Teenage Boys: 10 Best Gift Ideas to Remind Him that You Care

Teenage boys can be inscrutable and unpredictable. This can make finding the right gift for them this Christmas a tricky endeavor.  They’re getting older, discovering what they like and dislike, and quickly outgrowing the toys that once made them happy.

By now, your teenager has fully developed his own interests, be it art, sports, technology, music, science, or a combination of all of the above. While variety does make shopping for gifts less worrying, the wide array of options available to you can be overwhelming.

Of course, you’d hate to buy something that ends up in the back of his closet a month later. The very last thing you’d want is to spend money on something that he doesn’t appreciate at all.

With this in mind, it’s important to take some time to consider what type of gift will bring the most joy and appreciation. After all, that’s what Christmas presents are all about.

10 Awesome Gifts to Give Teenage Boys This Christmas

For our list of the best gifts for teen boys, we have gathered a range of editor’s picks, best-sellers, and some of our own favorites to nurture your teen’s true interests.

Our short catalog includes simple stocking stuffers and big-ticket gifts – gifts for 15-year-old adolescents adjusting to life in high school and 18-year-olds about to enter college.

Whatever it is that you may want, whatever the situation, we’ve got you covered. Below are our picks for the 10 best gifts you can give a teenage boy this Christmas.

1. Wow him with a Kodak Luma 150 Ultra Mini Projector.

The projector is enjoying a resurgence in teenage life thanks to TikTok. Small, cute, and extremely portable, the Kodak Luma 150 Ultra Mini is a small, rectangular pocket projector, less than an inch tall and 3.9 inches on each side.

The Luma 150 can project photos and videos stored on a microSD memory card or USB thumb drive. The device can also mirror a computer, phone, or tablet’s screen over a wireless or HDMI connection.

The image quality is decent for a projector of its size. Given its price, our only gripe is that the projector’s low brightness limits useful image size, particularly when there is ambient light. Still, we’re sure your teenage boy will love it.

2. He’d get a kick out of an X-Float Levitating Shoe Display Stand.

Some teenage boys own one pair of sneakers they prize so much they won’t even wear them. If your teenager owns such a pair, we’re sure he’d get a kick out of X-Float’s Levitating Shoe Display Stand.

This floating display will let your teenager display and show off his favorite footwear with what might seem like straight-up sorcery. The built-in LED lamp provides a fantastic, futuristic impression, as well.

This display uses a magnetic field to make a shoe levitate and rotate itself 360 degrees. The stand will accommodate any low-cut US Size 13 shoe that weighs up to about 550 grams.  

3. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Speaker is a go-to gift for teenage boys.

Bluetooth speakers are a go-to gift for teenage boys. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is our best overall pick in the products in its category. The speaker is easy and simple to set up and has a great sound to boot.

The Wonderboom is small — about the size of a coffee mug. But no, it won’t break quite as easily. Ultimate Ears says you can drop this speaker from up to 5ft without any concerns about damage. Of course, we would recommend a bit more care.

That said, our own Wonderboom has been thumping music out for quite a while now. It has taken a considerable beating since we purchased it but it still sounds fantastic. We’re sure it will withstand anything your teenager throws at it.

4. Your teenage artist would love a MYNT3D Professional 3D Pen.

If your teenager is a budding artist, he’d certainly appreciate the novelty and fun that the MYNT3D Professional 3D Pen offers those who are inclined to creative endeavors. 

With this pen, your teenage boy can take his drawings off the page and create a 3D world all his own using a medium he probably hasn’t had a chance to use that much.

MYNT3D is one of our favorite 3D pen manufacturers. Unlike those of other questionable companies, MYNT3D’s flagship Professional 3D Pen is built to last and features a thoughtful and accommodating design that any artistic teenage boy would appreciate.

5. He’ll jump for joy when he sees his new PEAK Lou Williams Streetball Master.

Sports gear makes an awesome gift for teenage boys. The PEAK Lou Williams Streetball Master has been among the big surprises in the basketball sneaker industry in recent years, and it’s made for teenage boys just like yours.

The Chinese company, PEAK, which endorses NBA players like Tony Parker and Shane Landry, manufactured these sneakers for balls played on asphalt or concrete. This explains why the outsole of the Streetball Master is thick and solid, with a deep traction pattern that wears nicely outdoors.

We wouldn’t say that this sneaker’s design is as over-the-top and flashy as others out there, but it does look great. And, given the quality of these sneakers, you can’t beat them for the small dent it makes in your wallet this Christmas. But do make sure you get his shoe size right!

6. Engage your teenager’s curiosity with a Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box.

This little puzzle can be twisted and flipped into more than 70 different shapes. The puzzle then becomes how to turn it into a cube again!

Designed as a 3×3-inch cube, the Shashibo is, in fact, made from 24 different triangular segments that snap together and rotate in relation to each other.

This ingenious, deceptively simple-looking apparatus uses a system of internal magnets. The results are simply stunning. The cube bends and folds in ways that will excite, bewilder, and absolutely amaze him. 

7. Give him an Adidas Alliance Sackpack II.

While the Adidas Alliance Sackpack II is something a teenage athlete would appreciate, we say this pack is good for anyone who carries a lot of gear around. It’s perfect for teenage boys who need a bit of extra storage for shoes or clothes.

With two water bottle pockets and a zippered outside drop pocket – it has all the value you’ll want in a gift.

You secure the main compartment of the pack with drawcords which double as straps so you can carry it over your shoulder. You can also sling it across your back as you would a backpack. 

8. Get your teenager a Hydrodream 3D Moon Lamp for Christmas.

Just about every teenage boy is looking to add a little bit more magic to his life, especially these days. In fact, he’ll probably prefer the whimsical over the practical – particularly when it comes to decorating his room.

This is why we think the Hydrodream 3D Moon Lamp would make an excellent gift for a teenage boy this Christmas. The lamp comes with a remote-control device that allows you to dim the light, or make it as bright as you want.

The built-in 500mAh polymer lithium battery gives this lit moon about 8 to 24 hours of energy – which should be ample. One customer reviewer calls it a “great mood lamp” and notes that “it changes colors.” He bought two.

9. Keep him warm and happy with the Xikezan Knit Bluetooth Beanie.

If you live in a part of the world where it gets cold around Christmas time, then you probably want your teenage boy to wear his beanie. If so, then you’ll both love Xikezan’s Knit Bluetooth Beanie.

This beanie will keep your teenager warm while he listens to music. The wireless chip built into the beanie will sync with any enabled device up to 33 feet away.

The beanie comes with a built-in microphone, too, so your teenage boy can take hands-free calls while listening to his playlists.    

10. Light up his Christmas with a Blisslights USB Starport Star Projector

The BlissLights USB Starport star projector creates a fun way to see and create lights that are comparable to deep space imagery and stars, albeit not scientific. Your teenager can use it to light up a movie night, a party, or to sleep under the stars whenever he wants.

This USB Starport gives the creative user control over the colors, speed, patterns, and lasers thanks to its app functionality. The device plugs right into a laptop, phone charger, battery pack, or USB outlet – no extra equipment is required.     

The laser is Class 2, which is considered safe for normal operation, provided you don’t stare into the beam. The projection coverage is up to a substantial 30 x 30ft, which we think is quite impressive.

Show your teenage boy that you care.

The teenage years are a special time of life. They are a time of growth and exploration, and a time of learning and discovery. There is no doubt that finding the right gift for a teenage boy can be a challenge. We hear you – and we know teenagers are notoriously difficult to please.

But that’s all the more reason to search for a gift that shows just how much you care. While teens can be fickle and picky, they’ll appreciate a thoughtful gift more than they’re likely to let on.

Whether you’re looking for something practical, whimsical, or meaningful, we hope you can find the perfect gift for your teenage boy in the list above. Just remember, understanding his interests and preferences is key.

Is there a specific gift you think your teenage boy would like to receive this Christmas? Tell us about it in the comment section below.