9 Tech Gift Ideas Perfect for Teens

Are you looking for a gift idea for a teen? It can be difficult to find them a great gift. Check out my list of tech gift ideas that are perfect for teens. Lots of college students and millenials will enjoy these ideas, too. Affiliate links are included in this post. I may be compensated for purchases made from links in this post.

My oldest niece is a teen and my nephew will be soon. (How did that happen?) I never know what to buy them. They are really cool kids with unique interests. I just don’t have a clue where to start. The last few years they have asked for gift cards, which is a totally fine option. They get what they want and I feel good knowing they get a great gift. The downside? I love buying gifts for other people. A gift card doesn’t seem quite as special. So here are some of the cool tech gift ideas that I’ve found this year. I think my niece and nephew would like these.

HP Sprocket 2-in-1

Have you heard of the HP Sprocket (the pocket-sized printer)? Well now they have a brand new product, the HP Sprocket 2-in-1. We were sent one to review and include in this gift guide as part of part of a sponsored opportunity with MomSelect and HP. The HP Sprocket 2-in-1 is still a pocket-size printer, but now they’ve added a built-in camera. You can instantly snap a picture and print it right there. (The picture of Lily and Elon above was taken with the instant camera.) With the HP Sprocket App, you can edit your pictures before printing them, too.

Wirelessly print photos from your smartphone. You can also print your photos from social media. Connect your social media accounts to the HP Sprocket App and instantly turn any of those photos into colorful prints. (The photo of Elon below was taken with my iPhone SE and printed on the HP Sprocket 2-in-1.)

The coolest part? The printer doesn’t require any ink. It has special ZINK photo paper. The ZINK paper contains dye crystals that change color based on the temperature they are exposed to. The gloss finish is water resistant to help protect your photos.

Here’s what’s included with the HP Sprocket 2-in-1: HP Sprocket Photo Printer, USB cable, wriststrap, HP ZINK Sticky-Backed photo paper (10-sheets), Warranty sheet, Regulatory sheet

Buy the HP 2-in-1 here

Don’t forget to grab a case and some extra ZINK paper.

Hanging Photo Display

The Umbra Hangit Photo Display is a super fun option for displaying all of the pictures printed with the HP 2-in-1. It comes in 3 color options (white, black, and natural wood). For under $20, it’s an affordable gift idea.

Kick it up a notch with the HP Sprocket LED String Light Photo Display with Clips. How cool is this photo display? The clips light up! It holds 20 little photos and you can change the configuration. Only $14.99.

Or you could go with the HP Sprocket Heart-Shaped Photo Display with Pink Crystals and Clips. This one is in an adorable heart shape. It can hold 30 little photos. It doesn’t light up but it does have sparkly pink crystals to make the heart shape. Costs $24.99.

Portable Charger

Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger – A great tech gift iea for anyone who uses up their battery life and needs to charge on the fly. This is especially handy for teens on school trips with limited access to outlets or charging stations. Bus rides can be long. Make sure their devices always have a nearby power source. When I coached Science Olympiad, I remember my students searching for outlets to charge their devices when we were at the all-day competitions. They would often leave their phone in our homeroom to charge trusting that it would be there when they returned. The Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger comes in red, black, or white for $30 or less.

Clip On Smartphone Selfie Light

The Qiaya Ring Light for Camera is the #1 best seller on Amazon for on-camera video lights. If you’re looking for a present for a selfie taker, consider gifting them a selfie light. It will help them take the best selfies even if the lighting is terrible. This ring light has a built-in rechargeable battery. Many of the other ring lights require replacing the batteries and their lights start to dim as the battery power fades. At $15, this ring light makes a great stocking stuffer or inexpensive tech gift.

Wireless Headphones

There are several different options for wireless headphones at many different price points. I feel like all the college kids are running around wearing their Beats Solos, but I’m not sure they’re the best option for the price. Reviews tend to give them a positive rating for comfort but say they are less than great in the sound department. (They still get 4/5 stars on Amazon.) They are definitely the most stylish of the wireless headphones. Which ones do you prefer?

For a more unique option, you might try the Wireless Smart Beanie Headset from Soundbot. For $19.99, it’s a nice way to listen to your music when it’s cold outside. It even has a microphone and allows for handsfree calling. Right now there’s also a $7 coupon on Amazon.

DropMix Music Gaming System

DropMix Music Gaming System – The creators of Rock Band have come up with a new game that you’ll flip over. (It’s a finalist for the 2018 Innovative Toy of the Year Award.) The DropMix cards feature music pieces from popular songs. The goal of the game is to put the cards on the board to create new cool song mixes. Every card you drop activates a track, and every track blends with others to create the mixes. Combine the vocals of one song with the guitar of another track and the beat of a third track. Play by yourself or with a group. How fun would this be for a party!

You need an iOS or Android mobile device and the DropMix app. The game comes 60 with DropMix cards. You can buy expansion packs to get even more songs. Right now the price is down $40.

What tech gift ideas for teens do you recommend?