Yes, it’s true: Father’s Day in the US is Sunday, June 16. That means you have less than three weeks to get a gift for your old man. But instead of waiting until the last minute, why not plan ahead for once? To help, we’ve assembled some great gift ideas here in the in $51 to $100 range.
All of these have been included after being fully reviewed or anecdotally tested by CNET editors. CNET may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
Anker SoundCore Liberty Air ($80)
Best truly wireless headphones under $100
Sarah Tew/CNET
AirPods and other name-brand truly wireless headphones cost $160 and up. But we found the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air earbuds to deliver solid sound quality at half that price. This model also offers better noise isolation than the AirPods, and it’s available in both black and white.
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Read Anker SoundCore Liberty Air review
Sony MDR-7506 ($80)
For the old-school dad
Sarah Tew/CNET
Wireless headphones are the future, but if your dad is the kind of guy who prefers good old-fashioned cables, the Sony MDR-7506 may be right up his alley. This classic headphone (circa 1991) has a 10-foot coiled cable, a phono adapter — and no microphone. To be clear: It’s a terrible choice for using with a smartphone, and more at home when connected to a full-size stereo receiver. But it sounds sublime.
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Read the Sony MDR-7506 review
Bosch PS31-2A cordless drill ($99)
For the handy dad
Bosch PS31-2A cordless drill ($99)
Spoiler alert: CNET is working on a roundup of 12-volt drills, though we haven’t yet had a chance to finish everything. But so far, this Bosch model is leading the pack over some more familiar competitors from other brands.
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Amazon Echo ($100 or less)
Great smart speaker
Ben Fox Rubin/CNET
Yes, the Echo Dot sells for half the price, but it’s worth splurging on Dad’s special day for the full-size Amazon Echo. In addition to its zillions of smart home functions, this voice-controlled speaker delivers better-than-average sound quality and doubles as a straight-up Bluetooth speaker, too. Oh, and it tells jokes that only a dad can appreciate.
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Read the Amazon Echo (2017) review
Lifetime High Performance Cooler ($97)
One awesome cooler
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
In CNET’s recent roundup of best coolers, we found that this Lifetime High Performance Cooler delivered the best design of the bunch. It’s also tough as nails, and offers a nearly 63-quart capacity. Whether Dad is stocking beer by the summer grill or at an autumn tailgate party, this is a great pick.
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The best coolers of 2019
Google Nest Hub (often on sale for $99 or less)
The best smart display
Juan Garzon/CNET
There are plenty of great Alexa-powered Echo products, but in this price range, we’re loving the Google Nest Hub (formerly known as the Home Hub). The smart display gives you instant access to a world of answers whenever you say, “Hey, Google,” and the device’s lack of a camera makes us feel better about having it in the bedroom. (Note that Google just introduced a larger 10-inch version of this product with a camera called the Nest Hub Max, but that will run you $230.) The retail price of this product is $129, but it’s been on sale throughout the spring for $99 or less.
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Read Google Nest Hub review
Kindle Paperwhite (often on sale for $90)
Best e-reader
Sarah Tew/CNET
Yes, the Kindle app is available for free on phones and tablets. But if Dad’s a book lover, the Kindle Paperwhite beats a phone app because it offers distraction-free reading. Other ways the Paperwhite beats a phone: It’s readable in full sunlight or in a darkened bedroom, it’s fully waterproof and its battery lasts days or weeks, not just a few hours. The Paperwhite normally retails for $130, but it’s often on sale for $90, which is why we’re including it here.
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Read Kindle Paperwhite review
Amazfit Bip ($80 or less)
Best smartwatch under $100
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Fitbit Versa Lite, Galaxy Watch Active and Apple Watch Series 3 cost $159 and up. But if you want to gift a smartwatch with a sub-$100 budget, the Amazfit Bip is your best bet. Despite the low price, it’s got an always-on display, water resistance, heart rate tracking and — most importantly — battery life that blows away the Apple Watch.
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Read Amazfit Bip review
Fitbit Inspire HR ($100)
Best Fitbit under $100
Érika García/CNET
Fitbit has several fitness trackers under $200: the $180 Versa, the $160 Versa Lite and the $120 Charge 3. But in this price category, the new-for-2019 Inspire HR comes in at the $100 price point. The HR is so named because it has always-on heart rate monitoring, and its battery should last up to five days. If you want the name brand cachet and superior smartphone apps, the Fitbit is a good trade-up from the Amazfit mentioned above.
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Read our Fitbit Versa Lite vs. Inspire HR vs. Charge 3 comparison
Roku Streaming Stick Plus ($60 or less)
Best video streamer under $100
Sarah Tew/CNET
Netflix, HBO, Hulu and every other streaming video service under the sun — Roku has it all. This $60 HDMI stick delivers all those channels at up to 4K resolution, and the included remote controls the TV’s power and volume, too. It’s a great gift for grads who almost certainly don’t want a traditional cable package in their first apartment.
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Read Roku Streaming Stick Plus review