We’re halfway through Fall, and the holidays are drawing near. Whether you’re getting gifts for family and friends or treating yourself to something nice, now’s the perfect time to snag the best deals on all your favorite tech.
The clock is ticking, and widespread shipping delays mean that you should get started sooner rather than later. So keep reading, as we help you cross off your gift list — and save money in the process.
Table of Contents
Best cheap gifts for gamers
Let’s kick things off with one of the hottest gifts this holiday season: video games. Over the past two years, we’ve spent more time at home than ever before, so it’s no surprise that gaming has exploded in popularity. If you’re not a gamer, it can be hard to find the right gift for the gamers in your life. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you find the perfect gift. The first thing to consider is whether your gamer will be playing at home or on the go.
Best portable game systems in 2021
If you’re looking for a portable game system, you currently have three good options, and they all come from Nintendo: Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo Switch, and Switch Lite. The original Nintendo Switch and the recently released Switch OLED hybrid consoles are the most versatile since they function as either a home console or a portable console. But if you only need a portable system, the smaller and lighter Switch Lite is the better (and cheaper) choice.
No matter which you pick, all Switch consoles have the same processor and play the same games — we’re talking a massive library of over 3,500 games. And buying on Swappa means saving hundreds of dollars compared to other online marketplaces.
Best premium 4K game systems for the living room
What if you don’t care about portability and just want the absolute best 4K gaming experience that you can get today? This is where home game systems like the PlayStation and Xbox come in. Last year, Sony and Microsoft launched the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S to widespread critical acclaim. They’re insanely powerful, capable of native 4K gaming, and can deliver super high frame rates for incredibly smooth motion. But even a year later, they’re still pretty hard to find at retail. Fortunately, you can pick one up on Swappa today!
Best affordable home video game systems for competitive online gamers
Not everyone can afford a brand-new PS5 or Series X. But did you know that you can achieve a comparable 4K gaming experience on last generation’s souped-up PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. Starting at just $260 — much less than you’d pay on eBay — these consoles can deliver 4K resolution and higher frame rates than last gen’s base consoles, giving you the competitive edge in online multiplayer games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Apex Legends.
Best cheap game systems for the living room
If you’re looking for the most affordable point of entry into massive game libraries of over 2,500 games, look no further than the original Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Even though they’re a few years old now, they still have plenty of great games. And you don’t have to worry about getting left behind, since both Sony and Microsoft have committed to delivering new games for these older consoles for several years to come.
Looking for the best video game stocking stuffers instead? Shop for gently used games and accessories on Swappa Gaming. You’ll find hundreds of games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, and so many more — at a fraction of what you’d pay at GameStop (a.k.a. GameFlop).
Best gifts for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts
Now that gaming is covered, let’s consider the opposite end of the gift spectrum. The hottest gifts for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts are fitness trackers and action cameras. There are only a few players worth considering in either category, but that’s fine since whichever you choose, Swappa helps you save.
Best cheap smartwatches and fitness trackers in 2021
Let’s start with smartwatches and fitness trackers. The best smartwatch for iPhones is without a doubt the Apple Watch. Over the years, Apple Watch has grown from a novelty item into a genuinely useful piece of wearable tech that keeps track of your workouts, keeps you connected, and lets you spend less time glued to your iPhone screen.
There are many great Apple Watches to choose from, but we’d recommend saving money by shopping a generation or two back. This means the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 6. They both support the latest watchOS 8, so you get many of the same features for less. Pick up a gently used Series 5 for $140 or Series 6 for $250 today!
If you don’t live in Apple’s ecosystem, the Apple Watch isn’t an option. But don’t worry — you still have plenty of great alternatives such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch and FitBit Versa. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active2 and Galaxy Watch3 run Tizen OS, and they offer the most feature-complete smartwatch experiences you can get on Android. Starting under $100, both are incredibly compelling options for anyone looking for the Apple Watch experience on Android.
Alternatively, fitness-focused users are best served by the budget-friendly FitBit Versa line. Starting at well under $100 on Swappa, the Versa 2 and Versa 3 give you all the fitness and health tracking features you want, without the fluff you’d find on other wearables. No matter which smartwatch you choose, you’ll always get the best deals on Swappa.
Best cheap action cams in 2021
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to capture and preserve some of those memories. There are plenty of outdoor-focused cameras to choose from — but without a doubt, the GoPro HERO cameras are the best in this category. These rugged cameras are lightweight and pack ultrawide lenses, making it easy to record all your outdoor activities.
You can find plenty of great deals on GoPro HERO cameras, starting at just $59 for the 720p HERO 3 Plus. If you want to capture higher-resolution 12MP action shots and 4K video, consider springing for the HERO8, which starts at just $269 on Swappa. And if you want the absolute best, spring for the top-of-the-line GoPro Max for $399.
Best gifts for movie buffs
If you’re into consuming content — and really, who isn’t? — you’re going to want some sort of streaming device. You can find pretty much every option worth owning on Swappa — from Apple TV and Roku to Chromecast and Nvidia Shield, it’s all there. But with so many options, how do you pick?
Best cheap Apple TV options in 2021
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, get an Apple TV. And if you have a 4K TV, you should buy the Apple TV 4K. Prices start at just $85 on Swappa, meaning you save about $100 compared to the Apple Store.
If you don’t have a 4K TV but still want the latest features like an updated UI, faster processor, and Apple’s new Siri Remote, you can save money by going with the Apple TV 4th Gen for $70.
Best non-Apple streaming devices in 2021
If you’re not in the Apple ecosystem and instead find yourself streaming YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon content, the best affordable option is the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. Starting at just $31, this 4K-capable streaming powerhouse is compatible with practically every streaming platform and mobile OS around — and it comes with a great remote, which makes navigation incredibly easy!
If you’re looking for something a bit more premium that can also double as a video game system, consider the Nvidia Shield. The Shield 2017 and Shield 2019 cost a bit more, but they can do a lot more than just stream content, such as 4K AI upscaling, GeForce Now Cloud Gaming, and much more.
Best tech gifts for young kids
If you have younger kids, you already know how important it is to stay connected with them at all times. Not only does this help them feel cared for, but it also ensures that you’re only a few clicks away in the event of an emergency. So if they don’t have one already, it may be a good time to consider getting your school-age kids their first cell phone.
Best first phone for kids
There are plenty of considerations when buying a first phone for a younger child. Basically, we recommend starting off with something small and cheap. Currently, we can’t think of a better first iPhone than the iPhone SE 2nd Gen.
The iPhone SE 2020 is small, fast, and lightweight, making it ideal for smaller hands. And if it does happen to take a spill, the iPhone SE 2020 starts at around $150, making it affordable enough to replace or repair if need be.
Best cheap tablet for kids
The story’s the same when getting a first tablet. You’ll want something your kids can hold comfortably in their smaller hands — and something that won’t cost too much to replace if it breaks.
We can’t think of a better first tablet than the iPad Mini 4. Although it’s a few years old now, it still runs the latest version of iOS and can still play all the most popular games. And starting at around $174, it’s downright cheap to replace if it takes one too many drops.
Best cheap game system for young kids
Finally, undoubtedly the most fun present for a younger kid is the Nintendo Switch Lite. With a massive library of over 3,500 games, the majority of which are family-friendly titles, the Switch Lite is the perfect portable game console. As we mentioned in our Switch vs Switch Lite comparison, both game consoles have plenty of edutainment and vocabulary-building titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Scribblenauts: Showdown, and many more. And with plenty of epic side quests in titles such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there is never a shortage of games on the Switch.
Best gifts for high school and college students
If you’re buying a present for high school or college students, you don’t have to worry as much about inadvertent drops and spills. Instead, you’ll want to focus on functionality — something that will help them stay productive in the modern digital classroom but also let them unwind a bit after hours. We think that an ultraportable laptop is the best way to do this.
You’ll want to stick with MacBooks and Surface devices, as these first-party devices generally get the best software support over the long haul. So which MacBook or Surface is the best?
Both Apple and Microsoft add incremental updates to their laptops every year. This means that the newer models are usually better than the older ones. However, newer laptops are also more expensive than older ones, and sometimes their differences don’t amount to much in terms of overall usability. That’s why it’s important to find that perfect “Goldilocks Zone,” where you get a modern laptop that will serve you for several years without breaking the bank.
Best cheap MacBooks in 2021
The MacBook Air 2018 is the quintessential affordable, yet capable laptop. Powered by a dual-core Intel Core i5 and up to 16GB of RAM, the Air 2018 is capable of handling almost anything you throw at it. Featuring modern industrial design and a vibrant 13.3-inch Retina display, it’s a productivity and multimedia powerhouse. Best of all, it starts at just $580 on Swappa.
If you want something a bit cheaper, consider going back a year and picking up a 2017 model. It may not offer the same Retina display, but it’s just as fast and can still run the latest macOS Monterey. And with a starting price of just $370, this MacBook definitely doesn’t break the bank.
Best cheap Windows laptops in 2021
If your recipient prefers Windows, you should look no further than Microsoft’s Surface lineup. Configurable with up to an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro 7 is an absolute powerhouse. And starting at just $514 on Swappa, this hybrid laptop/table is actually affordable when you buy newish.
Best gifts for parents
Last, but certainly not least, are parents. When buying tech gifts for parents, it’s important to consider usability and look for products with accessible design and an intuitive user interface. There’s nothing that exemplifies this mantra better than a tablet — and simply put, there is no better tablet than the iPad.
So what’s the best tablet to give to your parents? The standard iPad is the best tablet for parents. Their large screens make for a comfortable viewing experience, and modern processors ensure that inputs and gestures feel as natural as manipulating real-life objects such as photos and book pages. And with plenty of accessibility features for individuals with visual or hearing difficulties, iPads are the natural choice for parents.
The 7th and 8th gen iPads feature vibrant 10.2-inch displays, up to 128GB of storage, and 10 hours of battery life. The iPad 8th Gen improves upon its predecessor with a faster processor, though both are more than capable of general use for years to come. Starting at just $250 for the iPad 7th Gen and $325 for the 8th Gen, these affordable iPads have everything you could possibly want in a tablet for your parents.
Best tech gifts under $100
Now let’s recap some of the best tech gifts that you can get for less than $100. The $70 Apple TV 4th Generation is a great streaming device for anyone using an iPhone or iPad — and if you’re looking for a cheap cross-platform 4K streaming device, pick up a Roku Streaming Stick Plus for just $31. And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for an outdoors enthusiast, look no further than a GoPro HERO3 Plus, which starts at just $59. Finally, we have to touch on gaming. You can’t really get a game system for $100, but if you stretch your budget a tiny bit, you can get the fantastic Nintendo Switch Lite for just $135! This console is compatible with over 3,500 games, making it a great option for anyone looking to give the gift of gaming — and save money while doing so.
Swappa’s quick picks
With so many great choices at every price point, it’s easy to lose track of what to buy. Here are our quick picks to help take out the guesswork this holiday season:
- Best gaming gifts: Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, PS4 Pro, Xbox One X
- Best for outdoor enthusiasts: Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, or GoPro
- Best home tech for movie buffs: Apple TV 4K or Roku Streaming Stick Plus
- Best for younger kids: iPhone SE 2020, Nintendo Switch Lite
- Best for high school and college students: any recent MacBook or Surface
- Best for parents: Apple iPad 8th Gen
- Best tech gifts under $100: Apple TV 4th Gen, Streaming Stick Plus, GoPro HERO3 Plus
No matter who you’re shopping for, there are tons of great tech gifts to give this holiday season. And shopping on Swappa can save you hundreds compared to retail. So what are you waiting for, cross off your holiday gift list for less today on Swappa!
Still undecided and want to learn more about the best gifts in any particular category? Check out these gift guides for even more inspiration: Video Games, iPhones, Laptops, Tablets, Cameras, Smartwatches, and Home Tech.
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