Gadget gifts that don't end up in a drawer

The failure mode of gadget gifting is buying something impressive rather than something the person will reach for on a Tuesday.

Replace something they already use badly

Everyone has a frayed cable, a dying torch, or a bottle that leaks. Upgrading an existing daily object beats introducing a new one.

Consumables are underrated

Things that get used up create no clutter obligation. Nobody feels guilty about finishing something.

Avoid anything that needs an app

A gift that requires account creation to work is a chore in wrapping paper.

Match the effort, not the price

A cheap thing chosen precisely reads as more thoughtful than an expensive thing chosen generically.