MacRumors 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

[MacRumors]

If you're looking for the perfect tech or tech-adjacent present for someone who loves Apple products or just uses them daily, I have a few suggestions that might be helpful to you this holiday season.

These are some of our favorite products, many of which I use personally or have gifted to our friends and family members in the past. If you're still looking for a present for someone that's hard to shop for, check out the list.

Maclock

For Apple fans or fans of classic PCs, the Maclock is a tiny Macintosh 128K that works as an alarm clock. It is super detailed and has all of the design touches of the original, and there's even a tiny floppy disk that turns it on when you put it in.

There are multiple display modes, and it can tell you the time, day of the week, and temperature, plus it is a functional alarm clock. There's also a classic Mac face you can set it to. I haven't gifted it yet, but I bought one of these a few weeks ago. It does ship from China, so order ASAP.

I've seen a few different versions of this product, but this variant has no third-party logo on the front, and it's just $30.

If you want to spend a bit more, RayCue has some retro-style Macs that are actually designed to be docks. I haven't used one, but it looks like a fun desktop accessory.

Pico-Mac-Nano

While I'm on the subject of mini Macs, I don't want to leave out the Pico-Mac-Nano from Nick Gillard. The Maclock is palm-sized, but the nano is even smaller at just under 2.5 inches, plus it has an actual Mac operating system. Gillard did sell these fully assembled at one point, but Apple asked him to stop.

You can still get the parts to make one, and Gillard has instructions. There's a full kit for GBP62.00 (around $100 shipped to the U.S.), and it would be a great gift for someone who likes retro items and a project.

Aura Frames

Priced starting at $149, Aura digital frames make a good gift for anyone who has digital photos, which is most of us these days. You can load photos on the frame using the Aura iPhone app, and since images are stored in the cloud, there's no limit.

Multiple people can upload images to a single frame, so it's a great way to share photos with friends and family members. If you know someone that's not technically savvy, like a grandparent, it's still the perfect gift because you can load photos for them remotely. The $149 10.1-inch Carver is Aura's most affordable option, but there are sizes up to 15 inches, like the $299 Walden. Aura also makes higher resolution options, including the $199 Mason, and all the frames come in multiple colors to match any decor.

Everyone I've gifted an Aura frame to has loved it, and it's my go-to for people that are hard to shop for. This year, Aura launched a frame that uses e-ink for a softer, more art-like look. It changes images less often and it's expensive at $449, but it has a different vibe than your standard photo frame.

LEGO Retro Radio

Priced at $100, the Retro Radio from LEGO has a sweet, nostalgic design, complete with a tuner, knobs, and speaker grille. It's actually functional, because you can remove the back plate from the set and place an iPhone inside so that the radio plays music.

There's a built-in smartphone stand that holds the iPhone in place, but if you don't want to use an iPhone, there's also a little sound brick that plays different sounds when you turn the knob. I have one of these, and it was a fun build.

There are other LEGO sets that make for good gifts, even for people who aren't LEGO collectors. Anyone that likes a puzzle would probably like a LEGO set, and some have wide appeal. Here are a few I've gotten this year that would make for good gifts:... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: MacRumors 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

 

[Omega Mac]

Erm, the article/blog main typographic image is terrible!

Ya should have used the Maclock image, it's colourful and cute and fun, visually superior, but c'mon, this is so un-Christmassy (unseasonal) as could be!

It's Christmas. Not Holidaymas. It's not Vacation Season either. Think about that. Why is it not Vacationmas. Think about that.

Depending on where you are. Holidays Gifts are something you bring back to people, on return from your holidays, which is a Vacation to others. That occur usually during the season of Summer

Even a bit of fake snow or maybe a snowman, or even a Santa hat propped on something if the budget allowed.

 

[awshucks]

Really wish the staff would use Christmas instead of Holiday

 

[zeus423]

I bought my wife an Aura frame last year. It was the best gift ever for her and the family. The picture resolution looks great, and I've uploaded close to 10,000 pics that it cycles through randomly. No regrets at all.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Are these available on the iGift app?

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Getting the Apple iThink neural implant for a loved one might be the best thing ever!

 

[Astuces iOS]

Emmm some are good and some are bad, let me review all of them :

- The Mac clock is funny but after all if you have many things on your desk, it won't be a great deal... Don't buy

- The aura frames is probably the worst product, just use your iPad or EVEN YOUR APPLE TV HAS THIS FEATURE!!!

- The lego radio looks nice but you will never going to use it if you have a speaker like beats pill or something (where are those on the list also?)

- Other legos ok why not for a kid

- For every smart light, yeah ok for gamers or guys like this... Many people don't like tho so just make sure you give this to a guy who likes...

- AirPods good idea for those who doesn't have

- 3d printer meh, not everybody is going to print stuff, and it takes place... Make sure you give this to a person who likes.

- Chargers and batteries, look I have A TON OF THEM... If you give me one I will just give it to somebody else... Mostly many people have a ton of those... (and I can use my iPad, my Mac to charge...)

- Bird buddy things... "almost anyone will like"... Hmmm not sure, it's fun to see the birds but you can just go outside and see them... And look they are kinda expensive and their photos are ok, nothing beautiful when we compare to a photo took on a camera... But ok if you still like this, give a small camera as a gift like go pro, dji or insta 360. You can do those timelapse things with birds if you want but also do other things !

- Robot vacuum, not only they are expensive but not having one is better because it forces you to stay cleaner !

- The printer for photos, yeah why not...

- Plant grow light ok

- Base iPad, ok but just make sure about his limits, it has A16 chip so for heavy task it might be better to get an iPad Air or something...



It's actually a bit sad that Apple didn't make a HomePod mini 2 before Christmas, so buying a HomePod mini 1 might not be the best idea.


The Holidays ideas are not that bad, I think it just depends on if the person likes it, it's not a product that everybody will like. I have other ideas tho yeah some might not still like :

- Kids will probably like Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario kart world (kids who doesn't have switch 1)

- Like I said, a small camera is a good gift since you can place it everywhere, if you know somebody who is into cameras, you can give him a lens !

- Apple Watch is another great gift



Anyways happy holidays and I hope everyone finds a great gift !

 

[Will Co]

Really wish the staff would use Christmas instead of Holiday

Couldn’t agree more. I detest the phrase “Happy Holidays”

 

[svish]

Some good gifting ideas in the article. Maclock is a fun item and AirPods do make a very nice item to gift.

 

[Omega Mac]

Really wish the staff would use Christmas instead of Holiday

Who downvotes a comment like this! Scrooge? The Grinch? 🤣

 

[TVreporter]

I can vouch for the Aura Frames - great gift, rock solid connection. My parents love getting updates of their grandkids on it.

- Birdfy is also a fun, well-developed product. It can also double as a handy security camera for the backyard.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I bought my wife an Aura frame last year. It was the best gift ever for her and the family. The picture resolution looks great, and I've uploaded close to 10,000 pics that it cycles through randomly. No regrets at all.

Brother, Sister and myself bought one for our parents last christmas and they love it. Since we all live pretty far apart, and none live >150mi from my parents, it's been great! Brother just had a second kid, so they have been sending tons of photos to it for my parents to see. I've been scanning in old family photos and adding them.

They don't use smartphones.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The most valuable gift that wasn’t mentioned, is informing friends and family of this site for good information and getting them a paid Contributor membership for a year.

 

[FloatingBones]

I recommend the NIRA DC Desk Lamp.

All of NIRA's light bulbs are a hybrid of LED chips and a half-dozen tiny incandescent capsules. The LEDs provide normal narrow-spectrum lighting; the capsules provide a much broader spectrum of lighting -- including infrared light. As noted in the massive Photobiomodulation Database, infrared light plays an important role in our cellular metabolism. As noted in this paper, the addition of LowE windows and elimination of incandescent lighting have left us starved for infrared radiation in our businesses and homes. Getting outside early and often is part of the solution; having supplemental IR lighting helps tremendously. From the NIRA bulb patent application (12092303):

NIRA sells an AC bulb. These bulbs are DC; their lamp power supply provides DC. The power supply has a switch for "Day Mode" and "Night Mode". In "Night Mode", only the incandescent capsules are lit. This makes for a wonderful light for after-sunset homework -- definitely good for a dorm room.

 

[diblasio]

Who downvotes a comment like this! Scrooge? The Grinch? 🤣

View attachment 2585473

Because it’s irrelevant, widely known as political tool for the dim-witted and a literal non-issue to almost everyone! 🙄

 

[artifex]

The bird cameras are pretty cool. Looks like Bird Buddy even has a beta feature where you can name birds that keep returning. However, I'm a bit wary about the reliance on a cloud component which might not be around after a few years. Then again, plastic feeders and baths probably won’t last much longer than that anyway. If you’re considering the Birdfy lifetime subscription as part of the gift, it’s $40 when bundled with a device, which is a better deal than their $5/month plan because it would pay for itself in about 8 months. I didn't check the other one, but It's probably a similar deal. And who wants to saddle someone they like with a subscription bill, anyway?

My parents have a bunch of Aerogarden products, but I'd say the grow lights are definitely the most practical. They gave me a stem grow light a couple of years ago, and it helped my succulents survive a little longer. Unfortunately, it has a non-replaceable cable that is kinda flimsy. Also, if it loses power, even briefly, you’ll need to reconnect it and reset the program. But on the bright side, it has a default dumb mode that gives 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness, which is handy in case Aerogarden shuts down again. They were out of stock for a while, but I probably want to get another one, because I just got another pot of succulents for my birthday and I just don't know of any other brands for tiny lights for just one small pot.

The water version of the Govee light projector is now on my own wishlist, thanks. The added white noise generator (well, clips) seems like a good thing to add. But if you’re shopping for kids, I saw there’s a bunch of light projectors and globes linked from that same page that are cheap and fun (and also quiet). There's one that's a globe, but if you take that off the base, you get a cool swirly galaxy on your ceiling. I'd have loved that as a kid.

One item I'd remove: I wouldn’t recommend buying a photo printer unless you know the recipient will actually use it often. For most people, a local print service like FedEx Office would provide higher quality prints for the important pictures. Those places use more advanced printers, sometimes even as good as the ones used for giclée or art prints. And of course for simple things like party photos, CVS and Walgreens are practically begging for that business and are usually really cheap per print. These days all of these options can also be accessed through phone apps or web browsers, so you only have to show up to pick up your order.

And one item (or category) I'd add: If you’re shopping for people who are active, an action camera might be a good fit. Brands like Insta360 and DJI now make some compact, wearable cameras for people who aren't super athletes or crazy vloggers. If you're shopping for parents, there are even accessories to clip them onto kids’ hats or shirts. But 360° cameras are also worth a look, even if just for yourself. Besides some models going up to 8K recording now, they include apps for your phone, tablet, or desktop to do rough edits and pull out "flat" videos to then edit or view with the usual tools.

Happy Holidays! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Saturnalia! Happy Winter Solstice!
Happy whatever you celebrate, and ignore anyone who tries to tell you only their faith or tradition matters.
And don’t forget to do as Bing Crosby sings, and make the Yuletide gay!

 

[Omega Mac]

Because it’s irrelevant, widely known as political tool for the dim-witted and a literal non-issue to almost everyone! 🙄

To clarify your point, are you referring to "Happy Holiday" or "Happy Christmas" as the "political tool for the dim-witted" ?