— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
It's hard to believe the holidays are approaching, meaning once again, it's time to show your loved ones (and your coworkers and third-cousins) how much they mean to you. I think we can all admit that gift buying can be tough. Everyone has different interests and you don’t want to feel too generic.
That’s where the shopping experts at Reviewed come in. We’ve spent the entire year testing products to see what's actually worth the money, covering everything from vacuums to reusable straws. Not only that, but we've closely monitored shopping trends, as well, and have great insight on what gifts are going to be the most popular this season. From streaming subscriptions to Apple AirPods to cast iron skillets, these are the 30 gifts everyone will be asking for this year, according to our product experts.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
1. Roku Streaming Stick+
Best gifts of 2020: Roku Streaming Stick+ (Photo: Reviewed / TJ Donegan)
Alongside a subscription to Disney+, your giftee is going to want a way to watch it on the small screen (alongside Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max). The Roku Streaming Stick+ is the best affordable streaming device we’ve ever tested and will allow them to binge-watch their favorite shows on their TV instead of their computer screen. It’s fast and offers full 4K and HDR for the ultimate binge watching experience. It's the second best thing to getting them a new smart TV with Roku built-in.
2. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Best gifts of 2020: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet (Photo: Lodge)
Anyone who's getting into cooking lately will surely appreciate a cast iron skillet. Why? Well, they're the cookware that can do it all. You can use them on the stovetop, in the oven, on the grill—you can even use it to cook over a campfire. Plus, they create a sear that seriously upgrades whatever you're making. Lodge makes our favorite affordable cast iron skillet. It's only $20 but will last for years to come.
3. Disney+ Subscription
Best gifts of 2020: Disney+ Subscription. (Photo: Disney)
Shiny, new Disney+ was last year’s hottest streaming service and the obsession with it has not slowed down. With new movie and TV show offerings like Hamilton and the live-action Mulan, there's always a reason to want Disney+. Plus, with access to pretty much every Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel movie, it’ll surely bring a smile to anyone’s face. You can give a one-year subscription for your recipient and Disney+ will email instructions on how to redeem it to your loved one on the day you choose. Also, don't forget a streaming stick (our favorite is the Roku Streaming Stick+), so they can watch Disney on the small screen.
4. Apple AirPods Pro
Best gifts of 2020: Apple AirPods Pro. (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)
Last year, Apple AirPods were probably the most coveted products of the holiday season, but this year the upgraded AirPods Pro will be all the rage. They earned our pick as the best truly wireless earphones because Apple somehow managed to make the already amazing AirPods even better. They’ve been fitted with better sound, have incredible noise-cancellation, and are finally water-resistant. What more could your giftee want?
For a less expensive option, you can still gift the original AirPods, which we find to be a good option, just at a lower tier.
Get the Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon for $219
5. Barefoot Dreams Blanket
Best gifts of 2020: Barefoot Dreams Blanket. (Photo: Barefoot Dreams)
As we spend more and more time inside as the weather chills, everyone is going to want a throw blanket to cozy up with. The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw Blanket is possibly the most coveted one on the market with even celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, The Kardashians, and Selena Gomez raving about them. They'll be hard to find in select colors (like the popular animal print), so if you want to get it for someone, act sooner than later.
Get the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw Blanket at Nordstrom for $147
Get the Barefoot Dreams In the Wild Throw Blanket at Nordstrom for $180
6. Airomé Serenity Medium Diffuser
Best gifts of 2020: Airomé Serenity Medium Diffuser. (Photo: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser)
These days we're all looking for new ways to relax and unwind, which is why an aromatherapy diffuser is a great gift for 2020. The Airomé Serenity Medium Diffuser is the best essential oil diffuser we’ve ever tested because not only is it stunning to look at, but we also found it to be easy to operate and clean. It also provides an even scent for up to six hours and is available in several designs to suit your giftee’s decor style.
7. Always Pan
Best gifts of 2020: Always Pan. (Photo: Reviewed / Valerie Li Stack)
Cooking is honestly pretty overwhelming these days. There are so many gadgets to choose from and too many pots and pans to wash that sometimes it’s just easier to order take out. But the Always Pan from Our Place claims to replace eight pieces of cookware and can do everything from sautéing, frying, boiling pasta, and so much more. After testing it, our cooking expert loved how versatile it was as well as how absolutely gorgeous it looked with its terracotta finish and Instagrammable vibe.
8. Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen
Best gifts of 2020: Laugh & Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen (Photo: Fisher-Price)
Gardening has been one of the hottest hobbies of quarantine and kids can join in on the fun with this garden kitchen from Fisher-Price. Recommend for kids 12 to 36 months, this adorable playset has a garden side and a kitchen side, so kiddos can cook what they "grow." Our parenting editor, Anna Lane, believes this will be a hot item amongst younger kids this year and will probably sell out.
9. Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask
Best gifts of 2020: Nidra Sleep Mask (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)
While we might be traveling as much as usual, anyone could use a sleep masks to catch some mid-day shuteye while they're quarantined with their family. Our editor described the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask as "like having personal blackout curtains for your eyes," which is why we named it the best contoured sleep mask we've ever tested. Because it's contoured, light won't sneak in, meaning sweet dreams no matter the time of day.
10. Eufy RoboVac 11S
Best gifts of 2020: Eufy RoboVac 11S. (Photo: Eufy)
These days we’re spending more time at home than ever before—and spending more time noticing how dirty our floors actually are. Give your giftee the gift of clean floors without lifting a finger with a robot vacuum. The Eufy RoboVac 11s is our favorite affordable robot vacuum because of its impressive dirt pickup and quiet operation. The slim profile also makes it easier to reach every nook and cranny, and since it's reasonably priced, you can splurge a little on your loved one.
11. MasterClass Subscription
Best gifts of 2020: MasterClass Subscription. (Photo: MasterClass)
The person who seemingly has everything might love to learn a new skill in leu of a physical gift. MasterClass offers virtual classes from famous celebrities on pretty much every topic, like cooking with Gordon Ramsay, basketball with Steph Curry, or acting with Natalie Portman. Our editor-in-chief has used MasterClass himself and says the classes are inspiring, interesting, and, most importantly, self-paced, so they can do it whenever they have free time.
12. Echo Show 5
Best gifts of 2020: Echo Show 5 (Photo: Amazon)
Smart assistants are still as popular as ever, but some seriously take up too much counter space. The Echo Show 5 provides a compact design with the bonus of a screen. It's basically a smaller, more affordable affordable version of the full Show and the next level up from the Dot. The small screen makes it easy to see timers, get news updates, and make video calls, so you can chat "face-to-face" with your giftee.
13. Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
Best gifts of 2020: Dash Rapid Egg Cooker. (Photo: Dash)
The Dash Rapid Egg Cooker is perfect for anyone who has difficulty cooking eggs or claims they don't have enough time to make breakfast—even while they're working from home. This egg cooker makes breakfast a cinch can soft boil, hard boil, scramble, and poach—all in one machine. Plus, we tried it and it actually works. It's the perfect gift for a college student in a dorm or anyone who wants to free up burner space when they're making Sunday brunch.
14. Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
Best gifts of 2020: Revlon One Step Hair Dryer (Photo: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser)
While a high-end hair dryer is a thoughtful gift, most beauty lovers (or anyone with long hair) will be excited to receive the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer. This cult-favorite hair dryer brush has more than 75,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating on Amazon. It's that popular. Our beauty expert tried it out to see if it lives up to the hype, and, boy, it does. Not only did it dry her wavy hair straight with some voluminous flips, but it did it in just 30 minutes. Plus, it only costs less than $50—a fraction of an expensive luxury hair dryer.
15. LG C9 OLED TV
Best gifts for 2020: LG C9 OLED TV (Photo: Reviewed / Michael Desjardin)
With all the binge-watching your recipient has probably been doing these days, they'll probably want a shiny, new TV to do it in style. And they deserve the best, right? The LG C9 TV is the best TV we've ever tested for its crisp OLED picture quality, 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range and Dolby Vision specifications, and LG's friendly webOS smart platform. Seriously, it's like a mini movie theater. It costs a pretty penny, but for any avid movie-watcher, it's completely worth it.
16. Nintendo Switch
Best gifts of 2020: Nintendo Switch (Photo: Nintendo)
This spring, getting a Nintendo Switch was nearly impossible as pretty much every person wanted one to keep entertained in quarantined and play the sought after Animal Crossing New Horizons. To actually get your hands on one for your giftee, you’re going to want to keep your eye out for one. You can find the Nintendo Switch console come in and out of stock, otherwise the Nintendo Switch Lite is your best bet. Also, keep your eye out for the new Xbox X Series and PlayStation 5, which are set to be released in November and already sold out with pre-orders.
Get the Nintendo Switch Lite in Gray at Target for $199.99
Get the Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con at Target for $299.99
17. Kindle Paperwhite
Best gifts of 2020: Kindle Paperwhite (Photo: Reviewed/Michael Roorda)
Even if your giftee prefers the feel of a "real" book, they'll still appreciate an e-reader to easily access books while stuck at home. The Kindle Paperwhite is still the best e-reader we’ve ever tested and makes an amazing gift, especially for the bookworm in your life. It gives them an seemingly unlimited library at their fingertips and its waterproof, so they can read in the bathtub without fear.
18. Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Best gifts of 2020: Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker (Photo: Reviewed.com/Mike Roorda)
We need more than just a cup of coffee to get by these days, and if your giftee is a cold brew coffee aficionado, they'll love this iced coffee maker from Takeya. We chose it as the best cold brew coffee maker of the year because it was not only the easiest to use, but it also made the best-tasting coffee. Who says iced coffee is just limited to summer anyway?
19. Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones
Best gifts of 2020: Sony WH-1000XM4 (Photo: Sony)
Whether they work from home or are taking virtual classes, your giftee would appreciate a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM4’s are our new favorite noise-canceling headphones (dethroning its original flagship, the WH-1000XM3). They look nearly identical as their predecessor and have the same nifty feature of active noise-cancelation. But they have better sound and a more seamless Bluetooth connection that any audiophile will surely notice.
20. Good Hurt Fuego Hot Sauce Sampler Pack
Best gifts of 2020: The Good Hurt Fuego Hot Sauce Sampler (Photo: The Good Hurt Fuego)
If your recipient likes things spicy—like really spicy—this sampler pack of hot sauces will definitely bring the heat. This offering from Thoughtfully Gifts includes seven different flavors of hot sauce, ranging from mild to very hot. Plus, these hot sauces don't just burn your mouth, they offer incredible flavor that will amp up any meal, which is why reviewers love it.
21. Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker
Best gifts of 2020: Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker (Photo: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser)
If your special someone loves to bring the jams beach or poolside, then what they really need is a waterproof, high-quality Bluetooth speaker. When we tested the best affordable portable speakers for our roundups, we found the Anker Soundcore was offered great sound and playtime for a reasonable price. It's also available in a wide color selection, for some extra personalization for your giftee.
22. Fitbit Charge 4
Best gifts of 2020: Fitbit Charge 4 (Photo: Fitbit)
Fitness trackers are not slowing down in popularity and Fitbit just updated it's popular Charge 3 and made it even better with a brighter screen and GPS-capabilities. It's so good that we crowned it our new favorite fitness tracker, dethroning the Charge 3. It'd make a great gift for anyone who could use a little extra motivation and is obsessed with crushing new fitness goals.
23. AncestryDNA
Best gifts of 2020: AncestryDNA (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)
Unless they're hiding a major family secret, most people would be pretty stoked to get a DNA testing kit during the holidays. I mean, who doesn't like to learn more about themselves? With more than 18 million users, AncestryDNA is the most popular DNA testing kit on the market, which means your giftee is more likely to pinpoint exactly where their ancestors are from and potentially even connect with a long-lost relative. Plus, as more people join the service, Ancestry can pinpoint more specific regions, so it really is a gift that keeps on giving.
24. Ninja Fit Personal Blender
Best gifts of 2020: Ninja Fit Personal Blender (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)
Most people don't require an expensive, professional blender, but many could benefit from a personal blender in their life. They're great for single-serving smoothies or small batches of sauces and salsa and are small enough to store in even the most cramped kitchens. The Ninja Fit is the best personal blender we've ever tested, and we love that it comes with tight travel lids, which means easy on-the-go smoothie sipping for your giftee.
25. Sonos One
Best gifts of 2020: Sonos One (Photo: Sonos)
Anyone who loves entertaining or listening to their latest curated playlist aloud needs the Sonos One in their home. It’s fully compatible with Alexa and Google Home, but packed with the high speaker quality we've come to expect from Sonos. Plus, it can interface with other Sonos speakers, which means you can gift multiple to create seamless music throughout their home. We tested it recently, and found that it still holds up with impeccable sound and believe it's completely worth it, despite it not having Bluetooth.
26. Theragun Elite
Best gifts of 2020: Theragun (Photo: Theragun)
Treat your giftee who's always complaining about their sore muscles with an at-home massage gun. They're the new foam rollers, and Theragun is the maker of some of the most popular ones on the market. After testing the it, we found that its great for serious athletes as well as those who just need to get those kinks out of their muscles. Trust us, it hurts so good, they'll be going back for more.
27. Nordstrom Moonlight Pajamas
Best gifts of 2020: Nordstrom Moonlight Dream Pajamas (Photo: Nordstrom)
Pajamas are the new work from home attire and they make a great gift because people usually don't buy them for themselves. Nordstrom sells insanely comfortable and stylish pajamas that shoppers swear by. They're called the Moonlight Pajamas, and they have a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,400 reviews. If you know her size, these would make a great gift for any lady on your list. Aside from long-sleeved, they come in various styles including cropped and short.
Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Pajamas at Nordstrom for $65
Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Dream Pajamas at Nordstrom for $65
Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Dream Crop Pajamas at Nordstrom for $55
Get the Nordstrom Moonlight Dream Short Pajamas at Nordstrom for $49
28. Capri Volcano Candle
Best gifts of 2020: Capri Blue Candle (Photo: Capri Blue)
One of the best candles on the market is the Capri Blue Candle from Anthropologie. It's just a fact. Iconic and intoxicating, the incredible Volcano scent will instantly make any room in your giftee’s home smell really good. Or, to get more specific, it’ll make it smell like the inside of an Anthropologie, which is never a bad thing.
29. Gravity Blanket
Best gifts of 2020: Gravity Blanket (Photo: Gravity Blanket)
Going on this year’s theme of at-home coziness, weighted blankets are going to be a big hit again. Plus, the weighted beads can have a calming effect—something we can all use right now. When we tested some of the best weighted blankets on the market, we found we liked snuggling up with the Gravity Blanket the most. This would be a great gift for anyone who loves cozying up with a warm cup of tea or needs an extra stress reliever in their life.
30. Polk Audio Signa S2 Soundbar
Best gifts of 2020: Polk Audio Signa S2 (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)
Everyone's been watching TV a lot more lately, and have probably noticed that the sound isn't the best. That's where the upgrade of a soundbar comes in. Plus, you don't have to spend too much to get them a great one. The Polk Audio Signa S2 is our favorite affordable soundbar because it packs great sound and a sleek look into a reasonable price point. It also has different modes for movies, music, or night audio as well as three different "clear voice" settings to make watching TV shows and movies more enjoyable.
Comments