Father’s Day gadget gift guide 2021: 15 top buys for all budgets to suit dads who play, work, cook

From cheap smartwatches and PS5 gadgets to coffee-makers and earbuds, we’ve got gift giving covered for Father’s Day.

There’s just over a week until Father’s Day but there’s still plenty of opportunities to bag Dad a thoughtful gift.

With millions of Aussies in lockdown, many presents will be snapped up online this year and delivered straight to the family home, even if adult kids can’t visit.

Retailers say that’s naturally inspiring gift-buyers to think of tech gifts and ways to make staying at home more interesting.

eBay Australia spokeswoman Sophie Onikul says one of the biggest Father’s Day sellers this year involves upgrading the home theatre experience.

“It might not be a normal Father’s Day for many this year but tech is top of the list,” Onikul says.

“Projectors are great for dads who love to recreate the cinema experience at home and eBay data shows they’re fast becoming a lockdown staple, up 115 per cent year-on-year.”

Other big movers include fitness trackers, food machines and personal grooming gadgets, she says.

Leighton Corr with sons Houston (left) and Ryder Corr (right).

Sydney father-of-two Leighton Corr endorsed the trends, saying he’d appreciate a gift that would benefit the whole family.

“Anything that can make looking after yourself easy, like a good set of trimmers or clippers, will be helpful for busy dads and, last but not least, a good Father’s Day present should be one the whole family can benefit from, like a waffle-making machine for a family breakfast,” he says.

We’ve rounded up the top 15 Father’s Day tech gifts – from $20 to $1000 – to ensure every dad is covered.

IDIGITAL FITNESS WATCH $20

This inexpensive watch will track your steps, calories, sleep and heart rate. It promises to power on for five days on a charge, connect to Apple and Google phones, and deliver SMS and call alerts. rejectshop.com.au

The Fitness Watch from Idigital.

PLAYSTATION 5 MEDIA REMOTE $49

The Sony PlayStation 5 Media Controller lets users control playback and access TV streaming services from their game console.

If your dad has already scored a Sony PlayStation 5, this little bit of tech could make it even more useful. The Media Remote delivers quick access to the gaming console’s media smarts, including apps such as Netflix and Spotify, as well as volume and playback controls. harveynorman.com.au

MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP GO, 12.4-INCH, $998

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4-inch is a budget-friendly laptop.

From binge-watching shows to playing games, this laptop could be a dad’s definitive source of entertainment. It’s also ultra- lightweight, secured with a fingerprint scanner, and available in four colours. harveynorman.com.au

MOMENT NORTHPAK RUGGED CAMERA SLING 6L, $150

The Moment Northpak Rugged Camera Sling can safely store mirrorless cameras and lenses.

Whether your snap-happy dad wants to take a mirrorless camera, small drone, or just lots of smartphone camera accessories on the go, this sling bag can pack them in and keep them secure. It also features a water-resistant exterior for hikes. tryandbyte.com.au

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB A7 LITE $188

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is the company's low-cost tablet.

For dads who want to upsize their smartphone screen, Samsung has created an 8.7-inch, inexpensive and lightweight version of its Android tablet. The new Tab features dual speakers, space for a memory card, and fast-charging. harveynorman.com.au

2 BREVILLE CRISP CONTROL WAFFLE MAKER $64

Breville Crisp Control Waffle Maker is a big seller for Father’s Day, eBay Australia says.

For the foodie dad. Creating six heart-shaped waffles at a time, this little appliance is simple to use so the kids can help out in the kitchen.ebay.com.au

JBL CHARGE 5, $200

The JBL Charge 5 is a water-resistant speaker.

Outdoorsy fathers who want to take their tunes on the road – and keep their phones charged – may appreciate the latest speaker from JBL. It features dual bass radiators and a tweeter for detailed sound, a battery equipped for 20 hours of sound, and a body built to survive water and dust. jbl.com.au

BOSE SPORT EARBUDS $219

Tech Guide: Bose Sport Earbuds (Myer)

These rugged, wireless earbuds will let dad catch up on a workout or chill to his own playlist. The Bose noisemakers are sweat-resistant, feature touch controls, and come with wing tips to keep them in place. myer.com.au

PHILIPS ONE BLADE PRO $69

No need to rely on filters for that important Zoom call with the Philips electric shaver that will help style and trim any beard. ebay.com.au

3 MOPHIE SNAP+ WIRELESS VENT MOUNT $90

The Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount is designed to keep Apple iPhone 12 handsets secure in a car.

For dads with one of the latest Apple iPhones, this could safely secure their handset in the car while also ensuring it keeps charging and can deliver turn-by-turn navigation as needed. The Mophie gadget uses a MagSafe mount. jbhifi.com.au

4 LAVAZZA A MODO MIO SMEG CAPSULE MACHINE $299

For the domestic barista, this machine delivers the precise amount of coffee, water pressure and temperature so dad can create the perfect early-morning beverage. thegoodguys.com.au

5 APPLE HOMEPOD MINI $138

Apple’s smallest smart speaker can blast tunes and answer questions.

Apple’s smallest smart speaker can do everything from blasting dad’s favourite songs to making phone calls and solving homework problems. If you ask Siri, the speaker will also play dad jokes. officeworks.com.au

6GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS
A-SERIES $159

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series is a lower cost version of its earbuds.

The tech giant’s latest earbuds are more than $100 cheaper than their premium predecessors but the A-Series buds are quick to connect, deliver noise-reduction, touch-sensitive playback controls, and five hours of tunes on a charge. store.google.com/au

7 BELKIN STAND & PLAY POWER                BANK $90

Tech Guide: Power Bank and Stand Play (jbhifi)

Whether dad is keen on playing games or watching movies on his smartphone, this portable power gadget can assist. It features a flip-up stand that will keep the handset at a comfortable angle while recharging two devices at once. jbhifi.com.au

LOGITECH G923 TRUEFORCE RACING WHEEL, $600

The Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE Racing Wheel can deliver vibration during racing games.

For fathers who are serious about racing games, Logitech has created a racing wheel and pedals that can connect to Xbox and PC, or a PlayStation 4. The wheel features a leather finish and vibrates with feedback for the driver. jbhifi.com.au

LOGITECH G923 TRUEFORCE RACING WHEEL $600

The Logitech G923 TRUEFORCE Racing Wheel can deliver vibration during racing games.

For fathers who are serious about racing games, Logitech has created a racing wheel and pedals that can connect to Xbox and PC, or a PlayStation 4. The wheel features a leather finish and vibrates with feedback for the driver. jbhifi.com.au

Originally published as Father’s Day gadget gift guide 2021: 15 top buys for all budgets to suit dads who play, work, cook