Gift Guide: TechCrunch’s Favorite Things

We are tech journalists. We have a lot of opinions. Throughout the year, we’re constantly trying out new products, and trust us – we’re a picky crowd. So, if we really like something, it’s probably going to be good! That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favorite things, which includes computer accessories, headphones, productivity apps, and quirky little trinkets.

Sure, we can be harsh critics sometimes. But we’re at this party because we really love technology, and every once in a while, we stumble across an app, gadget, or piece of hardware that we’re dying to talk about. Our recommendations aren’t your typical gift guide — everyone already knows AirTags are useful! – but we hope we can help you find something a little different and cheerful. Whether you’re looking for satisfaction by setting up your own media server at home, or you’re trying to stay cool on a crowded subway, we’re sure you’ll find something you like.

These open-ear, bone conduction headphones allow me to listen to music while running but they don’t cover or go in my ears, so I can still hear the surrounding environment: bikes that want to pass, cars, people behind me, etc. They provide shockingly good sound quality (pun intended) without having to worry about being perfectly placed on the outer ear. It works great with sunglasses and a hat, all next to each other. They don’t leave me with that uncomfortable feeling of hearing loss from earbuds that transmit sound directly into the ear canal.

A Brain.fm subscription is the perfect gift for people who are easily distracted. It’s a streaming service that plays scientifically designed music — without distracting lyrics — which helps my distracted brain stop task-hopping and stay focused. Bonus points for the timer function so I can combine it with the Pomodoro Technique!

Hank Green’s Focus Friend is Google Play’s app of the year — and it’s also one of my favorite finds. It’s the perfect balance between silly and useful to keep me focused, and the free version is enough to get you started, but as a gift, I recommend spending on the lifetime version.

The Omnilux Contour is one of my favorites. It’s a red light therapy mask that reduces redness, improves overall skin texture and tone, and is also supposed to reduce wrinkles (but I haven’t used it long to see if that’s true). It’s wireless so I can walk around and do stuff and the charge lasts a really long time. I keep it on my desk and can use it while checking emails in the morning.

If there’s one tool I can’t live without, it’s Audio Hijack, a Mac app from Rogue Amoeba. Like many people, I spend a lot of time making calls, and because I’m a journalist, I always record them. (With consent, of course!) Audio Hijack makes recording audio from any source easy, and I can limit what appears in the recording to a specific application — no more reminder sounds popping up in the background. I usually send audio from my microphone to one channel and from my source to another channel. That way, if we’re talking to each other, I can isolate one channel or another to see what was said. And with built-in ripping and local file security, Audio Hijack has almost everything I need. Now, if Apple would make it easier for Rogue Amoeba to create an iPadOS or iOS version…

Ozlo’s Sleepbuds are comfortable, if a bit pricey, designed specifically for use while sleeping. (It’s currently on sale for $274 but retails for $349, the site says.)

Whether you need to mask out outside noise, like street sounds, or nearby disturbances like your snoring partner or noisy roommate, these earbuds can help light sleepers get through the night without waking up more easily.

Of course, at this price point, Sleepbuds feel like a luxury — especially considering there are more affordable solutions out there. You can just play music in your room or sleep with your AirPods turned on, for example; But neither of them is perfect. The former will not hide all the noise and the latter is uncomfortable and even painful. However, Sleepbuds offer squishy, ​​soft earbuds that can stream a variety of built-in sleep sounds, music, or audio from your smartphone.

I found that even if you sleep on your side or toss and turn, they don’t fall out. You can also set the Sleepbuds to pause streaming when you fall asleep, which is great if your sleep issues are more about falling asleep than staying asleep. (This may be useful for those who like to listen to audiobooks too!)

The product was not perfect, I must warn. Unfortunately, Bluetooth connectivity and streaming can be wonky at times, and sometimes one earbud or the other won’t charge properly, requiring a reset of the device. Additionally, if you’re streaming via Bluetooth, the phone and Sleepbuds case should be placed close together for the best connection. The sleep sounds provided can be downloaded directly onto the buds themselves, which tends to work better. However, the overall experience of finally being able to shut out the world – comfortably – and get some real sleep, made it a worthwhile purchase for me.

My favorite gadget of 2025 is the Kidee neck fan. Priced at $33.99 on Amazon, it’s been a lifesaver for keeping me cool year-round, whether I’m hiking in New York City during the heat of summer or coming home from the gym on the crowded 4 train in the dead of winter. It’s fairly quiet, with only low hum on the first setting. I’ve had people approach me, thinking this is the latest pair of headphones. It’s the tool I never knew I needed, and now I won’t leave the house without it.

I can’t recommend purchasing your own NAS box enough. If it doesn’t change your life, it will definitely save you money. Synology and Western Digital are good places to start. A NAS box isn’t just an Internet-connected hard drive sitting in your closet; It acts as its own self-hosted server that can run your applications, services, and data at home. You can host your own recipe planner, news tracker, photo gallery, to-do lists, and more. You can set up an ad blocker to cover every device on your home Wi-Fi network; Install your home media streaming platform; And create, edit, and store your personal documents with free alternatives to Google Docs and Microsoft Office. Plus, if you want, you can access your data from anywhere in the world using a secure VPN that only you control. NAS devices are designed to make it easy for most users to get started. Sure, things can sometimes get a little technical at times and may require searching forums and Reddit threads for answers, but you’ll learn things along the way, and that’s both fun and useful.

The BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 is objectively unnecessary — it also makes my screen sag a bit under its distinct weight — but the satisfyingly responsive touch controller and the feeling like I’m running a cybersecurity operation from my bedroom make it worth every penny. (In fact, I use it mostly to feel like an intruder while writing stories very late at night.)

When the winter scare hit last year, I made a purchase I wasn’t proud of: an automatic page turner for my Kindle, as well as a soft, round pillow with a stand that protrudes from it to hold my Kindle in bed. I felt like this must be a colossal waste of money – this was the kind of purchase you make when you crave dopamine, and then never use it. But after one year, I can confidently say this thing is mainstream, and it doesn’t just work with the Kindle. It comes with magnetic loops that allow you to mount any e-reader or tablet-sized device on the stand.

My Kindle holder and page turner have become part of my nightly routine (at least, on nights when I can muster the willpower to prioritize sleep hygiene over playing Pokémon on my phone). I put my phone on my nightstand, turn it on to sleep, set my alarm, and then go into what I call “Kindle Donut Time,” since the Kindle stand is kind of like the shape of a donut. I get under my heated blanket, grab my remote-controlled page turner, and read until I can’t keep my eyes open. This is a sacred experience. Long live Kindle Donut time.

As someone who never understood the appeal of candle warmers, I got a spa room this year and ended up really liking it. I like that there is no risk of fire with open flames and that I can enjoy the scent of the candles without any smoke. Additionally, as someone who hates “tunneling” in candles, I like that the wax melts evenly with the candle warmer. I also think there is a stronger, more consistent scent when using a candle warmer rather than lighting a wick.