The holidays are coming up soon. That means spending time with loved ones, enjoying warm drinks by the fireplace, and unwinding from an eventful year. Whether our reunions are in person or virtual, a great way to show that you care is with a thoughtful gift.
Nobody wants to spend a fortune on gifts — and with so much uncertainty in the world, it’s more important than ever to save. But don’t worry; Swappa has the perfect gift for every budget. So keep reading as we take a closer look at some of the best value gifts you can get on Swappa today.
Best tech gifts over $500
Let’s start with the big-ticket items. We won’t mince words here — $500 is a lot of money for anyone, no matter who you are. And if you’re spending this much on a gift, it’s important to make sure you’re also getting a great deal. At $500 and beyond, we’re looking at gifts like laptops, tablets, and even some of the latest game systems like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Hottest next-gen game systems this holiday season
Last year, the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X launched to widespread critical acclaim. These next-generation systems are the absolute best that money can buy when it comes to home video game consoles. There’s just one problem: They’re sold out at retailers nationwide. But they’re not sold out everywhere. You can actually find quite a few on Swappa today — for hundreds less than on eBay!
Which next-gen console is more powerful? The PS5 and Xbox Series X are incredibly similar internally. Both pack speedy AMD Ryzen “Zen2” CPUs, powerful AMD Radeon “RDNA2” GPUs, and are capable of advanced graphical effects such as real-time ray tracing at 4K resolution and high frame rates (up to 120 frames per second). The Xbox Series X is slightly more powerful than the PlayStation 5 — 12 TFLOPS vs 10 TFLOPS — and this means that some Series X games may run ever-so-slightly smoother or at a marginally higher internal resolution than they would on the PS5. However, the PS5 has the edge when it comes to accessories thanks to its PSVR virtual reality system and the innovative PS5 DualSense controller.
In the end, the two consoles are so close that it all boils down to which has the games you want to play. Sony’s PlayStation line is known for its action-adventure RPGs and exclusives like God of War, Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy, and The Last of Us. On the other hand, the Xbox is known for its own exclusives like Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and many more.
Best laptops and tablets
If you’re looking for a fun gift that can also get stuff done, consider picking up a laptop or tablet. We recently went in-depth into your best gift choices in our laptop gift guide and tablet gift guide — but here’s a quick recap: Most people should stick with a MacBook Air, iPad, or Microsoft Surface laptop/tablet hybrid. And if you’re buying for a power user, get a MacBook Pro or Surface Book. Luckily, for around $500, there are plenty of high-end options:
Best flagship iPhones in 2021
A little over a month ago, Apple launched the iPhone 13. As you’d expect from the latest generation of Apple flagships, the entire iPhone 13 lineup consists of some of the best smartphones you can buy today.
All iPhone 13 models pack the latest A15 Bionic Chip with next-generation Neural Engine, 5G wireless connectivity, crisp Super Retina XDR OLED screens, amazing cameras with class-leading computational photography (Deep Fusion with Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Smart HDR 3), and stellar battery life. Check out our iPhone Comparison Guide to learn more about how all the different iPhone models stack up.
Best Android phones in 2021
Not everyone’s a fan of iOS, and there are plenty of phenomenal Android phones out there. Google recently announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. With the revolutionary Google Tensor chip, phenomenal cameras, great screens, and the pure Google Experience, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are without a doubt the hottest Android phones in 2021.
Want something a bit different? No problem — Swappa has plenty of great Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus phones to choose from. All current-generation Samsung and OnePlus devices pack powerful Snapdragon 888 processors and at least 8GB of RAM, making easy work of any apps you will encounter for years to come.
Best tech gifts for $500 or less
Let’s face it, spending more than $500 on a gift is simply not feasible for most of us. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing gifts you can get for under $500. With a little Swappa magic, you can get great deals on video game systems, laptops, tablets, and smartphones that won’t break the bank.
Best video game systems for $300 or less
If you’re looking for an amazing gaming experience at home and on the go, look no further than the Nintendo Switch. This hybrid console is Nintendo’s latest and greatest — and although it’s still hard to find in retail stores, you can easily pick one up on Swappa. Starting at just $210, the Switch is an affordable and versatile game system with over 3000 games. The Switch’s game library ranges from family-friendly titles like Animal Crossing to large-scale epics like Zelda Breath of the Wild and beyond. Want to play all the Switch games for a fraction of the price? Get the portable-only Switch Lite instead, starting at just $130!
What if you don’t need a portable game system? If your gift recipient is into competitive online multiplayer games, look no further than the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. These two consoles are the souped-up versions of last generation’s PS4 and Xbox One. Both offer significantly more power than their standard edition counterparts, enabling higher resolution 4K gaming, smoother frame rates, and more! Best of all, you can pick up a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X for as little as $260! Visit our video game gift guide to learn more about how all these game systems stack up.
Best laptops and tablets under $400
A laptop or tablet can make for a great gift — and as we covered in our laptop gift guide and tablet gift guide, there are plenty of great options for less than $400. One of the best value laptops right now is the 2017 MacBook Air. With its Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM, it is more than powerful enough to handle most tasks. And with Apple’s commitment to long-term support, you can be sure it will run the latest versions of macOS including Big Sur. Best of all, it comes in at just $370 on Swappa.
If your recipient prefers Windows, consider the 2017 Microsoft Surface Pro 5 instead. With its 7th-generation Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, the Surface Pro 5 can handle anything you throw at it. And since it’s a Surface Pro, you essentially get a laptop and a tablet in one. Best of all, the Surface Pro 5 starts at just $279 on Swappa.
Want a dedicated tablet instead? Look no further than the Apple iPad. You can pick up an Apple iPad 8th Gen for just $325 on Swappa. Or if you want something a bit smaller, get an iPad Mini 5 for just $310. Both iPads offer speedy A12 Bionic processors, plenty of RAM, and great screens, making them ideal for both work and play.
Best smartphones under $400
The best iPhone that you can buy today for less than $500 is the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 packs the powerful A14 Bionic chip and a vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display into a premium metal-and-glass package starting at just $495.
If you don’t need the latest processor but want something modern with a big screen, consider the iPhone 11. The 11 features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD, a great camera, and phenomenal battery life. Even though its A13 Bionic is a year older, the 11 is still powerful enough to handle even the most graphically intensive 3D games with ease. Pick one up today, starting at just $342.
And for those who prefer Android, there are plenty of great deals such as Samsung’s latest Galaxy S21 5G, which starts at just $400 — or the Galaxy S21 Plus, starting at just $489!
Best tech gifts for $250 or less
At $250 or less, your gift categories start shifting a little. Rather than focusing on big-ticket items such as laptops and tablets, we’ll want to look at video game systems and smartwatches.
Best video game systems under $250
Now that the PS5 and Xbox Series X are out, it’s the perfect time to save big on last-gen consoles. The PlayStation 4 is still a phenomenal game system, with a library of nearly 3000 games including popular titles such as God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us. Best of all, you can get a used PlayStation 4 for just $235 on Swappa.
Best smartwatches under $200
If you have an iPhone, the best smartwatch you can buy is the Apple Watch. There are several generations of Apple Watch, each offering incremental improvements over the last — but perhaps the best value can be found with Apple Watch Series 5. Starting at just $140 for 40mm and $200 for 44mm, Apple Watch Series 5 offers most of the benefits of newer Apple Watches such as watchOS 8 support at a very attractive price.
If your gift recipient has an Android device, consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch3 or Watch4 instead. Both Samsung watches offers multiday battery life, fitness and workout tracking, and even sleep and stress monitoring. Starting at just $105, the Watch3 is a great option for anyone running Android. And if you want the very best, the Watch4 is a steal at just $179.
Best tech gifts for under $150
Now it’s time for our most budget-friendly gift picks. Thankfully, Swappa makes it incredibly easy to find the perfect tech gifts for under $100.
Best video game systems under $150
The Microsoft Xbox One sometimes reaches as low as $150 on Swappa, making it one of the best deals in gaming today. Although the original Xbox One has been phased out in favor of the newer Xbox One X and Xbox Series X, it still offers a tremendous gaming experience thanks to its massive library of over 2600 games including exclusives like Gears of War 5, Forza Horizon 4, Ori, and the upcoming Halo Infinite. And you don’t have to worry about the Xbox One being left behind, since Microsoft has promised first-party game support for several years to come. In other words, the Xbox One gives you access to the same games, but at a substantially reduced cost.
And if your recipient wants a portable game system instead, look no further than the Nintendo Switch Lite. Starting at just $135, this console plays almost all standard Nintendo Switch games — and it’s smaller and lighter, making it better for portable use than its bigger and more expensive brother.
What if your gift recipient already has an Xbox One, PS4, or Nintendo Switch? No problem — find great deals on games and accessories for whichever console they own on Swappa Gaming.
Best home tech for under $100
There are plenty of great smart speakers and smart displays starting at just $18. These get you hands-free access to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, as well as media playback functionality and home automation support. Picking the right smart speaker is simple — choose based on what ecosystem your gift recipient prefers.
Best smartwatch for under $100
Without a doubt, the Fitbit Versa line is the best fitness-focused smartwatch you can get today. Starting at well under $100 on Swappa, the Versa offers robust fitness and health tracking, GPS tracking, always-on displays, multiday battery life, and Fitbit Pay NFC payments. And best of all, the Versa is compatible with iPhones and Androids.
But what if you want a more feature-rich Android smartwatch, but you still want to stay under $100? No worries, Samsung has you covered with the excellent Watch Active 2, starting at just $70.
Find the perfect gift at any budget
Everyone’s budget is different, but you can always find the perfect tech gift on Swappa. As a brief recap, here are some standout deals we mentioned above:
- Best high-end game systems: Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5
- Best smartphones under $500: iPhone 12, Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21 Plus 5G
- Best laptops under $500: 2017 MacBook Air, Surface Pro 7
- Best game systems under $300: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One X, PlayStation 4 Pro
- Best smartwatches under $200: Apple Watch Series 5
- Best smartwatches under $100: Fitbit Versa 2, Samsung Active 2
- Best $150 game consoles: Xbox One, Switch Lite
Whichever gifts you choose, you’ll always find the best deals on Swappa. Our safe and easy-to-use marketplace cuts out the middlemen to save you money. Buy with confidence because every listing is screened by our expert moderation team before it goes live. And Swappa makes buying even easier with Buy Now, Pay Later. Get the tech you want today, and pay for it in 4 easy installments spread over time.
So what are you waiting for? Check out our gift guides for video games, iPhones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches — then click the button below to find the perfect gift today.
Snag the best deals on gently used tech wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!
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