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Here are the Best White Elephant tech gifts for 2021

We've got a good mix of budget and bargains this holiday
Last Updated on December 1, 2023
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White Elephant season is upon us, it’s that time of year to buy the people we kind of know a gift that they’ll remember for years to come. Yes, that’s wishful thinking, but what if we could find some really cool tech for you to gift that won’t break the bank this year?

Whether you want to get some office kudos or you want to give your friend a brilliant surprise, it’s probably one fo the most affordable times of year to buy gifts. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been and gone with retailers wondering how they’ll gain more sales now everyone has spent up. Low demand means low prices, and we’ve swept up the best deals online and dropped them below for you.

Best White Elephant tech gifts

Amazon – Echo Dot (4th Gen) Smart speaker with clock and Alexa

Anything smart home worth its salt is compatible with Alexa. From smart bulbs to smart fridges, turn these amazing bits of tech into a voice-activated network. Hook up your favorite music streaming app for high-quality streaming, just say the word! There are more and more applications for Alexa every day, so it doesn’t matter if your gift victim has one already. There’s always another room that could do with an Alexa.

Chromecast with Google TV – 4K

For those who prefer the Google ecosystem over Amazon, Google TV is a great fit. coming complete with Google Assistant, it works flawlessly with other Google devices to become a key device in your smart home hub. It does everything a Fire TV Stick can do but leans towards easier usability for Google buffs. Have you ever heard your White Elephantee go on about Google Assistant? Maybe they have the New Google Pixel 6 handset? IF so, this is a safe bet!

Amazon – Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Smart Speaker with Alexa – Charcoal

Alexa is one of the most popular voice-activated assistants in 2021, with her preferred haunt being Amazon Echo devices. This little Echo Dot won’t take up a lot of counter space yet provides great quality audio for streaming your favorite playlist. It also serves as a smart home hub to hook up your existing smart home tech up to. A brilliant White Christmas gift for Alexa fans.

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential

Google Assistant strikes again under the guise of Lenovo’s Smart Clock. It’s practically a fancy Google Nest mini that shows the time, weather, and temperature. It’s an ideal bit of kit for a bedside table and a brilliant Best White Elephant gift for under $30. It also displays just the right amount of light during the night to not disturb sleep. it could also be a great option for the kids’ room?

Amazon – Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote, Streaming Media Player – Black

A top-of-the-line 4K Fire TV Stick that’s currently under your White Elephant $30 budget? Yes, please! This bad boy packs in HDR/HDR10+ support alongside Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for the best viewing and audio experience possible. Of course, your giftee will need a 4K HDR-capable TV and sound system capable of Dolby magic. The Alexa remote also fits into an Alexa smart home setup easily thanks to its voice recognition. The Fire TV Remote also syncs up to the host TV to control power and volume, so your gifter can look forward to less controller clutter too.

Tile – Mate (2020)

Bluetooth trackers are gaining popularity in 2021, and they’re also a great way to keep an eye on where your keys or bag are. Tile is a giant in the Bluetooth tracker space, and the Tile Mate is a great little product for White Elephant gifting. All that’s needed is the Tile app and an iOS or Android-enabled device to get going. Some smartphones such as Huawei don’t run either, so make sure you check their handset make and model first before buying.

Blink – Mini Indoor 1080p Wi-Fi Security Camera

A security camera might be an odd White Elephant gift this holiday, but this is actually a brilliant bit of tech, Are you gifting someone with troublesome kids or maybe a Cat or Dog? Blink allows users to monitor their homes indoors via the Blink app day or night in glorious 1080p. You can do things like set motion alerts on your smartphone and hold two-way audio conversations too. Catching your kids watching TV instead of doing homework whilst you work has never been easier.

Thanks for choosing PC Guide to help you find the best White Elephant gifts. We’re constantly working on all kinds of gift articles and guides, so make sure to bookmark and check out our Gift hub for more.

Christian 'Reggie' Waits' is a contributor to PC Guide, having written a wide array of how to and buying guide content.