Dec 19, 2020 7:00 AM

19 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for the Truly Desperate

Breathe. This year is almost over, and you still have time to find gifts for your loved ones.

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How is it December already? The holidays are here, looming above and demanding you buy gifts for your loved ones within the next week or so. It's … a lot.

But it's OK. It's not your fault. We get it. Everything is crazy right now, and our sense of time is completely out of whack. That's why we've compiled this list of gift ideas just in time for you to save the holidays. All the retailers we've selected have two-day or expedited shipping, and these picks should arrive before December 25, though that's not guaranteed. Whether you're buying for people in your home or the ones you have to keep at a distance this pandemic season, let these picks spark some ideas for what to get them.

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Photograph: Apple
Long Distance Communication
Apple iPad Mini (7.9-inch, 2019)
As we discussed in last week's Gadget Lab, we're predicting that tablets to let long-distance families keep in touch will be very popular this year—especially since Apple offers next-day delivery, scheduled courier delivery, and same-day in-house pickup. The iPad Mini is the tablet of choice to keep in touch for many families. For more ideas, check out our gift guide for distanced moms and dads.
$399 at Apple
$399 at Amazon
$364 at Target
Photograph: Outdoor Research
A Thoughtful Mask
Outdoor Research Adrenaline Sports Face Mask Kit
We also mention that face masks are a quick, fun gift that doesn't cost very much and will probably be useful in the upcoming months. We have a lot of mask options we've tried and loved, but this one is available through Nordstrom with expedited delivery. If your loved one is tired of going running with lightweight synthetic masks flopping, try this one, which holds the mask off their face.
$29 at Outdoor Research
$29 at Nordstrom

Photograph: Joseph Shin
Bangin' Buds
1More ColorBuds
Wirefree earbuds have drastically improved over the past few years. They're easy to pair with little to no Bluetooth disruptions, have long-enough battery life to get through most listening sessions, and they won't drain your wallet. All of those reasons are precisely why we love the 1More ColorBuds. They're small and will fit most ears, the earplug-like sound blocking will cut ambient noise down, and they sound great for the price. Read our review for more details. Now that a lot of folks are working from home, good earbuds will make everyone's lives a little easier.
$70 at Amazon
$70 at Newegg
Photograph: DJI
Smooth Moves
DJI Osmo Mobile 4
For the budding filmmaker, or really just anyone looking to get a smooth, clean take, this lightweight gimbal lets them capture glorious video with their smartphone. It’s foldable, has a magnetic grip, and gets 15 hours of battery life. It may be pricier than its predecessor, but it’s still affordable for a gimbal. Read WIRED writer Scott Gilbertson’s review here.
$149 at DJI
$149 at Amazon

Photograph: 1Password
Safety First
1Password Pro (Password Manager)
Yes, you really should be using a password manager, and so should your giftee. It will let your loved one simplify and secure their digital life. They can consolidate all their accounts in one place and easily generate and save robust passwords for their many, many logins. There are a bunch of password management options out there, but 1Password is our top overall pick. Just make sure this is something your giftee will actually use, so they don't wind up with all their sensitive passwords stored in a service they won't pay for after a year.
Buy at 1Password
Photograph: Atlas
Repeated Caffeination
Atlas Coffee Club
Gift subscriptions are a great last-minute gift option. Atlas Coffee Club is our favorite coffee subscription for single-origin beans. They also roast it right before shipping, which means your giftee will get more flavor from every cup. You can also schedule for it to be delivered every 2 or 4 weeks.
$14 at Atlas (12 Oz)

Photograph: Braun
Drinks for One
Braun MultiServe Coffee Machine
We're all alone in our houses—why do we need to brew more than one cup of coffee at a time? It’s hard to deny the convenience of a Keurig, but Keurig pods produce mountains of waste in the form of landfill-bound K-Cups (and no, even the ones the company says are recyclable can’t really be recycled). Enter the Braun. This high-end machine alternates between a full pot and a single cup with ease and doesn’t leave any plastic waste behind. Oh, and it’s also been certified by the Specialty Coffee Association.
$170 at Target
$160 at Amazon
Photograph: Primula
Afternoon Delight
Primula Burke Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Or perhaps your giftee prefers the convenience of having a jug of java in the refrigerator, quickly accessible during that afternoon slump. This pitcher makes it simple to brew a big batch of cold-brew coffee. They can just put some ground coffee into the filter, add water, and let it sit for a day. If they’re more of a tea person, we also like this classy Primula teapot and some delicious loose leaf tea.
$32 at Amazon
$23 at Walmart

Photograph: KiwiCo
A Kids' Gift Subscription
KiwiCo Kiwi Crate
Most small children get overwhelmed with presents around the holidays—it's easy for even a spectacular present to get lost in the pack. With a kids' gift subscription, you'll look like a genius as timely small packages arrive month after month. The Kiwi Crates are consistently one of our favorite gift crates for a wide variety of age ranges, with carefully curated activities that require minimal adult supervision.
$24 at KiwiCo
Photograph: Olive and June
Spruced Up Nails
Olive and June Manicure in a Box
In the absence of hair salons, facials, and massages, painting your nails is a fast, easy way to take care of yourself and still stay safe at home. Olive and June's nail polishes have big, wide brushes and a tool that makes it exponentially easier to do them alone without help. The prices vary, but these boxes come with a variety of tools and polishes to choose from. For more at-home grooming options, check out our guide.
$80 at Olive and June

Photograph: Tushy
A Butt Washer
Tushy Classic
Bidets had quite a moment this year. As many people panic-stockpiled toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic, others turned to a more civilized method of posterior hygiene. They've come a long way from the intricate setups of yore. This one has customized pressure and angling, and it helps cut down on the amount of TP needed. Nothing says, "I love you more purely than you can imagine" like a device for keeping their heinies clean.
$69 at Amazon
Photograph: Squatty Potty
Butt Comfort
Squatty Potty Toilet Stool
Scratch that, we lied. There is actually one device that can demonstrate even more clearly how much you care about someone, and that's the Squatty Potty. Everybody poops, and there's a good chance it's not always pleasant. A squatty potty is a funny gift that's good for a laugh, but it can be really helpful. It fits right around the toilet and helps you mimic a squatting position, which reduces the bend in your colon. Squatting is how our ancestors did their deed. Everything goes a little smoother with a squat.
$25 at Target
~~$27~~ $25 at Amazon

Photograph: Amazon
A Less Messy Desk
Oxo Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
Do you have a work spouse? Want to give them a slightly passive-aggressive gift? This is one of WIRED writer Louryn Strampe's favorite cheap gadgets, and a necessity as we've all adjusted to working from home (and eating snacks, lots of snacks, at our desks or kitchen tables). Push out the microfibers and use them to clean out the crumbs from the keyboard. We also have plenty of other gift ideas for people you like but don't know very well in our Under $25 Gift Guide.
$10 at Amazon
COURTESY OF SUPERGIANT GAMES
The Best Game
Hades
So many people got into gaming this year as a fun activity that's easy to do at home. This beautiful brawler was a huge hit at the WIRED (virtual) office and in the gaming world at large. It’s a colorful, creative hack n’ slash dungeon crawler with roguelike elements. (If those gaming terms mean nothing to you, just know that this thing is fun as hell.) You can gift it directly on Steam if your person is a PC gamer. There’s not a great way to gift games on other platforms, but luckily there’s an easy workaround …
$48 at Amazon
$40 at Walmart

Photograph: Impex
Or Any Game
Valve Steam Store Gift Card ($50)
Yeah, technically these are just gift cards, but they’re also a great way to tell your loved one, “I recognize that you are a gamer and I am OK with that because I love you.” The link below is for Steam if they're a PC gamer. But you can get various denominations from Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
$50 at Best Buy
Photograph: Roku
Endless TV
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Is your grandma still stuck watching broadcast? Introduce her to the joys of Frankie & Grace or Broadchurch with this little dongle, which is still our favorite streaming stick. It plugs right into a TV’s HDMI port and picks up a solid Wi-Fi signal. They’ll get a clear 4K picture and the thousands of apps available on Roku (including the big ones like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and HBO Max). If you’re interested in getting more specific, here’s our guide to picking the best Roku player.
~~$50~~ $39 at Amazon
$50 at Walmart
$60 at Best Buy (Headphone Edition)

Photograph: Instant Pot
Meal Help
Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt. 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker
Is it even a gift guide without an Instant Pot? Say what you will about these ubiquitous devices, but families who have been cooking every meal, every day, for the past eight months will appreciate all the help they can get. Channel the pressure of last-minute shopping into this pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and slow cooker—all in one. You can make just about anything in these pots by merely clicking a preset button. For more ideas, check out our guide to planning and cooking meals in quarantine.
$60 at Amazon
Photograph: Spotify
Unlimited Music
Spotify 3-Month Gift Card
If you're really out of time, you can't go wrong with a Spotify subscription. You can buy your music-loving pal six months of premium Spotify for $60. Unlike Apple Music, it works with every phone, tablet, smart speaker, and computer. You can buy digital gift cards from places like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and even PayPal. Your giftee can redeem them here.
$30 at Target

Photograph: JESSICA CHOU
The Best Gift
1 Year of WIRED for $5!
Are we suggesting you buy a WIRED subscription for your friends, family, neighbors, and the coworker you barely know whose name you drew for Secret Santa? Yes, we are! For $5 (discounted), you get 12 print issues of the magazine and unlimited access to the website with no ads at all. That money helps fund the kickass journalism (and actual product testing) we do here—and no one needs to know you only spent $5 on their gift.
Buy at WIRED

Boone Ashworth is a staff writer on the WIRED Gear desk, where he also produces the weekly Gadget Lab podcast. He graduated from San Francisco State University and still lives in the city. Currently, he has opened too many browser tabs.

Staff Writer

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