Daily read · Gift ideas
Tech Christmas gifts for teenagers UK: three clever picks they will actually use
Christmas gifts for teens: a strap-on Sony speaker, JBL earbuds you control from the case, and a Game Over gaming blanket with pockets.
Arun · Electronic Guru
Match the gift to the annoyance it fixes: a strap-on speaker for music on the move, case-controlled earbuds as the premium present, or a pocketed blanket for a chilly gamer.
The best tech Christmas gifts for teenagers fix a daily annoyance: music on the move, a phone that is never to hand, or a cold bedroom during gaming. My three picks are the Sony SRS-XB100 - Wireless Bluetooth · Blue for best value, the JBL Live Beam 4 as the premium choice and, from Game Over rather than Amazon, a wearable gaming blanket with its own bean bag.
Best value Christmas gift for teens: a speaker that hangs off a bag
The Sony SRS-XB100 - Wireless Bluetooth · Blue is stocking-sized, but its cleverest part is the multiway strap: Sony designed it for carrying or hanging, so it can dangle from a rucksack rather than roll round the floor. Sony quotes 16 hours of battery and a built-in mic for hands-free calls, and says you can pair a second speaker for stereo sound, a neat trick if two siblings each unwrap one. Even the packaging is plastic-free, says Sony.
Sony's own store lists it at £34.99 but adds £7.99 delivery under £45, so judge the total, not the sticker.
Premium pick: earbuds they can control without their phone
The JBL Live Beam 4 earns its price with its Smart Charging Case. JBL says the case display adjusts volume, skips tracks, switches noise cancelling or ambient sound and tweaks the EQ, with no phone or app needed. Smart Talk mutes music when the wearer starts speaking, so 'dinner's ready' finally gets a reply. For teens who lose things, JBL says Google Finder can locate them through Google's network. JBL quotes up to 48 hours with the case (noise cancelling off) and IP55.
Gaming gift for teens from outside Amazon: a blanket with pockets
For the teen who games in a cold bedroom, Game Over's Gaming Blanket & Bean Bag Chair Gamer Beanbag & Blanket with Pockets - Cyan combines a wearable flannel and Sherpa fleece blanket with a mini bean bag. The clever detail is storage: Game Over says the pockets hold controllers, phones and snacks, so nothing vanishes mid-match. The bean bag is water-resistant, fire-retardant polyester, and Game Over lists the set at £94.97.
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Gaming Blanket & Bean Bag Chair Gamer Beanbag & Blanket with Pockets - Cyan · Game Over
Quick questions
Answers from the makers' pages.
- How long does the Sony XB100 battery last? Sony quotes up to 16 hours.
- Can the JBL Live Beam 4 be used without a phone? Its case display controls volume, tracks, noise cancelling and EQ, says JBL.
- Where is the Game Over gaming blanket sold? On Game Over's own UK shop, listed at £94.97.
Save yourself a surprise
Your quick buying checklist
- Add Sony's £7.99 delivery under £45 when comparing speaker prices.
- Check their phone works with Google Finder before relying on it.
- Pick a Game Over colour shown as available; some are sold out.
References & editorial notes
This content is based on the sources listed below.
AI-generated information drawn from public sources. Not to be treated as any form of advice. Check details with the retailer before buying.