For a 15-year-old who spends evenings in his room, start with the KODAK Luma projector; the Casio sport wristwatch suits a boy who is always on the move.
*Paid link
Clothing and accessories
A Casio G-Shock sport watch worn on the wrist for checking the time during classes, workouts and weekends without pulling out a phone.
Why we like it
When he bails at the skate park, his watch hits the concrete too, and a shock-resistant Casio G-Shock with a black resin case is a smarter pick than anything dressy.
Its plain sporty look works at school the next day, which keeps it on his wrist all week.
Electronics
A wireless game controller from Microsoft for Xbox play, held in both hands to steer, aim and run through games from the couch.
Named on a list by TODAY Shop (today.com)
Why we like it
Couch games with a friend over need a second controller, since an Xbox comes with just one.
This is Microsoft's own wireless model in plain black, the same pad that shipped with his console, which means both players get the same feel in their hands.
Music
A drum machine for building beats and rhythm patterns, arranging them into loops and reworking grooves while sketching out musical ideas.
Why we like it
Teenage Engineering's pocket operator PO-12 rhythm fits in a jacket pocket and trades the touchscreen of his beat app for physical buttons.
A drum pattern can loop for the length of a bus ride while he hits the punch-in effects and pushes the groove somewhere new.
Electronics
A desktop keypad that sits beside a keyboard, letting someone assign shortcuts for streaming, video editing or music software to individual keys.
Why we like it
Halfway through cutting a montage of gaming clips, a teen who edits videos can jump between tools with a tap.
He already knows the commands he reaches for most, so each can sit on a button near his mouse. He can map a key to add his usual title card and another to render the finished cut.
Electronics
Headphones with noise canceling that hush surrounding sound, letting the wearer settle into music, podcasts or audiobooks without the chatter of a busy room.
Why we like it
Any teen who studies with a playlist going can wear Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones to mute the noise of the house.
His assignments run longer now, and with household chatter tuned out, only his music shares the desk with the work. The history essay he drafts gets finished before the playlist runs out.
(price and availability terms)
$449.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones with noise canceling, white)(price and availability terms)
$449.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones with noise canceling, purple)(price and availability terms)
$449.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones with noise canceling, green)Home
A low floor chair for gaming that sits the player close to the TV or monitor during console sessions at home.
Why we like it
A boy who plays on his bedroom TV gets the X Rocker Eclipse, a floor gaming chair.
He tends to drop onto the rug for long matches, so it gives him a proper seat at that height. When a friend comes over to play, he can offer up the bed and keep his own spot.
Outdoor and sports
Outdoor kit for setting up lawn matches of volleyball or badminton, so a group can switch between a team ball game and a racket sport.
Why we like it
For the sporty teen you have in mind, the Baden Champions net pulls his friends out onto the lawn.
He sets the plans with his crew now, and volleyball handles a crowd while badminton covers a pair. The net becomes the usual meeting point whenever someone texts to hang out.
Games and puzzles
A lighthearted racing board game where players send an odd lineup of characters toward the finish and compete to win the race.
Why we like it
Magical Athlete from CMYK suits a teen who turns every hangout with friends into a contest over who comes out ahead.
His crew keeps score on everything, and a board game of silly runners gives that rivalry a spot on the table. The box comes off his shelf for one more round before friends head home.
*Paid link
A gaming mouse from Razer's Basilisk V3 line, used at a desk to aim, click and steer through computer games.
Why we like it
MMO raids and strategy games pile on more hotkeys than a keyboard hand can comfortably reach.
The Razer Basilisk V3 moves his most-used ones onto customizable mouse buttons, and its ergonomic shape gives his palm somewhere to rest through a long session on his PC.
A mini video projector that casts movies, shows or games from a connected device onto a wall or screen for a larger picture.
Why we like it
A built-in battery frees the KODAK Luma 150 Mini from the nearest outlet, and any blank wall can become his screen, garage door included once it gets dark.
Movies or games from whatever he hooks up to it show up far bigger than a phone ever could.
8Bitdo Xbox wireless game controller
Nintendo Joy-Con 2 game controller pair
PlayStation DualSense PS5 game controller
Why we like it
For a 15 year old with a console of his own, a controller built for it is a gift that slots into the games he already plays.
All you need to know is which console he has.
How to choose
Pick the console they play on.
(price and availability terms)
$99.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Nintendo Joy-Con 2 game controller pair)(price and availability terms)
$74.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (PlayStation DualSense PS5 game controller)A mechanical keyboard that sits at the center of a desk setup, used for typing messages and essays and for playing computer games.
Why we like it
If the teen on your list spends his evenings in online matches with friends, this mechanical board belongs under his fingers.
Schoolwork and gaming share his desk now, so quick commands mid-match and a history paper run through the same keys.
Over-ear headphones with noise canceling that quiets surrounding sound, so music, podcasts and calls come through without the chatter of a busy room.
Why we like it
Beats Studio Pro headphones bring noise canceling to a teen's all-day music habit.
He can swap his usual earbuds for over-ears that shut out the chatter around him. On the bus to school, he plays an album straight through without hearing the engine.
A wireless charger from Apple's MagSafe line that powers up a phone resting against it, making a tidy charging spot on a desk or nightstand.
Why we like it
Apple's MagSafe charger gives a teen whose phone never leaves his hand a wireless charging spot.
At night he rests his phone on it by the bed instead of hunting for a cable.
Earbuds that connect to a phone so playlists, podcasts and videos play privately in the ears, whether at home or on the move.
Why we like it
Sony WF-C510 Truly earbuds give a podcast-loving teenage boy his favorite shows without a cord or bulky headphones.
He pairs them with his phone, and an episode keeps playing while he shoots hoops in the driveway. Nothing tethers him to a speaker, so his shows go wherever he heads next.
(price and availability terms)
$68.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Sony WF-C510 Truly earbuds for everyday music, white)(price and availability terms)
$68.00 at Amazon.com*See price at Amazon.com* (Sony WF-C510 Truly earbuds for everyday music, yellow)An action camera for recording video during sports, outdoor trips and everyday outings, capturing clips to edit and share later.
Why we like it
The DJI Osmo Action gives a teenage angler his own camera for weekend trips out to the lake.
He films each cast and every fight to land a fish, so the catch has proof. His best clip then goes to the friends who doubt every fish story he tells.
Nintendo Switch 2 video game console packaged with the Mario Kart World game, giving something to play right after setup.
Named on a list by CNN Underscored (edition.cnn.com)
Why we like it
Nintendo's Switch 2 gives a teen who loves racing his friends his own console, with Mario Kart World in the box.
Owning the hardware means his races no longer wait on borrowed time with a shared device. The system stays on his desk, ready for the next rematch a friend demands.
*Paid link
An everyday backpack from The North Face for carrying books, notes and daily gear to school, work or around town.
Why we like it
The North Face Jester holds 28 liters, enough for binders, a gym change and lunch when a long high school day leaves no time for a locker stop.
In plain black, it doesn't shout school bag, and it works just as well for plans outside school.
A hooded sweatshirt from Champion to pull on over a T-shirt for casual layering on cool days, at home or out.
Why we like it
Champion's hoodie belongs on a teen who reaches for the same sweatshirt every morning without thinking twice.
He picks his own outfits now, and a familiar brand pairs with whatever jeans he grabs from the drawer.
A cap from the Oakley Tincan line, worn to shade the eyes and top off a casual outfit on everyday outings.
Why we like it
Oakley's Tincan cap finishes the sporty look a teen puts together himself for pickup basketball at the park.
He picks gear by the labels seen around the court, so a sports name outranks a promo hat. Between games, the brim flips backward while he catches his breath on the bench.
*Paid link
A refillable water bottle to fill up at home and carry through the day in a bag, on a desk or beside a field.
Named on a list by Parents (parents.com)
Why we like it
Forty ounces of water in a stainless steel bottle means this Owala FreeSip lasts through a long practice with no trip to the fountain.
Its FreeSip spout gives him two ways to drink: sip upright through the built-in straw, or tip it back for a bigger gulp.
*Paid link
A goal set up on a lawn or field, giving a target to shoot at during soccer drills, penalty kicks and pickup games.
Why we like it
Home from a club match lost on penalties, a teen striker steps outside to shoot at his Franklin Sports Blackhawk goal.
Club sessions stop at the coach's whistle; a target at home lets him keep striking the ball whenever he wants. Its net catches spot kick after spot kick until the one he missed starts hitting the corner.
A laser tag game in which players split into teams, dodge around a yard or park, and take aim to score hits on rivals.
Why we like it
At a sleepover, a teen and his friends can spill into the backyard and choose sides for a battle.
Every hangout with his crew becomes a competition, and Squad Hero laser tag lets each boast get answered with a hit. The set ends up piled by the back door between rounds while the losing side plans a comeback.
A roundnet game set where teams hit a ball down onto a low round net and trade quick rallies outdoors.
Why we like it
The Spikeball Titan roundnet set hands a competitive teen and his friends a fast team game.
He sorts out teams with his buddies, then chases down every ball the other side smashes his way. After school, the set comes out on the park grass for one more match.
A disc golf set for throwing discs down a park course toward each target, counting throws to finish every hole in as few as possible.
Why we like it
This disc golf set hands an active teen a sport he can play on any local course.
It needs no full team, so he can play alone or bring a few friends. After school, he works through the park hole by hole and keeps his own score.
*Paid link
A self-help book by Sean Covey, published as a single volume to read from start to finish.
Why we like it
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey gives a teen boy a practical self-help book.
It suits a student keen on getting organized before exams. He can keep it on his desk beside his planner.
A fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi, published as a single volume to read from start to finish.
Why we like it
Children of Blood and Bone gives a teen fantasy fan a novel by Tomi Adeyemi.
He can read it over a long weekend at home. Afterward, a friend from school can borrow it next.
A manga volume by Tatsuya Endo, published as a single volume to read from start to finish.
Why we like it
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 gives a teen manga fan the opening volume of a series to collect.
He can read it on the bus home from school. Later volumes can line up beside it on his shelf.
A novel in verse by Jason Reynolds that a reader can work through alone and then discuss in class or with friends.
Why we like it
Long Way Down gives a teen boy a novel in verse by Jason Reynolds to finish alone.
It works even for a reluctant reader willing to give poetry a chance. It also makes a strong pick for an English class report.
Yes. The KODAK Luma 150 Mini carries a built-in battery, so it works away from any outlet, and once it gets dark a blank wall or the garage door becomes the picture for the movies or games he plays from whatever device he hooks up to it.
Grabbing the same sweatshirt every morning without a glance is the habit the Champion hoodie answers: a familiar brand he pulls on over a T-shirt that goes with whatever jeans come out of the drawer, at home or out on cool days.
The Apple MagSafe charger gives him a tidy wireless charging spot on the nightstand or desk, where he rests the phone against it at night instead of digging around for a cable.
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Chosen by our team from store data and what readers pick, not hands-on tests. Nothing is paid to be on this list. Recall notices checked . How we pick
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
