When it comes to the holidays, gadgets perennially top people's wish lists — and retailers are happy to oblige.
Shoppers will spend an average of $252 on consumer electronics this year, according to a Consumer Electronics Association forecast, with 76 percent of gift-giving adults planning to give a gadget as a present. 
Sorting out the hot items from the ones destined to end up in the clearance bin — or at a garage sale — isn't easy, though.
If you're looking for a perfect tech gift for a friend or loved one, click ahead for suggestions that can't miss. 
Kindle Paperwhite
Suggested Price: $119 to $139
Amazon has a well-established foothold in the e-reader space, but its latest effort is miles beyond anything it has done before.
It offers an incredibly sharp screen, a built-in light for nighttime reading, and for Amazon Prime members, a huge collection of free "loaner" books.
The battery life is equally impressive, with the company claiming a life of eight weeks, assuming a half hour of use per day.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga
Suggested Price: $999 to $1,299
Ultrabooks are going to be hot this year, but with Windows 8, forward-looking gadget hounds are focusing on hybrid models.
Lenovo's Yoga can morph itself into four different forms: a standard laptop clamshell, a tablet, a tent-style (standing on its ends) and an easel (showing the screen to onlookers across the table).
It's flexible and simple to use, and it works just as well as a touchscreen device as it does as a laptop. While pricier than other Ultrabooks, it's one that will turn heads — and future-proof you for a few years.
Wii U
Suggested Price: $300 to $350
Nintendo's next generation videogame system hasn't yet garnered quite as much buzz as the Wii did in 2006 (perhaps because of the confusing similarities of the systems' names), but it's still a big leap forward for the company.
Adding a tablet controller to the Wii's motion controls opens up new areas of gameplay, especially for large groups. And the inclusion of high-definition graphics for the first time lets the company's games shine.
Tagg Pet Tracker
Suggested Price: $100
When a dog runs away, it's stressful for the owners. The Tagg pet tracker is a small system that fits onto your pet's collar and acts as a GPS beacon of sorts when they escape.
All you have to do is press "locate" on your computer or mobile device and the system will show you where Fido is exploring, allowing you to go and fetch him. The system can also be set up to send you — and up to four other people — an alert when your pet escapes.
Lytro Camera
Suggested Price: $399 to $499
There is nothing more frustrating than taking a picture at the perfect moment — only to find out you were out of focus. Lytro cameras solve that problem with a new technology called lightfield capture, letting you shoot first, then focus afterward.
It might sound complicated, but it couldn't be easier: Take your pictures and then import them to your PC, where a click of the mouse lets you choose your focal point.
See the full list: 10 Gifts Gadget Lovers Will Love
More from CNBC:
