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Away The Carry-On

 & Chandra Steele Senior Features Writer

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The women in your life could undoubtedly use a gift that makes their lives easier, and you would probably rather not drive to the mall. Luckily, these tech-savvy gifts are all available online.

Style and function are top of mind here. There's a chic and sleek activity tracker, a suitcase that keeps her connected, an all-seeing assistant, and a drawing tablet of a different feather. Let's shop. (Be sure to check out some top gift picks for men, too.)

Away The Carry-On

She might not be going anywhere right now but for when she does, The Carry-On from Away looks like ordinary luggage but it's packed with features. There's a built-in battery that can charge her phone multiple times, which ejects to meet TSA regulations. The exterior is made of light but unbreakable polycarbonate, and there's an interior compression system.

Felix Gray Lovelace Blue Light Glasses

Felix Gray makes glasses that filter blue light and this cat-eyed pair named after Ada Lovelace is pretty much universally flattering.

Sega Toys Homestar Flux Home Planetarium Star Projector

Give her the moon and 60,000 high-definition stars with this planetarium projector from Sega. It comes with over 30 discs for different views of the sky and has a shooting star function.

Kikkerland Mini Folding Book Light

If you prefer physical books, this tiny folding Kikkerland book light is a welcome travel companion. The mini LED charges via USB.

Modern Sprout Smart Growhouse

It seems like everyone is into plants these days, particularly if they also provide food. The Modern Sprout Smart Growhouse has full-spectrum LED lights and is app-enabled to let her grow leafy greens and herbs to supplement meals or just pretty flowers and succulents to add happiness to a room.

Pinch Provisions Tech Kit

Pinch Provisions makes mini kits that fit many needs. This one handles tech emergencies with a 2-in-1 charging cable, wall charger, cord wrap, earbuds, and phone or tablet stand. If she'd benefit more from stepping away from the screen for a bit, there's the Digital Detox Kit to prevent even stolen glances at a phone.

Amazon Echo Show 8

She can of course talk to Alexa with the Amazon Echo Show 8, but also family, friends, and co-workers since it now supports Zoom. The 8-inch screen handles video calls, plays her favorite shows, makes for a mess-free way to cook along with videos, and is an easy way to oversee a smart home. It's an Editors' Choice.

Kindle Paperwhite

There's a new chapter in the life of the Kindle Paperwhite. The latest version is waterproof, has a pleasing backlight, and an attractive flat-front design. For the price, this is the best Kindle yet, and our Editors' Choice.

Ember Smart Mug 2

Every sip is perfect with the Ember Smart Mug 2. She can use the Ember app to keep her beverages at her preferred temperature from start to finish.

iskn Slate 2+ Digital Drawing Pad

With the iskn Slate 2+ Digital Drawing Pad, she won't have to choose between using her favorite drawing instrument and paper and having her work saved digitally. It comes with a slate to clip a piece of paper to and a ring that attaches to a pen or pencil to transfer drawings to computers, phones, or tablets via Bluetooth or USB.

Vistefly Plant Monitor

If her succulents (or any other plants) are suffering, the Vistefly Plant Monitor can give them a pickup. It senses sunlight, moisture, temperature, and the health of the soil while also providing tips for optimal growth.

The Penny from Scottevest

The Penny Coat will keep her warm this winter and she won't have to worry about carrying a bag since it's lined with an ingenious system that holds 19 items. She won't worry about losing her keys because they're attached to a keychain, her sunglasses are always at hand with a leash and attached cleaning cloth, there's a clear touch pocket so she can store and operate her smartphone, a pocket big enough for a tablet, and plenty of places to stash lipstick, money, and more.

Easkep LED Nail Lamp

She can handle gel manicures herself at home with the Easkep LED Nail Lamp.

Fitbit Charge 4

The Fitbit Charge 4 is more than a fitness tracker, it's a lifestyle accessory. Aside from its robust fitness functions, it handles smartphone notifications, shows the forecast, has calendar alerts, and can even be used for tap and pay, making it an Editors' Choice.

Yevo 1 Wireless Earbuds

Everybody is wearing the same white AirPods on Zoom these days. These 1More Stylish True Wireless In-Ear Headphones make a more subtle statement.

HP Sprocket Select Photo Printer

Why keep all those photos in a phone? Give her the HP Sprocket Select so she can print them out. It makes glossy 2-by-3.4-inch stickable, customizable snapshots wherever, whenever because it's nearly as small as a smartphone.

Cuyana Tech Caryall

Her commute might not be as far as it once was, but the Cuyana Tech Carryall is useful anywhere. It keeps a laptop, charger, cable, and more all together.

Mahli Himalayan Salt Sunrise Alarm Clock

The sun rises and sets each day but it hits a little different with the Mahli Himalayan Salt Sunrise Alarm Clock, which displays the time and temperature and awakens her with a natural sunrise effect.

PopWallet+ Rose Gold Lutz Marble

Add functionality to her phone case with the PopWallet+ Rose Gold Lutz Marble. It attaches easily to add a pocket for cards and a way to prop up her phone.

Bandolier Sheila Pyramid Embossed Crossbody

Her phone can get some sparkle and some extra functionality with the Bandolier Sheila Pyramid Embossed Crossbody. A compartment holds cards and cash and the design means she needs just one item when she goes out.

Sonix Beyond UV+O3 Sanitizing Box

She can drop her phone and small accessories in the Sonix Beyond UV+O3 Sanitizing Box to get rid of germs.

Kodak Luma 75 Pocket Projector

Movie nights are an at-home affair now and the Kodak Luma 75 Pocket Projector makes them more fun. Pair it with a portable projector screen to recreate that theater feeling. (Here are our favorite outdoor projectors for those in warmer climes.)

Lexon Mino L Speaker

The Lexon Mino L Speaker sounds as good as all other Lexon speakers but it has a little something more going for it and that's by design. Its look is inspired by Miami Art Deco and is the work of designers Andrea Quaglio and Manuela Simonelli.

Holiday Gift Guide

For more ideas, check out PCMag's full holiday gift guide.

About Our Expert

Chandra Steele

Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My Experience

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Making incomprehensible tech news easy to understand
  • Expanding the boundaries of topics covered in the industry
  • Figuring out tips and tricks in apps and on devices and letting you know about them
  • Putting together gift guides for everyone in your life 

The Technology I Use

All that gadgets is gold for me: my iPhone 11 Pro, my fifth-generation iPad that I use only for streaming videos and music, my iPad mini 4 that I like to take with me whenever I carry a bag that can fit it, and my MacBook Pro. Why are they all different shades of gold, though? What’s going on, Apple? 

None of them quite live up to my two past loves: my LG Lotus LX600 phone and my Sony Walkman NW-E005 MP3 player. 

I've never given up wired earbuds so I was ahead of all those trend pieces. I use a Mangotek Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect them to my phone. 

I have had so many ebook readers, but I prefer paper to them all. Still, my Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for traveling or when I’m too impatient to wait for a book to be released in paperback.

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