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If you’re looking to get a gift for someone into tech, you know it can be challenging to figure out what to buy. This year for Black Friday, the most interesting deals aren’t necessarily the flashiest. They’re the practical, delightfully nerdy tools people will actually use.
This isn’t a list of the cheapest tech—in fact, some of these things aren’t even on sale for Black Friday. Instead, it’s a list of the best tech to give someone you actually like. These are product ideas that solve real problems and would be a welcome gift for any tech aficionado.
The Paper Pro Move is just a few months old, and I’ve been reviewing it since it came out. I think it’s fair to say it’s the most thoughtfully designed “mini” device of the year. It shrinks reMarkable’s new color e-ink canvas to a 7.3-inch display—roughly paperback size—while keeping the adjustable front light, Gallery 3 color, and reMarkable’s signature paper-like writing feel. The pixel density jumps to 264 PPI, making text sharper than even the full-size Paper Pro.
If someone on your list takes field notes, travels light, or found the original 11.8-inch Paper Pro too unwieldy, this is the one to get. The catch: it’s brand new, so no straight discounts.
Who It’s For: Note-takers, creatives, commuters, field workers, and anyone who writes more than they type.
Best Deal for Black Friday: The official bundle discount ($50 off) on the Move + Marker Plus + Type Folio.
2. Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W)
Anker’s best pocketable charger is on one of its best sales ever. The Nano Power Bank has an integrated retractable USB-C cable—no more scrambling for cords—and a 10,000 mAh battery that can refuel most phones twice. The best feature is the 45W output, which is powerful enough to charge a MacBook Air or Nintendo Switch.
Who It’s For: Travelers, commuters, students, and anyone who lives out of a sling bag.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $39.99 (down from $59.99) at Amazon and Anker.
3. Sony A7 IV
Sony’s A7 IV remains one of the most balanced, capable, and reliable full-frame cameras you can buy—especially for the price. It features a 33MP sensor, excellent low-light performance, industry-leading autofocus, and oversampled 4K video. It’s not the newest body in Sony’s lineup, but that’s the point: it’s the rare camera that’s good at everything without costing flagship money.
Who It’s For: Enthusiast photographers, hybrid shooters, vloggers, and anyone moving up from an APS-C camera.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $1,998 for the body ($700 off), at B&H Photo.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Creatista
This year, the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista arrives on Black Friday with a compelling case: it blends the instant convenience of pods with a legit steam wand for lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites. Not only that, but it all comes inside a polished stainless-steel body that looks more like a countertop espresso machine than a pod brewer. Its 2-liter water tank, auto-eject capsule system, and built-in frother make it a one-button way to satisfy both espresso and latte cravings. 
Who It’s For: Coffee lovers who want café-quality espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes at home without learning the art of tamping and pulling shots—ideal for apartment dwellers, new homeowners, or anyone upgrading from a standard drip pot.
Best Deal for Black Friday: As low as $418.98 at Amazon (Down from $699.95 list price).
5. Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub
If it’s time to give yourself or someone you love a home-theater upgrade, this is the one. The new Arc Ultra shrinks the soundbar while improving its bass and clarity thanks to Sonos’s “Sound Motion” transducer tech. Paired with the Sub (Gen 4), it delivers room-filling sound and best-in-class dialogue enhancement. As a result, movies sound dramatically better, especially voices—the Arc Ultra’s center channel is exceptional.
Who It’s For: Movie lovers, home-theater enthusiasts, and anyone who struggles to hear dialogue.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $1,499 for the bundle from Sonos and major retailers (about $500 off typical pricing).
6. EcoFlow 140W Rapid GaN Charger
EcoFlow has quietly become one of the most compelling accessory makers, and the Rapid 140W GaN charger is a perfect example. It’s compact, supports USB-C PD 3.1, and can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed. Multiple USB-C ports (plus USB-A) make it a one-brick solution for phones, laptops, watches, and earbuds. Because it uses GaN technology, it’s also small enough to throw in just about any bag.
Who It’s For: Anyone trying to simplify their bag—or ditch the tangle of chargers behind their desk—will appreciate this.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $74.99 at EcoFlow.com.
7. July Carry On Suitcase
July has become our favorite suitcase brand, and for good reason. The curved polycarbonate corners are more durable than standard designs, and the “SilentMove” wheels are among the smoothest—and quietest—of any carry-on. Seriously, they’re so good that they were the first thing my wife commented on when we packed for our recent trip to Lisbon in a July Carry-On. Not only that, but the CaseSafe models have built-in Apple Find My support, as well as an ejectable power bank.
Who It’s For: Frequent travelers, business flyers, and anyone upgrading from a cheap spinner.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $220 for the Carry On Light.
8. M4 MacBook Air
Apple finally fixed the MacBook Air’s only real drawback by making 16GB of RAM standard. The new M4 chip is faster, more efficient, and supports dual external displays—a first for the Air with the lid open. For students, writers, office workers, and just about everyone else, this is the best all-around laptop you can buy. Right now you can get pretty great deals on the MacBook Air from Amazon and other retailers.
Who It’s For: Students, office workers, creators, and anyone replacing a laptop older than four years.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $899 at Amazon and B&H.
9. AirPods Pro 3
AirPods Pro 3 look familiar, but the updates are pretty big: a built-in heart rate sensor, better waterproofing (IP57), improved bass, and 8 hours of battery life with ANC. The fitness-tracking alone makes them the easiest upgrade recommendation for any runner or gym-goer.
If you want to save just a little more money, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are on sale for only $110 online at Walmart.
Who It’s For: Fitness lovers, commuters, and anyone still using AirPods from 2019.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $219.99 on Amazon.
10. Whoop MG
The Whoop 5.0 MG is a significant upgrade for the platform, with 14-day battery life and new medical-grade features, including FDA-cleared ECG and blood-pressure trend monitoring via its conductive clasp. It keeps Whoop’s distraction-free design while offering excellent data accuracy for sleep, recovery, and strain. If you’re not into ECG and BP trend data, the standard Whoop 5.0 has the same long battery life for less.
Who It’s For: Athletes, sleep trackers, health-conscious users, and anyone who wants the most accurate data without wearing a smartwatch.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $299 “Life” Membership (normally $359). If you don’t need the medical features, the standard 5.0 Peak membership is $199.
11. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 remain the gold standard for noise-canceling headphones. They deliver exceptional ANC, 30-hour battery life, lightweight comfort, and dramatically better microphone quality for calls. Sony’s tuning is warm, detailed, and fatigue-free—ideal for long flights or hours-long focus sessions. At their annual Black Friday price, they’re one of the best headphone deals you’ll find.
Who It’s For: Frequent flyers, commuters, remote workers, students, and anyone who needs silence on demand.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $298 (down from $399) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
12. Kindle Paperwhite (2024 Signature Edition)
Amazon’s refreshed Signature Edition brings a faster processor, snappier page-turns, a larger 7-inch display, 32GB of storage, wireless charging, and an ambient light sensor that adjusts automatically. For pure reading, nothing beats the Paperwhite’s combination of screen quality, battery life, and portability.
Who It’s For: Avid readers, travelers, students, and anyone trying to get off their phone at night.
Best Deal I’ve Found: $154.99 (normally $199) at Amazon.
13. Level Lock Pro
The Level Lock Pro keeps the same invisible, inside-the-door design as the Level Lock+, but upgrades nearly everything internally: native motion sensing for faster auto-unlock, full Matter-over-Thread support, and Door Sense—a physical status indicator that tells you if the door is open or closed. It remains the best “you can’t tell it’s a smart lock” option on the market and continues to support Apple Home Keys.
The Pro is new and isn’t on sale for Black Friday, but the Level Lock+ is. If you’re willing to sacrifice Matter support and Door Sense, it’s a great deal.
Who It’s For: Apple Home users, smart-home fans, minimalists, and anyone who hates bulky keypad locks.
Best Deal for Black Friday: No discounts on the Pro itself, but the Level Lock+ is $229—saving you $120 if you don’t need the new hardware features.
14. Nanu Arc Alarm Clock
The Nanu Arc is a design-forward, phone-free alarm clock with a mechanical chime—striking an actual metal bar—that creates a calming, gradual wake-up sound. It’s beautifully made, repairable, battery-powered (USB-C), and designed to keep your phone out of the bedroom without sacrificing elegance or functionality.
Who It’s For: A perfect gift for the “digital detox” crowd—or anyone who wants to stop waking up to their phone.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $254 (normally $299), one of the only discounts Nanu products see all year.
The original Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses look like classic sunglasses but add surprisingly good open-ear audio, hands-free POV photo/video capture, and on-device Meta AI tools. The audio quality is surprisingly good, and being able to capture moments without holding up a phone changes how you record memories.
Who It’s For: Travelers, parents, creators, and early adopters who love capturing candid moments.
Best Deal for Black Friday: $239 (20% off), for the original version.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
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Jason Aten
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