If you’re not of a geeky disposition yourself, buying for someone who is can be tricky. How can you possibly know what would be appreciated or useful when you’re not of that world yourself?
Relax, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up 14 offbeat, slightly nerdy gifts that should put a smile on your geeky friend or family member’s face this Christmas, with prices starting at just £5.95. To keep it budget-friendly, we’ve included nothing over £100.
So, without further ado, here’s our pick of geeky gifts.
The best last-minute geeky Christmas gifts
Govee Smart Light Bar
Add a bit of pop to a monitor or small TV with the Govee Smart Light Bars. This clever tech matches the action on screen via a camera, ensuring the two light bars project the same colours on the wall behind in time with the action. It’s wonderfully immersive and works with screens of up to 45 inches in size.
Buy now £47.99, Amazon
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
As a rule, you get what you pay for with cheap true wireless earbuds, but that’s not the case with Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1+ buds — which have been slashed from an original price of £119.95 to sit at just £39.95. True, there’s no noise cancellation for noisy Tube journeys, but the sound is solid, the app is great, and the value for money is phenomenal.
Buy now £39.95, Cambridge Audio
JBL Live 660NC
These funky over-ear cans have premium construction and sound good with surprisingly credible noise cancellation. Available in various funky colours for that gifty feeling, these don’t feel like a budget set of cans despite their competitive pricing.
Buy now £89.95, Amazon
Classic game keychains
Does your geeky friend have a favourite game of all time? Immortalise it in keyring form via the magic of Etsy. Just pick the game (or film) you want and the tiny replica box will wing its way to your door. Shipping may be tight, with delivery estimates of December 21 to 28, but if you’re willing to gamble on a cheap stocking filler, this is tough to beat.
Buy now £5.95, Etsy
Elago Apple Watch iPod charging stand
Charge your Apple Watch with a bit of retro flair, thanks to Elago’s iPod-styled nightstand charger. It works with all Apple Watches, and is compatible with Nightstand mode, too. Grab it while it’s on sale.
Buy now £11.19, Amazon
Sci-fi Bookworm Wallet
If the geek in your life likes their science fiction classics, then this wallet — celebrating the works of authors such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C Clarke — is a surefire winner. There’s RFID protection, multiple card slots, and a zip coin pocket, so it’s practical as well as stylish.
Buy now £22, Yoshi Goods
Traintrackr live LED Tube map
Want to know the status of your favourite Tube line at a glance? This LED map pulls in live data from the London Underground to show the movements of trains on the line of your choice. We’ve linked to the Northern Line below, but others are available — and, if you have the budget, you could spend £224 on one showing all the lines including the new Elizabeth Line (a smaller version without the newest edition is available for £107).
Buy now £89.10, Traintrackr (extra 10 per cent off with SALE22 code)
8BitDo Pro Bluetooth controller
Few gamepads are as versatile as the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth gamepad. Not only is it extremely comfortable, but it works with PC, Mac, Switch, and your smartphone — and you can jump between them via a switch on the back of the pad. Essential for the gamer who plays across systems.
Buy now £41.99, Amazon
Razer Kishi
Many nerds don’t like touchscreens for gaming, and the Razer Kishi fixes that problem, by adding analogue sticks and physical buttons to your smartphone, making it feel a bit Nintendo Switch-like. This is great for any arcade mobile game but really comes into its own for game streaming via Xbox Game Pass.
Buy now £60.57, Amazon
Instant Pot 6-in-1 Vortex Plus
Geeks need to eat, and the Instant Pot 6-in-1 Vortex Plus has plenty of nerdy features to help keep gadget cravings in check. As an air fryer, it’s money-saving over conventional ovens, but it also comes with baking, roasting, reheating, grilling, and dehydration functionality. Plenty of recipe ideas are provided in an accompanying app, too.
Buy now £100, Argos
Bosch Go electric screwdriver
The Bosch Go electric screwdriver is perfect for hardware fixes — a semi-pro tool available at an extremely affordable price, with B&Q knocking £30 off its usual RRP for Christmas. It boasts five torque settings, plenty of power, and an electronic brake, making it an extremely handy tool to have around the house.
Buy now £35, B&Q
Novelty AirPods Case
Why stick with Apple’s aesthetic when more playful AirPod case skins exist? There’s plenty out there, but our sweet-tooth-friendly pick is this range from Taochen, where your AirPods can be cunningly disguised as a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, or a packet of Skittles.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Amazfit Bip U smartwatch
It’s amazing how much smartwatch you can get for under £40. The Amazfit Bip U packs a 1.43-inch colour screen, 60 sports modes, 5ATM water resistance, and 24/7 heart-rate monitoring. On top of that, it offers a massive nine days of battery life — something most smartwatches can only dream of.
Buy now £33.90, Amazon
Positive Grid Riff guitar interface
For the guitar-playing geek, the Postive Grid Riff is a brilliant little buy. It’s an audio interface that simply makes your guitar sound amazing, with a huge array of software effects ideal for those looking to take their recordings to the next level. It was £160, so it’s a great discount.
Buy now £69 (extra £15 off with PCGEAR15 code)
