Upgrade your Graduate’s Tech Setup with the Best Gift Options

Gifts Ideas for Tech Upgrades for New Graduates

As spring rolls around, a fresh crop of graduates eagerly anticipates their entry into the working world. For many, it’s time to retire the gadgets that have helped them through years of higher education and upgrade to more advanced technology. With graduation being a traditional gift-giving occasion, it’s the perfect time to consider a tech upgrade for your loved ones. Here are some top-notch options that will undoubtedly impress them. Upgrade your grad’s tech game with these top gifts.

Tech Gadgets for the Newly Graduated

The transition from student life to professional life is often accompanied by the need for upgraded technology. Many of today’s top gadgets are designed to meet this need. For instance, a lightweight, high-performance laptop with ample storage space and long battery life can serve as a practical and stylish gift. Likewise, a smartphone with a high-resolution camera, powerful processor, and advanced security features can prove indispensable in both personal and professional contexts.

Wireless Headphones and Smartwatches

Wireless headphones and smartwatches are other popular tech gifts that can significantly enhance the daily lives of new graduates. Wireless headphones can help them to enjoy their favorite music, audiobooks, or podcasts on-the-go, while also providing noise-cancellation features for better focus during work hours. Smartwatches, on the other hand, can help them stay connected and organized while also tracking their physical activity and health goals.

Virtual Assistants and Smart Home Devices

Virtual assistants and smart home devices are also excellent gifts for new graduates. These technologies can help them stay on top of their schedules and manage their daily tasks more efficiently. For example, a virtual assistant can set reminders, make calls, and send messages, while smart home devices can automate tasks such as turning off lights or adjusting the temperature in the home.

In conclusion, upgrading to new and advanced technology is often an essential step for new graduates entering the professional world. With a variety of tech gifts available, it can be challenging to choose the right one. However, by selecting gadgets such as laptops, smartphones, wireless headphones, smartwatches, virtual assistants, or smart home devices, you can give your loved ones a gift that will prove useful, practical, and impressive.

Top Laptop gifts for your grad for their tech upgrade

Dell

When it comes to getting things done, a traditional laptop still reigns supreme over tablets and smartphones. Before purchasing a laptop as a graduation gift, it’s important to consider if the recipient prefers Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS. Once this has been established, there are a few top contenders in the market to choose from that offer well-rounded options for most needs.

Dell’s XPS 13 has been regarded as the best overall Windows laptop for several years now, and it still holds that title. The design is sleek and lightweight but doesn’t compromise on power or battery life. Its keyboard and display are top-notch, and the specs are impressive without breaking the bank. Although the XPS 13 now comes with only two USB-C ports and no headphone jack, the machine is still an excellent choice. For a laptop gift that will last a graduate for years to come, the XPS 13 Plus with Intel’s 12th-generation Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 3,456 x 2,100 resolution touchscreen is a great option. It is priced at $1,299 directly from Dell.

Apple

For those who prefer Mac, the MacBook Air with the M2 processor is a highly capable and affordable option. The M2-powered MacBook Air was completely redesigned last year, giving it hardware reminiscent of the MacBook Pro and a number of improvements like a better webcam, MagSafe charging, and a larger display. It still has the classic Air features like being lightweight and portable, with a long-lasting battery.

The 512GB storage and 16GB RAM configuration with the M2 chip and a 10-core GPU is the most suitable for most people and costs $1,699. However, for those interested in processor-intensive tasks like video editing, the $1,999 MacBook Pro with the even more powerful M2 Pro chip with a 16-core GPU and a stunning mini-LED display may be worth considering.

Top Tablets gifts for your grad for their tech upgrade

Tablets can be a great option for work, creative expression, and entertainment. Apple’s iPad is the clear leader in the tablet market, thanks to reliable hardware and a vast software library with hundreds of thousands of apps optimized for its larger screen.

For the majority of users, the iPad Air is the best choice. With Apple’s powerful M1 chip and impressive hardware, the iPad Air offers excellent performance and is fairly future-proof. The 10.9-inch screen with thin bezels, anti-reflective coating, and laminated display, ensures a great viewing experience. Moreover, with 64GB or 256GB of storage, 10 hours of battery life, and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, you get almost everything that the iPad Pro offers at a more reasonable price of $599.

However, if you’re looking for an Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is a solid choice. Despite Android’s limitations with larger screens, Samsung’s 11-inch tablet has a high-resolution screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and comes with an S-Pen stylus. Samsung’s Dex feature, which provides a desktop-like multi-window mode, can be great for productivity. Moreover, the built-in apps that take advantage of the S-Pen are impressive. Although finding apps specifically designed for the Tab S8’s larger screen may be challenging, it can be an excellent option for Android enthusiasts.

In conclusion, whether you’re looking for an iPad or an Android tablet, there are several options available in the market. The iPad Air is the perfect choice for most users, offering impressive hardware and software at a reasonable price. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 is a solid alternative for Android lovers, featuring powerful hardware, an excellent screen, and the added functionality of the S-Pen.

Top Smartphone gifts for your grad for their tech upgrade

As useful as laptops or tablets can be, most people’s most important computer is their smartphone. If you know someone still using a device they brought to campus four years ago, they’ll appreciate an upgrade. Fortunately, choosing a phone that will satisfy anyone, regardless of whether they prefer Android or iPhone, is pretty easy.

This year, our top recommendation for iPhone users is the iPhone 14 Pro. While the standard iPhone 14 is excellent, the differences between the two models are more pronounced this year. The iPhone 14 Pro has an always-on display with a 120Hz refresh rate that can show notifications and lock-screen widgets. It also has a much better main camera than the standard 14, with a 48-megapixel sensor compared to the 12-megapixel one on the standard 14. Additionally, the iPhone 14 Pro uses Apple’s latest A16 Bionic processor, making it extremely fast. At $999, it’s not cheap, but its performance and Apple’s excellent software support make it a wise investment.

Android users will love the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. While the device comes with a $1,200 price tag, it’s well worth it. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a fantastic screen, improved cameras, including a 200-megapixel main sensor, and excellent battery life, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Samsung collaborated with Qualcomm to create a custom version of that processor specifically for its Galaxy phones, resulting in a device up to 40% faster than its predecessor. Samsung’s dominance in the Android market makes the S23 Ultra an unsurprising recommendation, but it will certainly satisfy most Android fans.

Upgrading a smartphone can make a significant difference in one’s daily life, from better performance to improved camera quality. This year, both the iPhone 14 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offer top-notch features for their respective operating systems. Whether you’re an iOS or Android user, upgrading to one of these devices is an investment in a fast, reliable, and long-lasting smartphone.

Top Headphone gifts for your grad for their tech upgrade

When it comes to noise-canceling headphones, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is the top pick. Released about a year ago, these over-ear headphones offer unbeatable sound quality, a comfortable design, and excellent noise-canceling that is hard to beat. While they come with a higher price tag of $400 compared to their predecessor, the XM4, the WH-1000XM5 provides a refined design and 30 hours of battery life. The headphones also provide a better fit and comfort level than ever before.

Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds are our favorite wireless option. For $278, they deliver exceptional sound quality, long battery life, excellent noise-canceling, and comfortable design. These earbuds can provide up to eight hours of playback with ANC active, and up to 12 hours with it turned off. With advanced software features like Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing, Adaptive Sound Control adjustments, 360 Reality Audio, and customizable EQ, they are a perfect choice for anyone who wants the best wireless earbuds available.

If you’re an Apple user looking for earbuds, the second-generation AirPods Pro is an excellent choice. While they don’t quite match up to the WF-1000XM4’s sound quality or battery life, they come with a host of features that make them the best earbuds to use with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The fast pairing technology Apple introduced with the first AirPods makes it incredibly easy to start using these earbuds or switch them seamlessly between different Apple devices.

These second-gen AirPods Pro also have impressive noise-canceling capabilities, and the “transparency” mode lets in outside sound, allowing you to have a conversation or hear the world around you in a natural way. Additionally, both the case and buds are sweat and water-resistant, making them a better option for workouts.