Grab these 8 great stocking stuffers for techies before it's too late

The holiday season is fast-unfolding, and Christmas will be here before Hermey the elf from the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer can say “Well, sir, someday I’d like to be a dentist.”

So it’s time to act fast if you want to get a gadget-y gift for the techie or geek in your life in time for deliveries by December 25. Check out some cool ideas below.

They’re all small enough to fit in a stocking; prices range from a cheap $20 to a few hundred bucks (for those very special stockings). And there’s plenty more good stuff in the Cult of Mac Store.

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Great stocking stuffers for the techie in your life

Needless to say, there are many little gifts you can slip in a person’s stocking for Christmas morning — including some relatively affordable items from Apple. You could go with an AirTag tracking device or some keychain holders for it, for example.

Or you could drop in an Apple Watch band or even an Apple Watch SE (the, ahem, modestly priced one). Or Apple’s MagSafe Charger, currently $10 off at Amazon. But there are plenty of cool non-Apple tech gifts, too, at various price points. Here’s a browsable selection:

Sabrent Nano V2 SSD

You can carry up to 4TB of data in one pocket? Yes, you can.
Photo: Sabrent

Just ahead the holidays, Sabrent offered a new set of solid state drives (SSD) that could be a perfect little gift for any techie on your list — the updated Sabrent Rocket Nano V2.

The redesigned version, no larger than a “fun-sized” candy bar, supports fast data transfer speeds and can store up to 4TB. And they can fit in someone’s pocket. And in that same pocket could be every bit of data they’ve ever amassed.

And the little SSDs can handle transfer speeds of more than 1,500MB per second, thanks to their USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. At that rate, the drives are suitable for transferring 8K video.

Prices range from $119.99 to $499.99 for the different storage capacities.

Where to buy: Amazon for 1TB, 2TB or 4TB, or Sabrent

SwitchEasy PowerBuddy USB wall chargers

Choose from three different little chargers, including one with cable storage.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Need ideas for practical stocking stuffers that friends and family, techie or not, will actually use? SwitchEasy PowerBuddy wall chargers should do the trick.

You can pick any of three compact wall chargers with USB-C and USB-A ports. There’s a potent 30W version, another 30W with cable storage and a tiny 20W version. Check them out. Even though the 20% off sale in the Cult of Mac Store ends Tuesday, they’re still a good deal.

Even when they’re not on sale, the SwitchEasy chargers cost just $20 to $30. And another great option would be the Anker Nano series of GaN wall chargers.

Where to buy: Cult of Mac Store

Plugable USBC-VAmeter3 Plus Power Meter

If you've got charging woes, you can figure out what's wrong with help from this little gadget. — If you’ve got charging woes, you can figure out what’s wrong with help from this little gadget.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

“Anyone who’s ever said to themselves ‘Is this $%&@ thing even charging?’ can see the appeal of the USBC-VAmeter3 Plus, you can use it find out which of your USB-C cables can handle the most current,” wrote Cult of Mac reviewer Ed Hardy about Plugable’s little power tester. “This is also a quick way to see if something is wrong with your Mac, iPhone or iPad charger.”

You can grab the tester for $30.

Where to buy: Amazon

Rode AI-Micro dual-channel USB-C recording interface

Your iPhone can be a recording studio with the right interface.

Popular audio gear maker Rode launched the affordable AI-Micro, a compact, dual-channel interface for recording to a mobile device or computer, about a year ago.

Using the small gadget, one or two mini microphones, headphones and a choice of apps, your iPhone, iPad or MacBook becomes a mobile audio recording studio.

You can get it for $71 right now on Amazon.

Where to buy: Amazon

Mifa Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band

Your gift recipient need not be in Special Forces, but they can look like they are.
Photo: Mifa

Tired of searching for a utility band for everyday wear to match your space gray Apple Watch? Maybe something with a bit of a “tactical” look to it? Want to look like you’re going on patrol when you’re just headed to the flower shop? Well, stand down, because your mission may be accomplished.

It doesn’t matter if your Apple Watch is made of aluminum or stainless steel, Mifa’s rugged Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band can be a great complement to it. It’s particularly ideal for space gray Apple Watches.

You can pick up the band for $25.

Where to buy: Cult of Mac Store

Mini Voice-Activated 64GB Recorder

You don't even need to take it out of your pocket. It's voice-activated. — You don’t even need to take it out of your pocket. It’s voice-activated.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Here’s what Cult of Mac Deals had to say about this handy little voice recorder:

Whether you regularly record calls for work or take notes from meetings, a voice recorder may be necessary. This one is the world’s thinnest. And right now, you can grab it on sale for just $39.99 (regularly $52).

Measuring just 0.2 inches thick and weighing a feather-light 3.52 ounces, this unique and ultra-portable recorder slips right into your pocket or bag, ready to record at a moment’s notice. So whether you want something easy to carry on business trips and conferences, or plan to keep this gadget undetected in a pocket — it’s the perfect size to do so.

Where to buy: Cult of Mac Deals

Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable

Pack this little guy in your bag and you can charge your Apple Watch on the go.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

“The Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable does a fine job of keeping the wearable powered at your home or office. But it’s not very portable, due to its 1-meter cable,” said Cult of Mac‘s review for the Ampere charging cable.

“The Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable is made to be used on the go,” it continued. “It’s a lot smaller because the cable is so much shorter. It’s designed to be plugged into your MacBook or even many iPad models to replenish your Apple Watch.”

You can grab the watch charger for $29.95.

Where to buy: Amazon

Insta360 Go2 action camera

Clip it on and go. It won't get in the way of your activities. — Clip it on and go. It won’t get in the way of your activities.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

How about a tiny little camera your gift recipient can clip on so they can unobtrusively capture videos of all of their adventures? The Insta360 Go 2 action camera is one of the world’s smallest action cameras.

The little camera is about 2 inches long and features the all-important video stabilization for those action shots.

You can grab the Insta360 Go2 action cam for $299. That’s not cheap, but it’ll fit in a stocking.

Where to buy: Cult of Mac Deals

Grab these 8 great stocking stuffers for techies before it’s too late