The Verges 2025 Valentines Day gift guide
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Valentines Day might seem like any other commercial holiday given the abundance of candy and the sheer number of cards lining store shelves, but if you put in a little effort and a lot of heart, it can be about so much more. After all, at its core, February 14th is about celebrating love in all its forms, with or without sweet treats.One way to show your appreciation for your loved one whether it be your partner, sister, parent, or best friend is with a gift that speaks to who they are. Luckily, if you need some inspiration, the Verge staff has pooled together a list of thoughtful gift ideas. Some of these, such as the AirPods 4 and latest Kindle Paperwhite, are gadgets we use on the daily, while items like Amazfits Active 2 and Soundcores latest speaker are more recent finds were still putting through their paces.Weve also sprinkled in a few ideas for those who could use a little less tech in their lives, so there should be something for everybody on your list. After all, nothing says I love you quite like a scratcher.How much do you want to spend?AirPods 4$100$12922% off$100Few pairs of wireless earbuds provide as much value as the recently released AirPods 4 especially if youre an iPhone owner. The entry-level earbuds integrate seamlessly with Apples ecosystem of devices while delivering stellar sound and voice quality, rendering them a great pick if you can do without noise cancellation and more advanced features.Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light$20$2931% off$20If your partner likes to burn the midnight oil reading (heaven forbid) actual books, Glocusents LED Neck Reading Light could be a godsend for the both of you. The wearable necklamp provides a soft, warm glow and several brightness settings, allowing your loved one to comfortably read in the dark without waking you up with a deluge of lumens.$20 at Amazon$22 at Glocusent$50The Onn Google TV 4K Pro is a twofer of a gift. Its a great streaming device with support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR, all of which make for a visually rich, immersive streaming experience. It also functions as a smart speaker, meaning you can use it to play music, dim the lights, and carry out a host of hands-free commands.$50 at WalmartTheragun Mini (second-gen)$149$19925% off$149If you want to score brownie points but spare your hands, the latest Theragun Mini is a no-brainer. The powerful, three-speed massage gun can melt away tension much like Theraguns beefier models, only it comes in a travel-friendly package thats far easier to lug around. The assorted attachments and included carrying case just add to the convenience.$12Jem and Cozys illustrated notepad can be the perfect pick-me-up during a long day. The lined 50-page notepad adds a touch of humor to even the most tedious of tasks, making the process of jotting down a to-do list, a grocery order, and other helpful reminders (slightly) more enjoyable.$12 at Jem and CozyAmazfit Active 2$100$100The Amazfit Active 2 is the kind of smartwatch that defies the odds. Its equipped with a bright 2,000-nit OLED display and an array of upgraded health sensors, along with offline maps and a slick strength training mode that can auto-detect sets, reps, and rest. It even supports its own AI assistant, Zepp Flow, which is wild for a watch that retails for less than $100.$100 at Amazfit$22If youre looking for a healthier alternative to a bottle of wine, For Bitter For Worse nonalcoholic cocktails will provide a similar kick without the high calories or hangover. The award-winning mocktails are made from organic raw materials and come in a variety of delicious flavors, ranging from tangy rhubarb and citrus to sweet strawberry and hibiscus.Govee Table Lamp 2$65$707% off$65If youre looking for a way to brighten up your Valentines Day either literally or figuratively Govees Table Lamp 2 can get the job done. The color-changing lamp boasts built-in scheduling and more than 60 dynamic lighting effects, including preset scenes for various holidays. You can even create custom color combos for when Dandelion and other presets just arent cutting it.$65 at Amazon$70 at GoveeKindle Paperwhite (2024)$135$16016% off$135Amazons latest Kindle Paperwhite aka our favorite ebook reader is perfect for the valentine who likes to relax by the pool or pretty much anywhere. Its designed to last for weeks at a time, not days, while a larger seven-inch display and adjustable color temperature allow for more natural lighting in any environment.$65Hey, we love a high-quality display as much as anyone, but theres something so endearing about the disposable cameras that ruled the early 90s. And while the screen-free Camp Snap isnt made for instant gratification or capturing high-res stills, its a dead-simple way to take some vintage-looking shots and then export them to your computer via an SD card or USB-C.DreameBot D10 Plus$280$40030% off$280The DreameBot D10 Plus is an all-rounder if there ever was one. The robovacs dual rubber rollers suck up dirt and debris relatively well, and its outfitted with mopping, mapping, and lidar navigation for less than $400. Thats a steal, especially when you consider it comes with an auto-empty dock that prevents your giftee from having to lift a finger. Well, almost.$280 at Amazon$400 at Dreame7 Wonders Duel$22$3537% off$22Is there anything more romantic than duking it out with your sweetheart for global supremacy? Of course not, which is why 7 Wonders Duel remains a great gift. You and your love are sure to have a blast with the two-player strategy game, which tasks you with building out your civilization via science, military might, or infrastructure.Eight Sleep Pod 4$2599$26492% off$2599With an Eight Sleep Pod 4, youll never fight over the comforter with your partner again. The mattress cover lets you dial in the perfect temperature for you and your beau, so both of you can get a good nights rest. It also tracks your heart rate, sleep stages, and even your snoring habits, so you can get insight into your sleep without having to don a bulky smartwatch to bed.$2599 at Eight Sleep$22If youre looking to step up your self-care game at home, Lushs handmade Bath Art set can turn your bathtub into a colorful piece of art. Not only do the included bath bombs smell incredible but they also let you bathe in swirls of sparkly gold, yellow, pink, and blue. Theyre a true feast for the senses (and 100 percent vegetarian).$22 at LushOtoto Katie ladle$17$17Ototos Katie ladle is purr-fect for cat lovers. The cat-shaped kitchen ladle is both adorable and functional, with a heat-resistant silicone design thats suitable for serving everything from soups to sauces. Its even sturdy enough that it can stand on its own should you need to set it down in a pinch.$99The Instax Mini Link 3 lets you make the digital physical, allowing your giftee to create charming, wallet-sized prints within seconds using their phone. And thanks to Fujifilms handy companion app, theyll be able to flex their creative muscles with colorful borders, background effects, and photo collages.Crumbs$38$5024% off$38In Crumbs, celebrated food writer Ben Mims takes readers on a culinary tour, one that involves a whopping 300 recipes from nearly 100 countries. He includes all kinds of crumbly and chewy sweets, from French macarons and Portuguese biscoitos to snickerdoodles and Venezuelan shortbread cookies, while sprinkling in a brief history of each sweet.$149The Aura Carver is a 10.1-inch, cloud-connected display that lets you or your partner easily upload photos via Android or iOS. Its a great gift if youre looking for something a little more sentimental, especially if your goal is to upload those special moments youve shared together and put them on display in either landscape or portrait orientation.Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo)$36$5028% off$36A portable power bank doesnt sound romantic, but do you really think your loved one is going to care when their phone dies and theres no wall outlet to be found? Ankers 622 Magnetic Battery can provide newer iPhones with up to 7.5W of power, along with a foldable kickstand so they can prop up their phone to watch their favorite YouTuber while charging.$36 at Amazon$36 at Anker$6A scratch-off Valentines Day card is far more creative than your run-of-the-mill valentine from Target. All you have to do is jot down a heartfelt note with a pen or pencil before covering it with the provided sticker, which your giftee can then scratch off to reveal your hidden message. Its a lot like gifting a lotto ticket, that is, if the odds were always in your favor.$7 at Etsy$6 at InklingsLOreal Colorsonic Hair Color Device$99$12521% off$99No one wants to spend hundreds of dollars or their entire day just to cover some grays, which is why LOreals Colorsonic is so handy. The high-tech hair wand lets you quickly touch up roots and dye your hair without making a mess, rendering it an attractive alternative to both box dyes and salon visits. Best of all, its dead simple to use just press a button and brush your hair! No mixing required.$99 at Target$99 at LOreal Paris$60If you want to gift a floral present thats not a total cliche, Legos Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet set makes for a worry-free centerpiece. The 749-piece set comes with 15 buildable stems, from orchids and ranunculus to a brick-ified dahlia, all of which are in peak bloom no matter the season. Needless to say, its a nice way to let your creativity ahem blossom.$7Most people hate Mondays, which is probably why The New York Times chose to publish its least aggravating crossword puzzles at the beginning of the week. The publications greatest hits collection is chock-full of puzzles curated by master puzzler Will Shortz, many of which will still offer you a chance to swoop in and aid your significant other when theyre stumped.Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker$22$5056% off$22Planning a picnic or Say Anything-level romantic gesture? The Soundcore Select 4 Go is an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker that can help set the stage, especially since it easily pairs with a second Go speaker for stereo sound. It carries an IPX67 rating for dust and water resistance, too, meaning its perfect for seaside strolls, hikes, and other outdoor activities.$22 at Amazon$45 at Soundcore$19Sungboons collagen mask is the rare TikTok sensation that actually lives up to the hype. Like magic, the face mask works overnight to improve elasticity, temporarily erasing fine lines and wrinkles. It also soothes, hydrates, and rejuvenates your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion that should last far longer than the viral videos from which it sprang up.$19 at Amazon$31Comfyables Puffy Laptop Sleeve stands out among a sea of drab alternatives. The ultra-plush sleeve feels as comfortable as it looks thanks to attractive Scandinavian colors and its fluffy fleece lining, the latter of which helps protect notebooks up to 16 inches in size. Its also waterproof, so you neednt worry about the occasional raindrop or rogue cup of coffee.$31 at Amazon$31 at Comfyable$73If you cant score tickets to Oasis upcoming reunion tour, then the 30th-anniversary edition of the bands classic debut might be the next best thing. The newly pressed vinyl features a number of songs theyre sure to play on tour, including classics like Live Forever and Supersonic, as well as some unreleased material from the original recording sessions in 94.$73 at AmazonPaper Apps Golf Notebook$8$8Got a valentine who loves to golf? Paper Apps Golf is a pocket-sized game that lets them hit the proverbial green just about anywhere. The 60-page notebook features three randomly generated golf courses, each with 18 holes, along with a brief overview of how to play. Youll need a Pencil dice (sold separately) to hit the ball, but its all pretty simple once you get the swing of it, no pun intended.$8 at Gladden$32Blackwings Volume 71 set pays tribute to renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his Usonian-style homes, which he pioneered beginning in the early 1930s. Each of the 12 pencils is adorned with silhouettes of Wrights perforated boards and features a midcentury palette not to mention premium Japanese graphite and wood, allowing for a silky smooth writing experience. $89If you want to add a bit of retro flair to your valentines work routine, consider setting them up with a glow-in-the-dark mechanical keyboard. Designed by Nephlock, the Classic Glo is a colorful, glow-in-the-dark version of the Classic-TKL DIY tenkeyless keyboard with cool RGB effects and Via support for ample customization. Just dont forget theyll need their own keycaps, switches, and stabilizers.$89 at NovelkeysBaggu Go Pouch Set$40$40Thanks to its colorful assortment of designs and patterns, Baggus Go Pouch Set is so cute youll actually want to keep your bag organized. The set comes with three expandable pouches of differing sizes, allowing you to neatly pack coins, makeup, shoes, and other essentials. The heavyweight, recycled nylon pouches are also machine washable, which is always a plus in our book.Instant Pot Pro$150$150The Instant Pot Pro is the amalgamation of 10 different kitchen appliances. Not only does it function as both a six-quart rice cooker and a pressure cooker, but it also serves as a yogurt maker, a slow cooker, a cake baker, a sous vide machine, a saut pan, and more. Its dead simple to use, too, letting you prepare an entire meal for six with just a couple of ingredients and a few button presses.See More:
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