Father’s Day 2017: 10 High-Tech Gifts Dad Will Love

Advertisement

Mark June 18 on your calendar, if it’s not already circled. That’s Father’s Day 2017, the day when we celebrate dads and everything they do.

10 High-Tech Gifts Dad Will Love for Father’s Day 2017

Source: Shutterstock

Picking the perfect Father’s Day gifts can be a little tougher than it sounds. Ties are the old standby, but they don’t go over quite as well as they did in the 1950s. Today’s dads are often into technology — especially where tech intersects with other interests like enjoying music, watching a big game or playing a big game.

To help you out, we have some suggestions, vetted by a tech-loving dad. Our 2017 Father’s Day gift guide has 10 high-tech gifts, one of which is sure to make any dad’s day.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: LG B6 OLED 4K HDR Smart TV

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: LG B6 OLED 4K HDR Smart TV

Source: LG

Let’s start this list of high-tech gifts off with one that assumes you have a sizeable budget. Maybe dad has been extra special this year.

LG Display Co Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:LPL) is known for making some of the best big screen TVs out there, and the company is an industry leader with OLED technology. The $1,999 B6 OLED 4K HDR Smart TV is the most affordable in LG’s current lineup, but this 55-inch TV ticks off a lot of boxes.

It has an eye-popping OLED display panel, 4K resolution and supports HDR for incredible contrast. This TV will make watching the big game with dad something to look forward to even more, while that display will make nature documentaries come to life.

It also has “smart” technology, including LG’s webOS 3.0 so dad can mess around with apps to do cool things like watch Alphabet Inc’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG) YouTube or stream from his Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) account.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Sony PS4 Pro

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Sony PS4 Pro

Source: Sony

Video games are some of the best gifts for dads, and if your father is still playing on a vintage Xbox 360, it’s time for an upgrade. The PlayStation 4 Pro from Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) is as good as it gets these days.

Sony is winning this generation of the console war, outselling the Xbox One by a two-to-one margin. That means more exclusive games for PlayStation owners.

The PS4 Pro ups the ante with native 4K support, HDR and the ability to play VR games with the optional Playstation VR headset.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Revogi Smart Lightstrip

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Revogi Smart Lightstrip

Source: Brad Moon

We all know that dads like to putter around the house. Most have a never-ending series of home improvement projects on the go.

The Revogi Smart Lightstrip is an inexpensive gift that makes it easy to add LED lighting to any space. A 10-foot roll retails for under $50. Just cut off the length you need from the spool, stick it to the surface with the integrated adhesive tape, plug it in and connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone (iPhone or Android).

Without the need for hubs or wiring, dad gets smart LED lighting wherever he wants it. The Revogi Smart Lightstrip can change colors on demand and even pulse in time with music. It can be programmed on a schedule, flash for alerts and he can control it from an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Apple Watch.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Libratone Q Adapt Wireless Headphones

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Libratone Q Adapt Wireless Headphones

Source: Brad Moon

If your dad is still rocking a pair of wired headphones or worse, using the freebie buds that came in the box with his smartphone, Father’s Day 2017 is the perfect excuse to upgrade him to premium wireless headphones with the Libratone Q Adapt.

I reviewed a pair of these headphones a few months ago, and they’re an easy recommendation. They’re wireless (obviously), with premium audio, 20+ hour battery life, adjustable active noise cancellation, touch controls and minimalist design.

He’ll think they’re great and you won’t be embarrassed to see him wearing them in public.

At the time of publication, Libratone was offering a nice $50 price cut just for Father’s Day (plus no sales tax and free shipping), so you can get dad a great gift and save some cash.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Cork Speaker

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Cork Speaker

Source: Brad Moon

The Cork Speaker is one of those high-tech gifts that seems like a novelty, but soon proves to be deeper.

It’s a tiny Bluetooth speaker integrated into a battery-powered device that’s essentially a bottle stopper. The driver uses the bottle as a speaker chamber.

Every bottle you use the Cork Speaker with produces a different sound. It’s far from audiophile territory, but it’s entertaining moving the Cork around to see whether Led Zeppelin sounds better playing through a wine bottle or a bottle of rum.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: New Microsoft Surface Pro

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: New Microsoft Surface Pro

Source: Microsoft

Parents, including many fathers, end up juggling their careers and family life. This can mean having to work from home on occasion — which is better than having to stay late at the office, but still often means lugging around a laptop.

Many dads would appreciate an upgrade that does double duty and is a lot lighter to carry around. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) just released a new Surface Pro that would fit the bill nicely.

It’s a tablet, so it can be used instead of an iPad for casual web surfing, streaming video and updating social media. But, it’s also a full-fledged Windows 10 PC, with the new 7th-generation Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) Core processors, so dad can run any Windows software he needs on it.

Microsoft also boosted the battery life to an impressive 13.5 hours. The new Surface Pro weighs just 1.69 pounds for easy carrying and starts at $799, making it more affordable than many laptops.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Crosley C20 Turntable

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Crosley C20 Turntable

Source: Brad Moon

Many dads have a hoard of records sitting in milk crates in the garage or basement. They gave up vinyl when music went digital, first with CDs and then streaming.

But, vinyl is now cool again. I had one of the first evaluation units of the new Crosley C20 turntable, and this is an outstanding option for those looking to up their vinyl game. Dad will appreciate the high quality components, including an S-Shaped tone arm with Sapphire bearings from Pro-Ject, an acrylic platter and Ortofon OM10 cartridge. The craftsmanship is evident as soon as you see the genuine zebrano wood veneer.

A Crosley C20 turntable for Father’s Day will let dad be on top of the latest trend, and his record collection will sound better than ever.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Husqvarna Automower

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Husqvarna Automower

Source: Husqvarna

One of the best gifts you can give dad for Father’s Day 2017 is the gift of time with the Automower from Sweden’s Husqvarna (ADR) (OTCMKTS:HSQVY).

The Husqvarna Automower is a robotic lawnmower. It has app connectivity with GPS tracking, so it can be remotely stopped or started if needed, but once set loose on the yard it does its thing and cuts the grass perfectly, avoiding obstacles.

The Automower is battery-powered so there’s no noise or emissions, it can handle steep slopes and it’s even equipped with an anti-theft system.

With the Husqvarna Automower cutting the grass for him, dad has some free time to play records, watch TV or find new places to install smart LED lighting strips.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight

Source: Brad Moon

If your dad is big on gadgets, he’s going to love the Goal Zero Torch 250 flashlight.

This is a lot more than an everyday flashlight. It uses a series of LEDs for multiple operating modes, including the traditional “flashlight,” a floodlight and red flashing emergency light. There’s a built-in hook to hang it, and the body is angular so it can be propped securely in different positions.

The Torch 250’s battery can be recharged using USB, integrated solar cells or by using the built-in hand generator.

Dad can even plug in a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet to top up his battery. When it comes to flashlights, it doesn’t get much more high-tech — or useful — than the Goal Zero Torch 250.

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Libratone ZIPP Nordic Black Wireless Speaker

High-Tech Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017: Libratone ZIPP Nordic Black Wireless Speaker

Source: Libratone

Libratone doesn’t just make a good pair of wireless headphones, it’s my current favorite for premium, multi-room wireless audio as well, with its ZIPP speakers.

ZIPP offers premium audio (100 Watts with multiple drivers including a 4-inch woofer and 360-degree sound), removable CoolWeave fabric covers in a variety of colors, and support for multi-room audio — up to 16 speakers on a network.

Unlike competitors like Sonos, the Libratone ZIPP supports Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi for streaming. And, with a built-in 10-hour battery, dad can pick a ZIPP up and take it into the garage or onto the deck for music wherever he wants it.

The latest addition to the ZIPP line-up is the ZIPP Nordic Black, which should appeal to any dad. And, like the Q Adapt headphones, Libratone is offering a Father’s Day 2017 discount on the speakers.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

More From InvestorPlace:

Brad Moon has been writing for InvestorPlace.com since 2012. He also writes about stocks for Kiplinger and has been a senior contributor focusing on consumer technology for Forbes since 2015.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2017/05/10-high-tech-gifts-dad-will-love-fathers-day-2017/.

©2024 InvestorPlace Media, LLC