Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way or not, it’s always a good idea to present your loved one with a thoughtful gift to commemorate the occasion. It doesn’t have to be tied to Valentine’s Day, but the unofficial holiday is a nice reminder to show you care. Tech can get expensive, but you don’t have to break the bank to get them something they’ll actually use. From affordable tech to tech accessories they can use with tech they already own, we have curated this list of affordable Valentine’s Day tech gifts.
Satechi 145W 4-port GaN Travel Charger
It’s not a sexy gift, by any means. But if your partner travels a lot, it’s one they’ll appreciate. And they’ll think of you every time they pull it out of their bag to use in a hotel room or while on the go. The Satechi 145W 4-port GaN travel charger has international adapters for EU, AU, UK, and U.S. It uses the latest Power Delivery 3.1 protocol so they’ll be able to recharge all their devices quickly and efficiently. It even comes with a mesh bag and employs a compact, travel-friendly size. It comes equipped with two USB-C PD 3.1 ports and two USB-C PD 3.0 ports, and the wattage can power everything from mobile phones to laptops like the MacBook Pro or Lenovo Legion Slim 7i. At US$120, you can expect to pay about $160 for this in Canada, but it will become their most essential travel accessory.
Movano Health Evie Ring
Perfect for the special lady in your life, the Movano Health Evie Ring is a smart ring designed specifically for women. It focuses on tracking female-specific biometrics through medical-grade sensors, including activity, sleep, energy, mood, and menstrual health. It’s also specifically designed to be fitted to a woman’s finger, complete with a slight flex to account for fluctuations in finger size caused by hormonal changes. It’s made of scratch-resistant metal and comes with a charging case that can recharge it up to 10 times so she can wear it for weeks – it lasts about four days per charge. The sensors are designed to optimize vital sign measurement for women, who tend to have smaller fingers with less blood flow than men. She’ll get useful insights, like observations about how her mood improves when she gets more steps per day or insight about how her menstrual cycle might interrupt sleep. Use the quick Spot Check function to get a quick reading of pulse rate and blood oxygen levels. In the app, she can log her mood, menstrual symptoms, and more. It’s currently only compatible with iOS but the company is launching support for Android in the second quarter of this year. At US$269 or about $362 in Canada, it’s not ultra-cheap. But compared to a more expensive smartwatch, this is a nice alternative worth considering.
Personal Item Tracker
If your partner tends to be forgetful or scatterbrained, they’ll appreciate a personal item tracker they can use for their keys, purse, or wallet. For iOS users, consider the Apple AirTag, which you can get with a variety of stylish holders, complete with key ring. Starting at $39 for the tracker itself, they can play a sound or even ask Siri from their phone or Apple Watch to find the misplaced item. If the item is nearby, they can also use Precision Finding to follow breadcrumbs towards it. If the item was left behind at the office, gym, or a coffee shop, Apple’s Find My network can help locate it. With the Lost Mode, someone can get your contact information by tapping the AirTag to their own NFC-capable phone and help you retrieve it. Amazon has tons of stylish third-party holders for the Apple AirTag, so don’t forget to pick one up for them as well.
If they own a Samsung Galaxy device, you can get the new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 instead, which is on sale right now for $28. It has a Compass View feature for determining the precise location of the missing item. Even see a full map of the location using the SmartThings Find app. It can last for up to 700 days using the new power saving mode, or 500 days in regular mode. It’s 1P67 rated and comes with a built-in metal loop so they can attach it to a backpack, purse, or keyring.
OnePlus 12R Smartphone
Of course, the OnePlus 12 is the brand’s top-line phone, and a wonderful affordable alternative to a more expensive Samsung Galaxy device. But if you don’t need all the premium features but still want to get your love something new and packed with fabulous specs, you can consider the OnePlus 12R. At just $670, it’s a steal when it comes to outright pricing for a premium phone in Canada. The phone has a large 6.78-inch AMOLED 120Hz screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, proprietary Trinity Engine, Cryo-Velocity cooling system (perfect if they love to mobile game), and a 5,500mAh battery with support for SUPERVOOC fast charging. Surprise them with this new phone to replace that old, outdated device they have been hanging onto for years. Want the chance to win one? Enter our contest and you might be the lucky winner!
OnePlus Buds 3 True Wireless Earbuds
A perfect complement to the OnePlus 12R (you can use them with any mobile device, though) are the OnePlus Buds 3 true wireless earbuds. These stylish buds, of which we’re also giving away a pair via contest, come with dual dynamic drivers with Basswave enhancement, touch volume controls for easy operation while you exercise or commute, active noise cancellation, Hi-Res audio support, water- and dust-resistance, and a battery that affords up to 44 hours playback per charge. At just $140, they are among one of the more affordable premium earbuds you’ll find. It’s a solid gift for a partner whose looking for a new pair for exercise, commutes, video calls in the home office, and more. Enter our contest for your chance to WIN OnePlus Buds 3!
Nixplay 8-inch HD Touch Screen Wi-Fi Digital Frame
Personal gifts that take time and effort are always appreciated. This is why people love things like handmade greeting cards or homemade jewelry. You can turn a gift like a digital photo frame into something more personal by loading it up with a slideshow of photos and videos of you and your partner, friends, and family. The Nixplay HD Touch Screen Wi-Fi digital frame is just 8 inches in size (larger sizes are available) making it perfect for the work desk. You can load images any time you want using a mobile iOS or Android app. You can even drag and drop photos from Apple Photos, Google Photos, Facebook, and Instagram from your phone to the frame. The best part? You don’t even need to take it out of the box to add photos: just follow the steps in the website guide and use the app, which includes the option to add a special gift message that will appear when they turn it on for the first time (along with all the photos you already loaded). Photos are displayed in 1,280 x 800 HD resolution with auto rotation to portrait or landscape mode. There’s unlimited photo storage and on-screen touch controls. The frame is just $200, on sale right now in time for Valentine’s Day for $170. But it’s a gift that keeps on giving as you can update it with new photos all the time, even share the frame’s details with others so they can add images and videos any time as well.
Particula GoCube Edge
For the partner who could use some de-stressing, the Particula GoCube Edge is US$70 or about $94 in Canada, and offers classic puzzles in a form similar to the classic Rubik’s cube. But there’s a twist: they can connect online with other cubers from around the world to compete. Sensors track and measure activity and it connects via Bluetooth to the smartphone app that shows a real-time display of the cube, analyzes their movements, and provides fun and interactive tutorials. It comes with the cube, a charging stand, charging cable, and pouch along with a one-year subscription to GoCube Academy. It’s a nice alternative to keep them busy and de-stressing without scrolling through their phone.
WITHit Apple Watch Band Charms
Kids love Jibbitz for Crocs, teens love charms for bracelets, why not do the same with an Apple Watch? WITHit offers adorable charms for the Apple smartwatch that your loved one probably didn’t know existed and will be delighted to unwrap. There are various charms from which to choose, ranging from a rainbow to a speech bubble, ice cream cone, heart, leaf, and more. Choose a set that represents their personality and surprise them with this unique way to personalize the look of the smartwatch. You’ll need to get the compatible band as well, which is about US$20. From there, sets of four charms are about US$15. Altogether, you’ll spend just over $50 in Canadian dollars to put a smile on their face.
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