Every holiday season, well-meaning coworkers and family members go hunting for “something cool” to give their teams and favorite work-from-home professionals.
And every year, a dreadful amount of that budget turns into… tchochkes that collect dust, take up space, and eventually find a home in a landfill.
This year, you can do better.
Instead of toss-away novelties, think everyday upgrades with the gear that makes video calls clearer, desks more comfortable, travel less chaotic, and security a little less painful.
We handed All Covered’s self-identified gearheads (you know the tech pros who always have the coolest tech gear? That’s them.) one simple challenge:
“If you had to pick the best office gifts that people will use every single workday – and not just for a week – what would you recommend?”
Here’s what they came back with their Good, Better & Best ideas, each with a little expertise about why they love this gear. (Interested in placing an order? Reach out to your All Covered Customer Success team! Not yet a customer? Connect with one of our IT Services Consultants.)
Upgrade Their Remote Work Experience with these best gifts for the home office
Look and sound like you belong in the meeting and not just on the invite.
GOOD: UBeesize Streaming Light (~$34)
That “I look like I’m in a cave” problem? This fixes it. A small, adjustable LED light that clips near the monitor instantly improves video quality. Multiple color temperatures and brightness settings help people look like themselves, even in dim rooms or backlit setups.
BETTER: Soundcore Liberty 4 Earbuds (~$99)
For the person who takes calls from the kitchen, the car, and the line at Starbucks. These earbuds offer solid noise cancelling, good microphones, and all-day comfort. They’re perfect for hybrid workers who don’t want a big headset but still need to sound sharp.
BEST: Logitech MX Brio 4K Webcam (~$199)
Our go-to 4K webcam. The MX Brio delivers sharp, detailed video with excellent low-light performance and AI-powered exposure and color. It’s ideal for anyone who lives on camera.
“The MX Brio is the first webcam I’ve used where people noticed and said, ‘Whoa, what camera are you using?’ It’s that big an upgrade from the built-in laptop cam.”
- Remote Support Engineer
Upgrade Their Security with these best cybersecurity gifts
Because nothing ruins a holiday like an account breach.
GOOD: Apple AirTags (~$75)
Perfect for travelers and the “where did I put that?” crowd. Attach AirTags to laptop bags, gear cases, keys, or anything that moves between home, office, and airports. When something goes missing, they can track it instead of tearing the house apart.
BETTER: YubiKey 5C NFC (~$55)
Hardware-based multi-factor authentication in a tiny, durable key. Instead of juggling SMS codes or authenticator apps, you plug in or tap the YubiKey to securely log in. It’s faster, more secure, and loved by security-conscious users.
BEST: Hardware-Encrypted Portable SSD (e.g., Samsung T7 Shield) (~$189)
Serious protection for people who carry sensitive data. These drives are fast, rugged, and support hardware encryption, making them much safer than random USB sticks and unencrypted external drives. Great for consultants, field engineers, and execs on the move.
“AirTags and encrypted drives are the kind of security upgrades people don’t know they need, until the day they really need them... then they’re heroes.”
- Security Specialist
Upgrade Their Mobility with these best gifts for business travel
Gifts for the gate-A27 regulars and hotel-room office creators.
GOOD: BUDI 9-in-1 Cable/Data Kit (~$20)
One little kit, a lot fewer “does anyone have a cable?” moments. It packs multiple cable tips, adapters, and storage into a compact case. Great for people who switch between laptops, tablets, and phones.
BETTER: Belkin MagSafe Charger (~$80)
For iPhone users, this is equal parts practical and satisfying. It snaps magnetically to the back of the phone and delivers fast wireless charging. Great on desks, nightstands, and hotel side tables.
BEST: Anker MagGo 10K Power Bank (~$80)
The road warrior’s best friend. This MagSafe-compatible power bank sticks to the back of compatible phones and still supports wired charging for other devices. It’s the “I-survived-a-whole-travel-day” battery pack.
“With the MagGo in my bag, my phone doesn’t die on travel days. That alone is worth the price. It’s the difference between ‘I’ll reply later’ and ‘I handled it before boarding.’”
~ Field Systems Engineer
Upgrade Their Workstation with these best office gifts
Because ‘whatever came with the PC’ isn’t a long-term plan.
GOOD: K Knodel Leather Desk Mat (~$13
An instant desk glow-up. Protects the surface from scratches and spills, keeps the keyboard and mouse from sliding, and makes any workspace look intentional instead of improvised.
BETTER: HUANUO Adjustable Monitor Stand (~$36)
Small ergonomic change, big quality-of-life boost. Raises the monitor to eye level, adds storage underneath, and helps reduce neck strain. Once people try it, they don’t want to go back.
BEST: Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard (~$109)
The keyboard our pros keep recommending. Quiet, responsive keys, subtle backlighting, and the ability to connect to multiple devices (like a work laptop and a personal PC) make it a no-brainer upgrade for anyone who types all day.
“MX Keys S is the first keyboard where I thought, ‘Oh, this is what a good keyboard is supposed to feel like.’ My typing speed went up and my typos went down.”
~ Senior Systems Administrator
Upgrade Productivity with these best productivity gifts
Help them work smarter without downloading yet another app.
GOOD: Happiness Heated Smart Mug (~$89)
A simple, joyful upgrade for anyone who enjoys a hot beverage (so... everyone?). It keeps drinks hot through back-to-back meetings and long morning calls. It’s part practical, part morale boost.
BETTER: Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse (~$120)
The productivity mouse. Ergonomic design, ultra-smooth scrolling, side scroll wheel for spreadsheets, programmable buttons, and multi-device pairing. It’s especially loved by people who live in Excel, Power BI, design tools, or big documents.
BEST: Elgato Stream Deck Neo (~$97)
For the shortcut-obsessed and automation-curious. The Stream Deck adds customizable buttons that can join meetings, mute/unmute, launch apps, trigger macros, or automate repetitive workflows – no scripting expertise required.
“My Stream Deck is like a little command center on my desk. Join meeting, mute mic, launch VPN, open my dashboards... it’s all on one row of buttons.”
~ Productivity & Automation Engineer
Upgrade Communication (Remote + Travel) with these best travel-friendly communications gifts
Turn any room into a legitimate conference room.
GOOD: Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse (~$14)
Simple, reliable, and perfect for laptop bags. Not flashy, just solid. It’s the “I forgot my mouse at home” insurance policy.
BETTER: Jabra/GN Portable Speakerphone (~$98)
A huge step up from laptop speakers and mics. Great for hotel rooms, small conference spaces, or shared home offices. Clear audio on both sides makes meetings much less painful.
BEST: Logitech P710e Portable Speakerphone (~$90)
Our tech pros’ travel speakerphone of choice. It’s compact, easy to use, and delivers clear audio in both directions. It’s designed for people who might join their 9 a.m. call from their desk and their 3 p.m. call from a customer site.
“The P710e is the little box that makes terrible rooms usable for calls. I’ve been on professional-sounding meetings from hotel desks, kitchens, even a rental car.”
~ Unified Communications Engineer
Comfort & Just-for-Fun Workday Upgrades that make the best office secret Santa gifts
Because people do their best work when their comfortable in their space.
GOOD: GiveBest Portable Space Heater (~$33)
For the always-cold coworker. Small, portable, and perfect for home offices or that one freezing corner of the building.
BETTER: Oversized Desk Pad (~$20–$35)
Covers most of the desk and keeps everything in place. Great for gamers, coders, and anyone who loves a clean, unified surface. Also helpful when the desk has… seen things.
BEST: Smart LED Desk Strip Light (~$20–$30)
A little RGB goes a long way. Adds a subtle glow behind the monitor or along the back of the desk. Does it technically increase productivity? The jury’s out. But it definitely makes late-afternoon work feel less boring.
“Is RGB necessary? Absolutely not. Does it make my desk feel like a place I actually want to sit for a few hours? Absolutely yes.”
~ Senior Support Analyst
Why Our Pros Chose These as The Best Office Gifts
Our tech pros didn’t pick these items because they’re trendy or cute on a mood board. They picked them because they:
- Use them personally in their own home and office setups
- Deploy them for customers who rely on reliable, secure, and comfortable work environments
- Know which devices survive heavy use and which ones end up in a drawer
These are gifts people will use every single workday, not just the week after the holiday party.
So whether you’re a leader building a gift list for your team or just someone trying to buy a genuinely useful gift for a remote-working friend or family member:
Skip the fruitcake. Upgrade their workday instead.
Did you know All Covered can help you purchase items to keep your workplace running smoothly? If you're a current All Covered client, reach out today to speak to a procurement specialist who will help you find the best fit and the best price for your office.
Not yet a customer? Connect with one of our IT Services Consultants.
Happy Holidays!
