit‌ smart bulb and light available at this point, and Philips Hue lights are unquestionably the best you can get. I have no patience for lights that constantly disconnect or have connectivity issues, and the Hue bulbs don't. Yes, there is a $60 Bridge, but it's worth it, and not all lights require it.

philips hue sync box 8k
The $200 White and Color Starter Kit comes with four Hue bulbs that can go in any lamp that supports E26 bulbs, and it comes with the hub. It's one of the best bets if you're buying a gift for someone who is new to smart home products. The bulbs can be controlled with the Home app or the Hue app, and they can be set to 16 million colors. Hue has great light effects and scenes that really shine when you have multiple bulbs.

hue pendant
For a cheaper option, there's the $70 Starter Kit that comes with a hub and two E26 white bulbs. There's no color with these, but they can be set to different shades of white.

hue go lamp orange grip
For computer or media setups, the Gradient Light Strips priced starting at $70 are excellent. Some other options:

  • Lightguide bulbs - These would be perfect paired with a simple lamp base, because the bulb is meant to be the star. I have two of the ellipse bulbs, and they're enormous and look great.
  • String lights - For holiday fans or those with patio setups crying out for lighting, the Hue Festavia String Lights would make a good gift.
  • Signe floor lamp - The Signe floor lamp isn't the most practical light because it doesn't have a wide radius and is meant to face the wall, but it makes for great accent lighting.
  • Hue Go - The Hue Go is a portable lamp that you can use plugged in or with the built-in battery, and it supports all of the same features as Hue bulbs. It's a nice accent light and good to have around for power outages.
  • Hue Go Portable Table Lamp - This is a lot like the Hue Go, but it's a more traditional looking lamp. It's water resistant, so it can go outdoors, too.

Bambu Lab 3D Printer

Bambu Lab makes a range of 3D printers that you can print to using just an app on your ‌iPhone‌ or your Mac. The A1 Mini is just $200, or $349 with the AMS Lite that lets you print with up to four filament colors. Bambu's printers are sort of the ‌iPhone‌ of 3D printers in that they're relatively easy to operate and have a lot of bells and whistles to streamline printing and cut down on issues. Models like the X1C come with an enclosure.

bambu 3d printer a1 mini
I've had the $999 X1C for over a year now and do not hesitate to recommend it for those interested in getting into 3D printing. It's easy to use, there are thousands of STLs out there for making everything you can think of, and you can even make your own using software like Tinkercad or Fusion 360.

bambu 3d printer x1c
I haven't personally used the A1 Mini, but it's a much more affordable way to try 3D printing, and it could make a great gift for an older teen or a partner who likes to tinker.

Ugreen Uno Chargers

Ugreen wasn't a company I was familiar with until this year, but the "Uno" line of products caught my eye. Uno is a range of charging accessories that Ugreen cleverly outfitted with little digital faces, and I love them.

ugreen uno series
There's a $47 100W charger with four ports and a $36 65W charger with three ports, both of which have legs and digital panels with face emoji that change based on charging state. When a device is fast charging, for example, there's a face that looks like it has its mouth full, and when charging is finished, there's a little face with sunglasses.

ugreen uno power bank
There are also two power banks that have the little emoji faces, one that's 10,000mAh with Qi2 for $50, and one that's 5,000mAh with USB-C and 7.5W Qi charging for $33. They come with built-in stands that look like little headphones, which is a nice touch because you can use the stand for watching videos or FaceTiming.

ugreen uno usb c charger
There's also a $49 desktop charger that can charge an ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods, a $17 6-port USB-C hub, and even a $13 USB-C cable with a little face. Of the bunch, the power banks will make the best gift, because who can't use another power bank?

Bird Buddy

Available starting at $189, the Bird Buddy is the kind of gift that almost anyone will like, which makes it great for the person that has everything. It is a Wi-Fi connected smart bird feeder that sends you pictures of the birds that come to visit.

bird buddy main image
You'll need to fill it with seed regularly and charge it up when necessary, but other than that, it operates on its own. To do away with charging, I recommend the solar version, which starts at $239.

bird buddy snapshots
There's a Bird Buddy Pro now that can capture 2K video in HDR and with slow motion for even better snapshots, or if you like hummingbirds, there's a model just for feeding them. I've gifted the Bird Buddy and it's been a huge hit, with adults and kids too.

Multi Cube Timer

If you're looking for a stocking stuffer or small gift for a friend that wants to boost their productivity, this multi-cube timer clock is a solid pick. It's just $19, and flipping it sets 10 minute, 30 minute, 50 minute, and 60 minute timers for focused work.

timer cube
There are different colors that have different time intervals, so you can find the four time periods that make the most logical sense.

Gift Suggestions

Have a great product suggestion we don't have in our list? Let us know in the comments below.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these companies and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...

Top Rated Comments

HeThatShallNotBeNamed Avatar
21 weeks ago
No offense but if I received these items I’d hope it come with a gift receipt lol
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
21 weeks ago
The Aura frame is only $109.99 at Costco if anyone wants to save money-

https://www.costco.com/Carver%20Stone%20Collection%20by%20Aura%2010.1%22%20Digital%20Picture%20Frame%20with%20Wi-Fi.product.4000287200.html?NATAPP=SEARCH&COSTID=iosapp_24.10.3&TRACKING=NO&mboxSession=A166384E-C82D-46E3-9472-08CE61714057&sh=true&nf=true
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
davide_eu Avatar
21 weeks ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macrumors-2024-gift-guide/')

If you're looking for the perfect tech or tech-adjacent holiday present for someone who loves Apple products or just uses them daily, we've come up with useful suggestions that might be helpful to you.



These are some of our favorite products, many of which we use personally or have gifted to our friends and family members in the past. We'll be adding to the list throughout November, so check back in for more ideas.

Aura Frames ('https://auraframes.com')

Priced starting at $149, Aura digital frames ('https://auraframes.com') make a good gift for anyone who has digital photos, which is most of us these days. You can load photos on the frame using the Aura iPhone app, and since images are stored in the cloud, there's no limit.



Multiple people can upload images to a single frame, so it's a great way to share photos with friends and family members. If you know someone that's not technically savvy, like a grandparent, it's still the perfect gift because you can load photos for them remotely. The $149 10.1-inch Carver is Aura's most affordable option, but there are sizes up to 15 inches, like the $299 Walden. Aura also makes higher resolution options, including the $199 Mason, and all the frames come in multiple colors to match any decor.



Everyone I've gifted an Aura frame to has loved it, and it's my go-to for people that are hard to shop for.

Nanoleaf Light Panels ('https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/nanoleaf-blocks/?category=blocks&pack=smarter-kit&squares=comboxl') and Display Boxes ('https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/nanoleaf-expo-display-case/')

Nanoleaf recently came out with some of its most useful light panels to date, the Blocks ('https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/nanoleaf-blocks/?category=blocks&pack=smarter-kit&squares=comboxl'). Priced starting at $225 for the combo kit, the Blocks come with different options like a pegboard you can hang things on, a shelf for knick knacks, and a texture panel that adds visual interest. There are smaller and larger squares, and all of the pieces are interchangeable for creating a unique setup.



Like all Nanoleaf products, the Blocks can be controlled with the Nanoleaf app or with HomeKit, and can be set to multi-colored patterns in a range of shades. These lights are bright enough to serve as a replacement for a standard light, which makes them extra versatile. Any gamer would appreciate these panels for a gaming setup, but they also work around TVs, in offices, and more.



If you know someone that has collectibles, Nanoleaf also has the $250 EXPO Smart LED Display Case ('https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/nanoleaf-expo-display-case/?pack=smarter-kit&size=4'). This is the perfect gift for someone that collects high-end sneakers, anime figures, or anything in that vein. It can be set to 16 million colors or shades of white, and colors can change in time with music.



For those that already have a Nanoleaf setup, the $27 Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch ('https://nanoleaf.me/en-US/products/essentials/sense-plus/?category=wireless-switch') is a sensible and inexpensive add-on that's super useful. It provides a physical control option for HomeKit lights, and there are built-in motion and daylight sensors for automating scenes. The Sense+ can be used for turning lights on or off, dimming lights, and swapping scenes.



Sonos Ace Headphones ('https://howl.link/upr27rk8sm47p')

Apple's recent AirPods Max "refresh" was disappointing and only added a USB-C port, and there are several other noise cancelling headphones on the market that are a better investment in 2024, like the Sonos Ace ('https://howl.link/upr27rk8sm47p'). Priced at $449, the Sonos Ace are cheaper than the AirPods Max and offer a more comfortable fit thanks to a lighter weight. There isn't as much pressure on the head with the Sonos Ace, and the ear cups are a comfortable memory foam that can fit a wide range of ear shapes and sizes.



When we tested out the Sonos Ace ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/05/21/hands-on-sonos-ace-headphones/') earlier this year, and we were impressed with the sound quality. Sonos added support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, and there's a TrueCinema feature that maps the space around you for the best surround sound. ANC blocks out irritating noise around you as well as the AirPods Max do, but if you need to hear sounds from the surroundings, there's an Aware Mode.



You can also pair the Sonos Ace with the Arc and the Arc Ultra Soundbars, which makes them a solid gift for someone in the Sonos ecosystem or someone looking for comfortable, premium over-ear headphones.

AirPods ('https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/?campaign=true')

You'll never go wrong with AirPods as a gift, and this year there are three solid options to choose from. For the best noise cancelling, Apple sells the $249 AirPods Pro 2 ('https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/?campaign=true'), but you can probably find a pre-holiday sale to get them even cheaper.



The AirPods Pro 2 have silicone tips that fit snugly in the ears to drown out sound, and with hearing aid support, these are the best bet if you have a family member that has mild hearing loss but doesn't wear hearing aids.

People with hearing loss that have tested this out have been impressed with how well the hearing aid capability... Click here to read rest of article ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macrumors-2024-gift-guide/')

Article Link: MacRumors 2024 Gift Guide ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/macrumors-2024-gift-guide/')
Or buy a cheaper product and give the money you have saved to a charity organization.

Believe me, you will feel better.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
20 weeks ago

The Macrumours staff tell me that delightfully the only thing in the list that has a subscription option is the bird feeder.
That’s the only item I’d be interested in …if it didn’t require (?) a subscription.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macbookj0e Avatar
21 weeks ago

There's so much pressure for gifting around the holidays. There has to be a better way.
About 5 years ago my family agreed to limit the amount we spend per person. Has worked really well and means we just give small gifts up to £20 each.

Just an idea.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iZac Avatar
21 weeks ago
I’m skimming down this list and my only thought is:

“I wonder how many of these products have subscriptions?”

EDIT: The Macrumours staff tell me that delightfully the only thing in the list that has a subscription option is the bird feeder. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that a digital picture frame with cloud storage doesn't have a subscription. Nice to know some companies factor in a maintenance cost at time of purchase.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)