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Buying for a teenager is hard. Get it wrong and the gift sits in a drawer. Get it right and it’s used every day. Headphones, earbuds and portable speakers are the safest bets: they go everywhere, from the school bus to sleepovers. Here are the well-reviewed tech gifts on offer right now that ship to Ireland.
We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Our picks are based on independent expert reviews (linked below) and the manufacturers’ specifications. Prices change often, so each product links to today’s price.
Quick picks
- Best everyday headphones: Sony WH-CH520, light and simple with a very long battery.
- Best earbuds: Sony WF-C510, small, light and easy to use.
- Best noise cancelling: Sony WH-CH720N, great for study and travel.
- For bass lovers: Sony ULT WEAR.
- Best speaker: JBL Flip 7, loud, tough and waterproof.
- Best small speaker: Sony ULT FIELD 1, fits in a school bag.
- For gamers who like building: LEGO Nintendo Game Boy (rated 18+, so best for older teens).
Headphones and earbuds
For younger teens, the Sony WH-CH520 is hard to beat: it’s light, comfortable and the battery lasts for days. If they study in noisy places or travel a lot, step up to noise cancelling with the WH-CH720N. Teens who like big bass will love the ULT WEAR. For PE, the gym or anyone who hates big headphones, the WF-C510 earbuds are a small, easy gift.
Not sure which Sony pair to pick? Read our Sony ULT WEAR vs WH-CH720N comparison.
- 18.6
Sony WH-CH720N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Best for: Commuters
Comfortable, light and easy to wear all day, with noise cancelling that handles buses, trains and offices well. Not flagship-level, but excellent value on offer.
What we like
- Very light and comfortable
- Effective noise cancelling for the price
- Around 35 hours of battery with ANC on
- Multipoint: connect phone and laptop at once
Watch out for
- Plastic build feels budget
- Don’t fold flat for travel
- No LDAC hi-res codec
See today’s price - 28.5
Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds
Best for: Budget earbuds
Some of the best cheap earbuds you can buy: comfortable, great-sounding and easy to use. There’s no noise cancelling and the case feels a bit cheap, but for the money they’re a brilliant gift.
What we like
- Fun, musical sound
- Very small, light and comfortable
- Multipoint: connect two devices
- Physical buttons that work well
Watch out for
- No noise cancelling
- Build feels a bit cheap
- Ambient mode is only average
See today’s price - 38.4
Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones (50-Hour Battery)
Best for: Budget gift
One of the best cheap wireless headphones you can buy: balanced sound, comfortable and a huge battery. There’s no noise cancelling, so for buses and planes look at the WH-CH720N instead.
What we like
- Excellent sound for the price
- Up to 50 hours battery
- Light and comfortable
- Multipoint and Sony app with EQ
Watch out for
- No noise cancelling
- Plastic feel
- On-ear pads can get warm
See today’s price - 48.2
Sony ULT WEAR Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Best for: Bass lovers
Comfortable, feature-packed noise cancelling headphones with big bass at a mid-range price. The bass boost can be too much and call quality is mixed, but for music lovers they’re very good value at this discount.
What we like
- Good overall sound with lots of bass
- Noise cancelling and ambient mode
- Comfortable, sturdy design
- Up to 30 hours with noise cancelling
Watch out for
- Bass boost can overwhelm the sound
- Call quality is inconsistent
- Takes some setup to get the best sound
See today’s price
Portable speakers
A speaker is a great shared gift for bedrooms, the back garden and holidays. The JBL Flip 7 is louder with fuller sound, while the Sony ULT FIELD 1 is smaller and easier to carry. Both are waterproof and dustproof. See our JBL Flip 7 vs Sony ULT FIELD 1 comparison.
- 18.7
JBL Flip 7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Best for: Tough, loud portable speaker
One of the best portable speakers around: big sound for its size, a properly tough IP68 build and good battery life. Skip it if you already own a Flip 6, as the upgrade is modest.
What we like
- Very loud, full sound for its size
- IP68 and drop-proof
- Up to 14 hours of playtime
- Lossless audio over USB-C
Watch out for
- Won’t pair with PartyBoost speakers like the Flip 6
- No USB-C cable in the box
- Playtime Boost reduces sound quality
See today’s price - 28.1
Sony ULT FIELD 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Best for: Tough travel speaker
A tough, waterproof little speaker that goes loud and handles knocks and rain. Audio purists may find the mids a bit thin, but for beaches, gardens and travel it’s a great pick, especially at this discount.
What we like
- IP67 waterproof and dustproof
- Shockproof, rugged build
- Goes loud, with a ULT bass boost button
- Small and easy to carry
Watch out for
- Midrange sounds a little thin
- About 12 hours of battery (rivals can last longer)
See today’s price
For older teens who like retro gaming
The LEGO Nintendo Game Boy is a life-size display model with swappable game cartridges. It’s officially rated 18+, so it suits older teens and young adults who enjoy a longer, detailed build.
- 18.5
LEGO Nintendo Game Boy 72046 Display Model
Best for: Retro gamers
A brilliant nostalgic gift for anyone who grew up with a Game Boy. Fun to build and spot-on in detail, though not a big build for the price.
What we like
- Near 1:1 scale and very accurate
- Two brick-built cartridges (Zelda and Super Mario Land)
- Swappable lenticular screens
- Satisfying, clever build
Watch out for
- Pricey for 421 pieces
- Cartridge labels are stickers
- A bit fragile in places
See today’s price
Tips for buying tech for teens
- Check what they already have. A second pair of headphones is less exciting than a speaker.
- Headphones with volume limits in the app are worth considering for younger teens.
- Keep the gift receipt. Amazon usually extends its return window over Christmas, but check the date on your order.
- More ideas: our budget Christmas gifts and Christmas gift ideas.
Sources: TechRadar (Sony ULT Wear review).
Each product page links the independent review it’s based on.