The best graduation gifts

There’s a good chance that your graduate will be working from a few different locations when they start their first job. Maybe they’ll spend half of their time in an office and the other half in their new apartment, but you can help them stay focused anywhere by gifting them the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. These are our current favorite high-end cans thanks to their excellent sound quality and equally stellar active noise cancellation. Their Adaptive Sound Control feature automatically changes the level of noise cancellation depending on your location and what you’re doing, blocking out as much of the world as necessary without the user needing to do much work. There's also multi-device connectivity, so your graduate can seamlessly go from listening to music on their laptop to taking a call from their smartphone. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

Losing stuff is a bummer for anyone, grads included. I tried out Apple’s AirTags, Tile trackers and Chipolos for our Bluetooth tracker guide and ended up picking the Chipolo One as the best option for most people. That’s because it simply does what it’s supposed to do without hassle: help people locate their keys and let them know when they’ve been left behind. Chipolo One doesn’t have the massive, community-enabled (and potentially creepy) location tracking of Apple’s FindMy, but it rings loud with a tap from your phone and sends alerts about forgotten items faster than any other tracker we tried. – Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

I received this Cartman 39-piece tool set right after college when I moved into my first apartment, and now, over 10 years later, it’s still with me in my home’s garage. I put this thing and all its contents through the ringer hanging pictures, putting together Ikea furniture, changing light fixtures and even repairing a broken door lock late on a Saturday night after coming home from a party (ah, youth). It includes all of the essentials one would need to do what I listed above, and much more, without much hassle: a measuring tape, hammer, screwdriver with 20 different bits, pairs of pliers and scissors and more. The plastic case that comes with all of the pieces has spaces designed to fit each tool and, while it’s a little flimsy, mine lasted a number of years before I accidentally broke the handle (totally my fault, too). The fact that it comes in a few different accent colors is icing on the cake; my “pink toolset” was a running joke in my family for a long time, but we were always laughing with the tools rather than at them because I used them so much. This is one of those gifts for graduates that isn’t flashy, but it’s necessary — and they will thank you for it. – V.P.

The Beats Pill is a stylish portable speaker that sounds balanced for its size and can last more than 20 hours on a charge. It’s well-built and water-resistant with an IP67 rating, plus it supports higher-quality lossless audio if you connect via a USB-C cable. There are plenty of cheaper options out there, including some that hold up better at maximum volumes, but what’s here was still good enough to earn a spot in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. If your grad wants a speaker for smaller get-togethers, enjoying music at their desk or playing podcasts in the shower, it’s a fine choice. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter

If your giftee thought they had a lot of logins to keep track of in school, just wait until they get into the workplace. A password manager will be a must-have, and you can easily give them a 1Password digital gift card so they have no excuse not to use one. Our favorite password manager is easy to use, even for those who have never had a password manager before, and it provides top-notch security. It uses industry standard encryption, a “secret key” that only your giftee knows along with their one password to keep all of their other information safe. In addition to login credentials, new graduates can keep other information like credit card numbers, banking information and sensitive notes in their 1Password vaults for safekeeping — and they can easily access it all on their phone or laptop whenever they need. At minimum, it’s much more secure than a tattered sticky note for keep tracking of their most important passwords. At best, it could be a crucial service that your grad decides to keep paying for long after they’ve used up their gift card. – V.P.

That first domicile after college isn’t always ideal — mine was above a heavily-trafficked LA boulevard, which didn’t result in the cleanest indoor air. We tested out the Levoit Core 300s air purifier and found it cleared out both VOCs and particulate matter (PM) quite efficiently, particularly for its size. It runs quietly and can automatically increase the fan speed when it detects the air is getting murky. Plus the replacement filters are much more affordable than other models, something any recent grad will appreciate. — A.S.

I’ve been testing power banks for our guide for a few years now and Anker’s un-creatively named Laptop Power Bank with built-in and retractable cable is one of the best so far. It has not one but two USB-C cords built in, so there’s no need to remember to grab a cable on your way out the door. One cord creates a handy carrying handle while the other neatly retracts into the body of the battery.

In my tests, it refilled an iPhone, a Galaxy phone and an iPad speedily and could recharge the handsets around four times each and the tablet nearly three times. It even gave a MacBook Pro enough of a bump to keep it running for many hours after the 10 percent warning. The handy built-in screen displays the wattage funneling to each device as well as how long before the battery is drained. Despite the hefty 25,000mAh capacity, it doesn’t feel particularly bulky either. That capacity also means it’s TSA compliant for carry on luggage, making it good for travel. — A.S.

Google’s TV Streamer tops our guide to the best streaming devices, but the runner-up is arguably better for recent grads. Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K not only converts just about any screen into a smart TV, it also opens up access to an endless flow of free content and live programming (most of which is also free). Even if they don’t pay for every streaming service under the sun (or any), they’ll still find loads of stuff to watch. We like Roku’s uncluttered interface and playful illustrated robot motif. Plus the dongle hides neatly behind the screen, supports 4K content with Dolby Vision and has a long Wi-Fi range. – A.S.

If your grad needs a new tablet for checking emails, reading e-books, writing essays or just binging YouTube videos, the iPad Air is the best mix of price and long-term performance within Apple’s tablet lineup. The top pick in our guide to the best iPads, it has a fast M3 chip, a (still) comfortable and elegant design, wide accessory support and the extensive app library you get with any iPad. It’s also available in two sizes: a traditional 11-inch model or a more laptop-like 13-inch version. You don’t get the Face ID, louder speakers or terrific 120Hz OLED display of the iPad Pro, but the Air gets close enough for most at a significantly lower price. That said, no iPad is really a bad buy, so the entry-level iPad (A16) is still worth a look if your grad uses their tablet more casually. — J.D.

Even after price increases, Xbox Game Pass remains a great value for any grad who owns an Xbox or gaming PC. The subscription’s library includes big-name hits like Call of Duty and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle alongside more experimental gems like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, and it still gets you access to first-party Xbox games on day one. Everything is available to download on-demand. The Ultimate tier includes perks like cloud gaming and online play, but there’s a cheaper option for just PC play as well.

If your graduate plans to play more on PlayStation or the Nintendo Switch (or Switch 2), there are similar services you can gift: PlayStation Plus for the former, Switch Online for the latter. These will almost certainly be appreciated if you’re buying for someone who games frequently, though they’re not quite as strong a value as Game Pass in terms of cost or included games. — J.D.

If you really want to treat the iPhone-toting graduate in your life, get them the Apple Watch Series 10. It’s the best Apple Watch for most people right now, and it’s the best smartwatch, period. In addition to delivering all of their phone’s alerts to their wrist, the Series 10 is a solid workout companion, tracking most exercises and even connecting to some gym equipment. The new S10 SiP makes the Watch run a tad faster and makes Siri speedier at responding to requests, adding reminders to their lists and more. The Double Tap feature is handy as well, as it lets the wearer use gestures to navigate the Watch’s interface if they’re unable to tap the screen at any time. If you have a new grad who’s constantly on the go, or who wants to whip out their phone less during the day, the Series 10 will be a welcomed gift. — V.P.

Someone fresh out of college may be more likely than most to appreciate a practical gift they’ll use daily. An older version of Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro charger pad topped our list of the best wireless chargers thanks to its speed and overall convenience. This latest version adds a few more features. It delivers up to 15 watts of power to any iPhone series 12 or newer through its MagSafe-compatible, Qi2 tech. The pad converts to a stand that lets you view the screen as it refills but folds down into a space-saving puck for travel and charging while flat. — A.S.

Those early days in the working world can be an especially stressful time in anyone’s life. If your grad has expressed interest in using meditation to help manage their mental health, a Headspace subscription could be useful. It has a large and well-organized selection of guided meditations and mindful exercises to help reduce anxiety and build self control, including several sessions for beginners. There are one-off exercises designed to help with specific, real world crises (nerves before a job interview, for example) as well as courses that seek to address more complex states (grief, self-doubt, lack of focus, etc.) over multiple sessions. A “sleepcasts” feature, meanwhile, combines guided relaxation exercises with soothing narration to create a more healthy sleep environment. Apps like this aren’t cure-alls for mental distress, nor are they the only ways to meditate. Still, they can provide a more organized way for your grad to work toward better peace of mind. — J.D.

If your grad plans on working remotely, a webcam that keeps them looking sharp and in focus during video calls is a wise investment. The Anker PowerConf C200, a recommendation from our webcam buying guide, is a great choice: It shoots crisp 2K resolution video, autofocuses quickly and does well to keep its subjects visible in darker settings. It can’t swivel from side to side, but it’s a cinch to set up and has a built-in lens cover for extra peace of mind. At $60, it’s relatively affordable to boot. — J.D.

Mechanical keyboards can be pretty noisy, so they may not be the best gift if your grad has to work in an office all the time. But if they won’t have any coworkers or roommates around during the workday, a good keyboard like the NuPhy Air75 V2 should be a welcomed upgrade. This wireless, low-profile model puts the more gratifying feel of mechanical switches in a design that’s flatter and thinner than most enthusiast keyboards. For something so compact, it’s a joy to type on, with crisp keycaps, a wealth of different switch options and no annoying rattling on the larger keys. It works across Windows and macOS, and its playful design is just plain cute. Plus, if your grad ever wants to go wild and customize it with new switches and keycaps down the road, doing so is straightforward. — J.D.

Recent graduates have a ton of new responsibilities to wrangle, including keeping their space clean and tidy. This Roomba from iRobot can make it easier for them to do that. It’s our current top pick for the best budget robot vacuum you can get thanks to its sleek design, easy setup process and even easier to use mobile app. Once set up and paired to their home’s Wi-Fi network, they can program cleaning schedules that tell the robovac when and where to clean. At the designated times, it’ll putter around, sucking up dirt, debris and pet hair in its path. All they have to do is empty its dustbin after each cleaning job — a chore that will only take a few seconds, which is much less of a time commitment than manually vacuuming just as frequently. — V.P.

Sure, Kindle devices are what most people picture when they think of an ereader, but after testing all the major players on the market, we actually like the Kobo Clara Colour best. For user-friendliness, physical design and value, it’s just better. Color is the latest thing in ereaders and the tones here are muted but pretty, and add extra appeal to book covers and comics. Kobo’s interface also makes borrowing ebooks from the local library particularly easy.

If your grad prefers to buy their ebooks, we’ll note that titles cost the same across retailers (as it’s the publishers that set the list price), and sales are often matched, so there’s no worry of missing out on Amazon’s well-known discounts. Of course, if your grad has already invested in Kindle titles and you want to get them something nice to read on, the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature provides a particularly luxurious reading experience. — A.S.