21 cool gifts that teens actually want for Christmas in 2024

The next time they want to record a TikTok or snap a few selfies, they can stick their phone to any mirror, window or smooth surface with this nitfy mount. It has 24 powerful suction cups that'll keep in place, so they can better focus on the task at hand. 

Because #TikTokMadeYouBuyIt. It's more than just another viral TikTok favorite, though: This light-bending toy combines physics and cutting-edge technology to shoot glowing string into an array of illuminated formations. And gift-givers, you'll love that it arrives fully charged and with serval spools of string.

Over-the-ear headphones are a fashion statement of sorts. Soundcore makes some of the most aesthetically pleasing ones on the market, but their quality rivals more trendy headphones (the AirPods Max and Sonos Ace, to name a couple) at a fraction of the cost. They made our list of the best wireless noise-cancelling headphones, with our Senior Tech Writer writing that they "sound perfectly good to my ears" and the "noise-cancelling exceeded my expectations given the price point." 

This Amazon favorite not only looks way pricier than it is, but it makes for an excellent night light — and you'll kind of want one for your own bedroom, too. It even has a remote that your teen can use to make it switch colors.

A novel change from regular old cell phone selfies, older kids and teens will love taking and printing photos from this gadget. The Fujifilm INSTAX Mini comes with film included, so the kids in your life can start taking photos with you right after they open your gift. It’s also great for a tween or teen who has an upcoming event, like a cool class trip or a dance.

Bubble tea, or boba, is trendy with everyone from tweens to 20-somethings. Now they can save their cash and craft the sweet, chewy drinks at home. Amazon's No. 1 bestselling bubble tea kit contains everything needed to make 10 delicious servings of bubble tea, including brown sugar boba pearls, milk tea, fruit tea and straws. 

This portable speaker is a real powerhouse: It's waterproof, has 12 hours of play time and features JBL PartyBoost for multiple speaker pairing. Sure it has crystal-clear sound and deep bass, but the best thing about this speaker is its rugged portability. Plus it's Bluetooth connected and comes in 11 colors. "I've had several portable speakers over the years, and this is by far the best for the money," writes one Amazon customer. "I would more than likely buy it again because it fits easily into my backpack when I travel."

Hey, Gen Xers, take your young adult back to your own teen years with actual paper photos. The sticky-backed photos printed from this wireless compact printer are smudge-proof, waterproof and tear-resistant — perfect to decorate bedrooms, lockers, mirrors and more. Simply connect to the printer via Bluetooth and use the Kodak Step Prints app to print vibrant 2 x 3" photos wirelessly from your teen's phone.

Ask any teen (including your own!) and they'll tell you that Sol de Janeiro makes their favorite scents. Cheirosa 62 is the brand's biggest seller — it's sweet, nutty and as warm as the Brazilian sunshine it was inspired by. Snag this trio of travel-friendly minis, including the cult-favorite Bum Bum Cream, so she can experience the signature scent from head to toe. 

With this Christmas gift, she'll be able to wear her personality on her purse. Dress up even the most basic bag with these clip-on cherries, which rival a similar Coach style that is nearly 10x the price. 

If you wore these plastic claw clips in the 90s, chances are your teen wishes you'd saved them. But fear not, you can grab these flower-shaped ones in various colors and styles, at a price point that makes us think we're actually in the 90s again.

She always insists on carrying a purse — even if it's practically empty. This Lululemon bestseller is just the right size for all of her everyday essentials, plus she an wear it around her waist or across her body for easy access.

Teens love Laneige — and the brand's buzzy lip treatment is the real MVP. The brand claims that one lip mask is sold globally every two seconds, which makes perfect sense given that it earned a coveted spot on Google's Holiday 100 list this year. Get a full-size tub of the bestseller, plus a tube that she can apply on the go. 

If your teen is a Swiftie, they'll probably want to make their own friendship bracelets to swap with friends. This kit includes everything they need to get started: over 5,000 clay beads, clear elastic, clasps, scissors and more.

This glow-in-the-dark football will give them the edge they need in their next nighttime game. Or at the very least, it'll help light their way from kickoff to touchdown. It comes loaded with batteries and ready for play — get 30 hours of playtime per set! 

Flying paper planes are usually a hard no, but this high-tech version is as educational as it is fun. Attach a Bluetooth module to the front of the plane to maneuver it through the skies using the PowerUp app. Planes can fly as fast as 20 mph for 10 minutes straight on a quick charge — that sure beats the old-school method, wouldn't ya say?

Twist, swipe and flick to create unique custom music tracks with this cool handheld device. Kids can upload their favorite music, add sound effects and even record their own voice.

Not only does the Rukus FX mix music, it has an LED light show and over 80 sound effects. "After playing with it for a while, it is so much more than it might appear at first glance," says Byrne. "There’s a lot you can do with it; plus you can record and share what you do, and it’s a natural [activity] for taking videos and sharing those."

Help creative teens express themself with a high-quality art set that includes six black markers and two sepia-tone ones. "As a beginning anime artist, I was in search of a way to darken the lines in my drawings and lessen the number of pencil smudges in them," writes an Amazon reviewer. "Every marker within the packet was well worth the money."

These new Nerf Blasters take laser tag up a notch with the ability to play in the dark — the Laser Vision option illuminates enemy targets. The blasters have a range of up to 300 feet and battery life that will provide up to four hours of play. We love that this set comes with four blasters so friends can enjoy a fierce game of laser tag together.

This No. 1 bestselling roll-up drum kit is a convenient way to create music. The seven pads, variety of timbers and rhythms, and volume control make this a great gift. Plus, it's portable and plays for 10 hours without a charge! 

LED lights have been big on TikTok all year, and these — which pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant — are an excellent way for teens to personalize their space with fun colors, and they're so easy to install (and eventually remove). Even if they don't have a smart speaker in their room, they can control the lights via an app or the remote control that's included.