With this in mind, we have compiled a list of gifts, including gadgets and services, that might make their lives a little easier and more enjoyable in the coming months.
Our pick for the best gift for graduates is the Apple Watch Series 7 since it is can help graduates stay connected whether they are entering the professional workforce or going to more school. The Apple Watch Series 7 has stand-out features like Apple Fitness+, sleep tracking, Apple Pay, Siri, take or make calls/texts, listen to music, and more. It’s the perfect all-in-one gadget for the graduate in your life. Pros:
Beautiful and refined hardware Excellent third-party application support
Cons:
Less than two-day battery life
Webcams have become hot property as so many of us are now working from home. While some laptops and PCs have webcams that are ‘good enough,’ a decent, external camera can make all the difference. This year, graduates may appreciate an update to their existing setup – especially for virtual Zoom interviews for positions they apply to. An option to consider is the Logitech C920S HD Pro, a $59.99 model that provides Full HD 1080p video on videoconferencing apps, including Skype and FaceTime and alternative video conferencing software, two built-in mics, and automatic low-light correction on Windows and Mac machines. Pros:
Works for both desktops and laptops Automatic light correction
Cons:
No adjustable field of view
Your graduate is probably going to spend a lot of time staring at their computer screen, whether it’s applying for jobs or starting their new 9-5 position. Gift them a stylish, yet helpful gift with Felix Gray blue light blocking glasses. Felix Gray allows you to choose from plenty of frame styles, colors and sizes to fit all types of face shapes. These glasses are designed to block the highest energy blue light wavelengths (in the 380-440nm range). Felix Gray claims that its glasses filter over 50% of the entire range and almost 90% of the most harmful wavelengths. Pros
Choose from amber or clear blue-light tintsSo many different styles and colors to choose from
Cons
On the expensive side
Also: Best blue light blocking glasses A budget-friendly gift for graduates to improve their remote video sessions/interviews is the QIAYA light ring, a $12.99 bolt-on for laptops or mobile phones that can give lighting a boost. The gadget can certainly be used to perfect a selfie, but outside of Instagram posts, the light ring offers four lighting settings that can be also used to improve how you look in video conferences, networking sessions, or those important job interviews. QIAYA’s light is rechargeable via USB. Pros:
Lightweight and portable Different lighting settings
Cons:
Battery life is not great—best to keep light plugged in
The Zone Wireless is a Bluetooth headset by Logitech designed with remote workers in mind as well as those in busy, noisy workplaces where call quality is crucial. Users can connect their headset to PCs and mobile devices simultaneously within a 30-foot range. The Bluetooth headphones are customizable via the accompanying Logi Tune app and are compatible with Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Assistant, Zoom, and other applications. Buttons can be used to control active noise cancellation, starting or ending calls, playing music, and Bluetooth 5.0 pairing. The microphone’s boom can be flipped for muting and unmuting. Zone Wireless has an estimated battery life of 14 hours of talk time, supports wireless Qi charging, and is both lightweight and comes with leatherette ear pads for comfort. The included microphone utilizes isolation technology to separate your voice from background noise, and sidetone controls can be used to modulate your voice to the desired level. The Logitech Zone Wireless headset is available in three options: the standard wireless headset ($229), the Wireless Plus, which comes with a USB receiver able to connect up to six Logitech Unifying peripherals – including mice and keyboards up to 10 meters away – and the MSFT Teams Zone Wireless, built specifically with the Microsoft Teams in mind. Pros:
Great for canceling out noise during work calls/meetingsSeparates your voice from background noise
Cons:
Not super comfortable to wear over long periods
Also: Best noise-canceling headphones Pros:
Includes Prime Video and free Kindle e-books Fast, free, and same-day delivery options
Cons:
Gift receiver will have to renew subscription themselves
For that one friend or family member that is always making lists and carries a notebook with them everywhere, the Rocketbook Fusion Smart Notebook is the perfect gift as they continue their education. The notebook’s synthetic paper allows you to write the included Pilot FriXion pen, then wipe the page clean with a damp cloth to reuse again and again. You can save your pages to the Rocketbook app’s cloud to make it easy to find later. Pros:
Transfers notes from book to app Useful for to-do lists, calendars, goal-setting, sketching, and more
Cons:
Not hardcover
Students and graduates alike might like a monthly subscription box of goodies – especially if they are adventurous in what they are willing to try. MunchPak sends subscribers a selection of snacks, candy, and drinks from different countries so that their apartment/dorm is always stocked. A travel guide is also included with each delivery. There are three sizes of boxes to choose from: MunchPak Mini, MunchPak (standard), and FamilyPak, depending on whether you want 5+, 10+, or 20+ snacks. Prices begin at $9.95 per delivery. Pros:
All snacks are full size Both sweet and savory snacks
Cons:
Cannot create your own box
For something a little different and likely to delight any students or graduates you know that are coffee fiends, Driftaway Coffee offers a monthly subscription including coffees from small coffee farmers. Subscription holders begin with a tasting pack of whole bean or ground coffee. After you have rated your coffee, this creates a flavor profile that can be used to match new coffees available for delivery to your tastes. Subscription process vary depending on whether deliveries are made every two weeks or every month, how long the duration, and the size of coffee samples. For example, 8oz over three months, with one monthly delivery, will cost $54 when purchased as a gift. Pros:
Cold brew option Coffee is based on your taste profile
Cons:
Pricing can get expensive depending on what you choose
Alternatively, the Google Nest Mini, complete with the Google voice assistant, has similar IoT control and query functions and can also stream from sources including YouTube Music and Netflix. Pros:
Third-party app support Smart home routines
Cons:
Voice recognition technology isn’t always perfect
The Aluratek Digital Photo Frame since it makes a personalized and sentimental gift for the ones you love. Simply insert a USB or an SD card into the frame’s back slide slots, and photos will cycle through the frame. Photos are displayed on the frame’s true digital LCD panels for clear and vibrant colors and definition. Pros:
Easily view your favorite photos Automatic slideshow
Cons:
No built-in memory
Your graduate is going to need to do some cooking in their new dorm/apartment, so this Instant Pot makes a great gift that they can cook anything with. This Instant Pot’s 11 functionalities include pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, sautéing, air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, and warming. You can also sous vide with this Instant Pot. With its 15 built-in smart programs, this Instant Pot allows you to simply press a button – and it cooks your food at precisely the right temperature for the right amount of time. Pros:
Cooks meals up to 70% faster 11 different functionalities for all types of food/recipes
Cons:
Relatively large and heavy
Also: Best Instant Pots Products to enhance virtual conferences or catch-ups with others, to make graduates appear their best in front of a camera, and smartwatches to maintain contact are only part of the story – it is important that wellbeing is considered, too, whether this is taking time out to stream a movie, play a game, or enjoy a new flavor of coffee from the other side of the world.
