Best Tech Stocking Stuffers to Gift this Holiday
If you’re on the hunt for the best PC gifts and tech stocking stuffers for geeks this year, now is the time to start thinking about how to narrow down the search. Fortunately, there are tons of affordable options with wide compatibility and applications in a variety of scenarios - whether you’re shopping for a 24/7 competitive online gamer or a DIY tech enthusiast.
The best tech stocking stuffers are often drawn from useful PC accessories, helping the recipient add functionality with a new peripheral. In this article, we’ll focus on a variety of ways you can make life better for the techie in your life. Since so much gaming tech is designed for collaboration and accuracy, you can easily make things double up for the right person.
Be sure to check out our HP Holiday Gift Guide for deals on tech gifts and more this season. You’ll find everything from budget-friendly and family gifts to tech stocking stuffers and this year’s top holiday gifts. With our holiday gifts guide, you’re sure to find something for anyone – and at any price point, whether it’s desktops, laptops, printers, PC accessories, gaming gear, and more.
Gaming mouse pads
Unless you’re shopping for a trackpad fanatic, the right mouse pad is an important part of almost everyone’s core list of computer accessories. Most of us use our mouse pads every day and have to make frequent replacements for wear and tear. Having something that provides durability and comfort is key, but the ideal width and depth of a mouse pad can also matter.
Long work hours and endless gaming sessions can put a lot of strain on your wrists, so these routines often require something a bit more substantial. Adding a mouse pad with a textured underside can reduce movement and hassle, while a raised wrist rest adds an ergonomic dimension to help reduce strain. For gamers, a bigger mat also adds maneuverability.
HyperX Pulsefire Mat Gaming Mouse Pad: Best mouse pad to gift
- Anti-fray stitching to resist wear and tear
- Tight grip with anti-slip rubber underside
- Dense weave for easy mouse glide
- Rolls up for improved portability
- Available in medium, large, extra-large, and double extra-large
HyperX Wrist Rest: Best wrist rest to gift
- Anti-fray stitching to resist wear and tear
- Stay cool with gel-infused memory foam wrist rest
- Textured, natural rubber underside for improved grip
- Ergonomic design for gamers that use full-sized keyboards
- Durable build for years of frequent use
Keyboards
From an ergonomic standpoint, keyboards are another great way to improve someone’s daily computing experience. The wrong laptop or gaming keyboard can make performing basic functions feel more like a chore, especially when they add strain to wrists or fingers. The wrong type of keyboard can also inhibit productivity if it doesn’t provide the right tactile feedback.
Generally, a mechanical keyboard provides a more tactile experience that some gamers prefer. By comparison, a membrane keyboard offers a softer feel that can seem more practical to multipurpose users or satisfying to some work styles. Customization options can add another layer of functionality, offering RGB lighting for extra fun or personalized key sets to create.
HyperX Alloy Origins 65 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: Best gaming keyboard to gift
- HyperX mechanical switches for maximum speed and accuracy
- Save space with a compact 65% form factor
- Aircraft-grade aluminum body built for durability
- PBT keycaps with side-printed secondary functions
- Adjustable angle with two-step keyboard feet
- Vibrant RGB lighting with exposed LED design
HP Wireless Premium Keyboard: Best keyboard to gift
- Slim design to save space
- Low-profile scissor keys for quiet and speed
- Built-in Link-5 USB nano-receiver for superior connectivity
- Can stand up to minor spills
- 3-month estimated battery life
- On/off switch and micro-USB cable for charging
Mice
When it comes to any input, responsiveness is key. Mice can be a choke point for productivity and performance in the same way as a keyboard or mouse pad. The right option adds smoothness and immersion to any gaming experience. It also cuts back on lag when multitasking, so you don’t feel bogged down navigating multiple programs and tabs.
The latest mouse inputs can also be customized, offering programmable buttons so that you can create and save your own preferred combos. Customization also extends into built-in lighting, with gaming mice often designed to stand out with a more striking design and personalized RGB effects. For gamers, also focus on speedy cursor tracking and large skates for a smooth glide.
HP 435 Multi-Device Wireless Mouse for business: Best mouse to gift
- Connect with Bluetooth or a USB-A nano dongle
- 2-year estimated battery life with AA battery
- Customize shortcuts and 4 programmable buttons
- High-speed cursor tracking up to 4,000 dpi
- Adjust wheel speed to control your scroll
HyperX Pulsefire Surge Gaming Mouse: Best gaming mouse to gift
- Built-in light ring provides 360-degree RGB effects
- Customize with HyperX NGENUITY software
- Pixart 3389 Sensor with native DPI settings up to 16,000
- Durable braided cable connection
- Tactile Omron switches rated for 50 million clicks
- Large skates for easy gliding
Webcams
Whether a daily video streamer or a constant collaborator, the right webcam is a great way to stay connected and ease the hassle of staying in contact with your team. A 1080p resolution camera makes it easier to see each other, while compact builds and wireless features can help reduce overall clutter in the workspace. But that’s not all to keep in mind.
Privacy is critically important for most users, especially when it comes to streamers, frequent video callers, and even heavy travel routines. For these scenarios, you may want to opt for an option that features a privacy shutter or that can be deactivated through a kill switch. That gives the user maximum control over the webcam and the ability to quickly cut off the view.
Poly Studio P5 USB-A Webcam: Best business webcam to gift
- Optimize field of view to emphasize you and not your surroundings
- Automatically adjust to the ambient lighting in your environment
- Full HD 1080p resolution with 4x digital zoom
- Integrated privacy shutter for easy view control
- Use the wireless adapter to cut back on cord clutter
HP 320 FHD Webcam: Best webcam to gift
- Features reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- Automatically adjust to the ambient lighting in your environment
- Full HD 1080p resolution and 66-degree wide angle
- Compact build with an integrated microphone
- 360-degree swivel and 16-degree tilt range
USB hubs
Have you noticed someone with a desk that’s constantly cluttered with cords and stacked high with peripherals? Not every PC provides the right amount of hardware connectivity. That leads to workspace chaos, with tangled cords and devices that are hard to detach or track back to their port of connection. The right USB hub is a great way to address that problem.
Built with a compact and simple design, most multiport hubs provide a long list of important hardware connections. Some even allow users to charge a variety of devices, from laptops to phones, all through a single hub. They can also be a great way to expand screen space with an extra display or add to your travel functionality with whatever legacy ports that may come up.
HP Universal USB-C Multiport Hub: Best business USB hub to gift
- Compatible with most devices and OS
- Connects through a single USB-C connection
- Features 7 built-in connections (HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort™, and more)
- Can provide power for dual 4K displays
- Provides up to 65W of power delivery
HP USB-C Travel Hub G2: Best USB hub to gift
- Charge your laptop and phone from a single device
- Add an extra display with HDMI or VGA
- Compact build that’s perfect for travel
- Scale power delivery with the 45W, 65W or 90W adapter
Earbuds
More critical to our lives than ever, earbuds provide privacy and entertainment across our lives: at home or work, on vacation, during a commute, and just for killing time. They help us stay in contact with friends, family, and colleagues; listen to music; and interact with the deluge of new mobile apps and games that are now available.
Given how important earbuds have become, the importance of portability and comfort is hard to overstate. Looking out for smart designs that avoid tangles and replaceable ear tips for different users are good ways to guarantee both usability and comfort. Integrated features for volume and call control can also streamline interactions, so you don’t have to fumble with your phone.
HyperX Cloud Earbuds II RED: Best wired earbuds to gift
- Features 14 mm drivers optimized for mobile gaming
- Includes four ear-tip sizes from extra-small to large
- Extensive multi-platform compatibility for consoles and mobile
- Integrated microphone and multifunction button
- Flat plug design to discourage tangling
- Red styling with carrying case included
HyperX Cloud MIX Buds Wireless Headphones: Best wireless earbuds to gift
- Dual Wireless TWS: 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth
- Ultra-low latency 2.4 GHz gaming mode
- Immersive audio with HyperX Signature sound and DTS Headphone:X®
- 10 hours of battery life on one charge
- 33 hours total with included charging case
- Includes three ear-tip sizes
Summary
The right stocking stuffer is always a thoughtful way to make someone’s life a little simpler or less complicated, or in the case of some products, a little more stylish. The right keyboard or mouse can add flair and deeply impact the quality of daily interactions, while a gaming mouse pad improves competitiveness and comfort.
At the more practical end, a new webcam can help an aspiring streamer upgrade their production quality or a stressed freelancer cut out some of the hassle behind web meetings. A durable USB port adds functionality, while the perfect pair of earbuds can help friends stay in touch, or just relax and unwind.
