Boxing Day Presents 2025: Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Post-Holiday Joy

A small but mighty smart-home starter, the Kasa Smart Plug Mini ep10 fits next to another plug without blocking it and works with Alexa and Google Assistant for easy voice control. In our review, the compact design and low price made it a no-fuss way to automate lamps or holiday lights. Keep in mind it only connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and some users hit setup or firmware snags. Reliability complaints also pop up, including relays failing or devices going unresponsive.

If you want clearer front-porch footage, the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro's Head-to-Toe HD+ video impressed us during our review, and setup in the app was refreshingly straightforward. Our experience shows the battery lasts longer than many battery-powered models, so you'll recharge less often. Just remember video history and some advanced features require a Ring Protect subscription, which adds ongoing cost. We also saw reports of occasional connectivity hiccups with chimes, the app, or Alexa, and the price is higher than basic options.

Upgrading a smart home on Boxing Day? The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium impressed us with its large, crisp touchscreen that’s readable from across the room, plus built‑in air‑quality indicators for VOCs and CO2. Our experience shows it plays nicely with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, though the onboard speaker is weak for music. Air‑quality data is limited and can’t directly automate many actions without workarounds, and the price sits on the premium side versus many rivals.

For power users planning ahead, the TP-Link Deco BE85 brings blistering multi-band throughput and generous wired options - two 10Gbps ports, one 2.5Gbps, and SFP+ - that make it a true Wi-Fi 7 centerpiece. In our testing, setup through the Deco app was painless and coverage felt expansive. Be prepared for a steep price and the reality that some Wi-Fi 7 features depend on future firmware. We've also seen user reports of occasional stability hiccups that may need updates to iron out.

For renters and homeowners alike, the August Wi‑Fi Smart Lock is a handy Boxing Day smart‑home upgrade because it retrofits over your existing deadbolt, so you keep your keys. In our testing, built‑in Wi‑Fi enabled remote access and DoorSense alerts when the door is ajar. Battery life on the two CR123s can be short with heavy use, and some users report spotty Wi‑Fi/HomeKit connectivity and occasional missed auto‑unlocks. Add a keypad later if you want codes, but it’s extra.

If dry winter air is ruining sleep, the LV600HH’s large 1.5–1.6‑gallon tank and warm/cool mist options keep rooms comfortable for long stretches. During our review, the built‑in humidistat and included remote made it easy to set a target and maintain it overnight. Cleaning is more involved than with basic models, and the sensor can misread humidity if placed against a wall. Our experience shows regular maintenance and thoughtful placement deliver quiet, consistent performance worth the slight premium.

Looking to clear the air and stay cool year‑round? During our review, the Dyson TP07’s HEPA H13 plus activated carbon filtration captured fine particles and odors, and it doubles as a quiet cooling fan compared with older Pure models. The premium price is steep, and a few users note intermittent buzzing and jumpy auto modes when the VOC sensor is sensitive. Our experience shows manual fan control and proper placement tame those quirks for a cleaner, calmer room.

For new home baristas, the Barista Express Impress speeds up mornings with an integrated conical burr grinder and assisted 22‑lb tamp that produces a tidy, polished puck. During our review, the PID‑controlled thermocoil heated quickly—ready to pull in about 30–40 seconds—so espresso was never a long wait. Steam power is modest, making back‑to‑back milk drinks slower for latte rounds. Our experience shows the automation limits some puck‑prep flexibility, and time‑based dosing can introduce shot‑to‑shot volume variation.

For serious home cooks, the Vitamix A3500 is a powerhouse that blitzes ice and fibrous produce into silky blends, and the touchscreen with presets makes repeatable results simple. In our testing, it felt built to last, backed by a 10-year full warranty for peace of mind. That said, the price is steep and the base is large and heavy for small kitchens. Also note some Ascent-series containers have been part of an expanded recall, so confirm compatibility and replacements.

This is the classic mixer we recommend for most home bakers: it’s durable, easy to clean, and accepts a wide range of attachments to go far beyond mixing. During our review, the bowl and tools proved genuinely dishwasher‑safe, though the motor can get loud at higher speeds. Our experience shows it can wobble under heavy loads, and the tilt‑head design isn’t ideal for very stiff doughs. If you bake giant batches often, consider a more powerful bowl‑lift alternative.

Feeding a crowd gets easier with Ninja’s 10‑qt DualZone air fryer: two 5‑qt baskets let you cook a main and side at once. In our testing, we found Smart Finish and Match Cook synced different recipes to finish together, and the dishwasher‑safe baskets made cleanup pretty painless. It can be loud on higher settings, and using both baskets may stretch cooking times. Just note the unit’s substantial footprint when planning counter space for this Boxing Day upgrade.

For gaming on the go, the Nintendo Switch OLED makes handheld play look and sound better with a vibrant 7-inch display and clearer onboard speakers. During our review, the wider adjustable kickstand made tabletop sessions with friends far more stable. Battery life is similar to earlier models and can dip with demanding games, so plan on regular charging. And while the price is higher, Joy-Con controllers still aren't redesigned, so drift remains a potential issue to watch.

Parents looking for a worry-free tablet will appreciate the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro's rugged case and two-year replacement guarantee, a combo that held up well in our testing. We found Amazon Kids parental controls and time limits easy to dial in, and storage is expandable via microSD up to 1TB for videos and downloads. Just note the included 9W charger is slow and demanding games can tax performance. Also, app selection is limited to Amazon's Appstore, not Google Play.

Travelers and multitaskers will love the Anker Prime Charger's 100W output, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A, letting you fast-charge a laptop and phone from a single compact brick. During our review, the foldable prongs made it easy to toss in a bag and the power delivery felt snappy. Just note total wattage is shared across ports, so speeds drop when all three are used. It's also a bit heavy and the hinge could be a long-term weak point.

Need extra storage on the cheap? In our testing, the SanDisk Ultra Plus microSD delivered solid everyday transfer speeds and broad compatibility, working smoothly in phones, tablets, and Nintendo Switch. At this price, 128GB undercuts many branded competitors, making it an easy Boxing Day add-on. Just be aware it's a UHS-I card, so peak speeds lag pricier options, and performance can dip after heavy use or when the card is nearly full.

On a tidy nightstand or desk, Belkin's 3-in-1 MagSafe BoostCharge Pro keeps your iPhone snapped in place, while the built-in Apple Watch puck and an earbud pad handle the rest in one compact stand. In our testing, MagSafe alignment was convenient for glanceable notifications. That said, our experience shows earbud charging can be finicky, and some users report units failing after a few months. It also relies on Belkin's included power adapter and won't run from a standard USB source.

Pet households will appreciate the Roomba j7+’s Clean Base, which empties the bin automatically so you handle dust far less often. During our review, its camera-based AI reliably skirted pet messes and small obstacles, and the dual rubber rollers transitioned smoothly from hard floors to low–medium pile carpets. It’s undeniably pricey compared with similarly capable competitors, and some owners report docking or reliability quirks. Our experience shows that factoring potential replacement-part costs and service needs into your Boxing Day budget is wise.

Spills, pet messes, and car-seat disasters are exactly what the Little Green handles well. In our testing, its strong suction and included scrub attachments lifted fresh stains and many set‑in marks, and the compact body is easy to stash in a closet or trunk. The hose can feel short in tight spaces, and truly old stains may need multiple passes. Our experience shows some units can leak at the dirty‑tank gasket, so seat it carefully after cleaning.

Stocking up post-holidays? Our experience shows Energizer Max AA hold up well in flashlights and toys, and the long advertised 10-year shelf life makes them handy for the drawer. They're widely available in multiple pack sizes, so catching a Boxing Day deal is easy. Still, we've seen buyer reports of occasional leaks and inconsistent quality, and some packs ship with older manufacturing dates that reduce usable shelf life, so check packaging dates when possible.

These are the headphones we reach for when we need silence: in our listening, we found the WH‑1000XM5’s ANC outstanding, and the tuning delivers engaging detail with controlled bass and a balanced midrange. Battery life around 30 hours with ANC is great for travel. The trade‑offs are real—this model doesn’t fold inward, the pads can run warm on long sessions, and some users report hinge durability issues. Our experience shows gentle handling and a protective case help longevity.