Best holiday gift ideas for teens

What do teens want for holiday gifts? Electronics, of course. We've compiled a list so you can start making your list. And we threw in a couple of non-electronic gifts for good measure. Don't forget to browse further for more information about each product.

Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas & Guide over the coming weeks. You'll find all of our gift recommendations and shopping advice, including tips on ways to save.

Stuck on what to get everyone else in the family? Check out our gifts ideas for moms, dads, grandparents, and kids.

Laptop: Toshiba Satellite L75 B7240 ($725)

Because of its very good performance, this Toshiba Satellite can replace a desktop computer while providing all the benefits of a laptop. All the entertainment a teen needs is built in.

Tablet: EVGA Tegra Note 7 ($200)

This tablet is an excellent performer at a great price. Great for playing games with demanding graphics!

For additional information on tablets, check our buying guide and Ratings. Also take a look at our computer buying guide.

Printer: Brother MFC-J870DW ($150)

Teens do have to print from time to time, despite their over-reliance on screens. And although this model prints pages of text with only good quality, it does so quickly and cheaply. It also uses very little extra ink to maintain the print heads, so you save money too.

Headphones for every budget

Bose QuietComfort 20i ($300)
Our top in-ear, noise-canceling model delivers very good sound quality and excellent active noise reduction. Very portable. Comes with a shirt clip and a carrying case.

Monoprice Noise Canceling Headphones ($100)
Excellent noise reduction and very good sound for a fraction of the price of similarly performing models. Also, the over-ear style keeps your teen's death metal from escaping into the room.

Denon Music Maniac AH-C50MA ($50)
A cheaper alternative, though not noise canceling: Very good sound, inline remote with integrated mic for use with cell phones and tablets, and a cool app you can download that lets you create and store custom EQ curves for music stored on the phone.

Gaming console: Sony PlayStation 4 ($400)

This one's for real gamers—very powerful, with its graphics processor and fast memory. It focuses on social gaming aspects buy enabling the user to share clips and stream video of gameplay.

Before you buy, broswe our buying guides for TVs, home theater systems and sound bars, headphones, streaming media players and services, and video game consoles.

Smart watch: Pebble Steel ($200)

Perfect for a teenager, this versatile smart watch works with iOS or Android. Coool factor: It's an open-source platform, so you can find many innovative apps (or teens with know-how can write their own apps).

Learn more about activity trackers and smart watches.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix S810c ($350)

Unlike most cameras, this wireless, Wi-Fi-enabled model will stand out from the pack for most teens. It runs Google's Android operating system (version 4.2.2), which few other cameras do. This lets you customize the camera's features. For example, download photo apps from Google Play and post photos directly to social networking sites. The 3.7-inch touchscreen LCD is extremely large for a point-and-shoot camera.

Consult our digital camera and camcorder buying guides before your shop.

Seltzer maker: SodaStream Revolution ($200)

We haven’t tested seltzer makers, but the SodaStream Revolution has several impressive features and is sure to keep your fizz-loving teen hydrated. Update from the linked information: The SodaStream Revolution is now available in many retail stores.

Single-cup coffeemaker: Starbucks Verismo 600 ($160)

A die-hard fan of both Starbucks and the single-serve coffee experience will appreciate this model. In our tests, first- and second-cup delivery were speedy, and each cup was of uniform size. The selection of Starbucks capsules is also so far limited, though this might suffice if your teen likes the Starbucks existing offerings.

Consumer Reports serves up all the information you need for selecting a coffeemaker and food processor. Also check our buying guides for coffee and juicers.

Car: New or used?

The mother of all gifts for a driving-age teenager. If you are so inclined to give a new car as a holiday gift—if not holiday, birthday, and Valentine's Day combined—consult the Consumer Reports guide to best new cars for teens. It includes 21 good options that are safe and reliable, ranging in price from $14,000 (Chevrolet Sonic Sedan, lowest trim level) to $39,000 (fully loaded Acura TSX). Other cars on the list include Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Forester, Toyota Corolla, and more.

Of course a used car is always a great option for a teenager's first set of wheels. The Consumer Reports guide to best used cars for teens includes 42 recommendations for vehicles that don't skimp on safety. Our list includes such models as Chevrolet Equinox (V6, 2010-2012), Honda Accord (4-cyl., 2008-2012), Volkswagen Jetta (2009-2010), and many more.

Don't forget the insurance. Our car insurance buying guide helps you find the best company at the right price.

More from Consumer Reports:
4 terrific electronics products you can actually afford
How to choose long lasting tires
Top mattress brands and retailers

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.

n