Gifts for gamers: what to give for Christmas 2026 (guide by budget)

Buying gear for a gamer carries a risk a book or a jumper doesn’t: a mouse with the wrong shape or a keyboard with the wrong layout ends up in a drawer, however good the specs are.

If you don’t know what the person uses, the safest gifts for gamers are the ones that don’t depend on their hand or their computer: a large cloth mousepad, universal skates for the mouse, a pair of IEMs with a microphone (wired in-ear earphones that work on PC, console and phone), a controller for the platform they play on, or a gift card. If you know their setup, a magnetic keyboard with Rapid Trigger, a mouse in the right size for their hand or a DAC/AMP that plugs into a PS5 make a difference from the first match.

We put together more than 30 gift ideas across six budget tiers (up to 30, 50, 75, 100 and 150€, and above that), all products we sell and know. At the end we tell you what never to buy blind and the last order dates for delivery before Christmas.

Summary by budget

In this guide:

• Three questions before you buy
• Gifts up to 30€
• Gifts up to 50€
• Gifts up to 75€
• Gifts up to 100€
• Gifts up to 150€
• Gifts over 150€ and for the gamer who has everything
• Gifts that work even if you know nothing about gaming
• What never to buy blind
• Last order dates for Christmas
• Frequently asked questions

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What three questions should you ask before buying?

If you can get these three answers (from them, from a friend of theirs or from a quick look at their desk), the choice gets much easier.

Do they play on PC or console?

Keyboards, mice and mousepads are mostly for people who play on a computer. On PlayStation, Xbox or Switch, the gifts that make sense are a controller or audio: IEMs with a microphone plug into the 3.5 mm jack on the PS5 or Xbox controller.

Do they use a headset or IEMs?

A headset is the large over-ear type, with a headband and a boom microphone. IEMs are wired earphones that sit in the ear and block outside noise, which helps you hear footsteps in an FPS. If the person has never tried them, a pair of entry-level IEMs is the cheapest way to find out whether they like them (we explain the differences in IEMs vs gaming headsets).

What games do they play?

People who play competitive FPS like Valorant or Counter-Strike 2 value a light mouse, a keyboard with Rapid Trigger and a good mousepad. People who prefer adventure, racing or platformers get more out of a good controller or audio.

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What cheap gifts for gamers are there up to 30€?

This is the Secret Santa tier, for anyone looking for a cheap gamer gift that doesn’t feel cheap. These are things they use in every gaming session, so the gift doesn’t get forgotten.

Truthear GATE with microphone: to try IEMs

A 10 mm dynamic driver with a carbon LCP dome, a balanced tuning and a detachable 2-pin cable with a microphone. It plugs into any 3.5 mm output, including the PS5 controller, so it works for gaming, calls and music on the phone. If the cable breaks, you replace the cable and keep the IEMs.

Who it’s for: someone who plays with the headset that came with the console or with their phone earphones and wants to find out whether IEMs are for them. See the Truthear GATE

KEFINE Loric: more body in the bass

A 10 mm driver with a PU and titanium diaphragm and two magnets, tuned to give impact to the bass without letting it get out of control. The version we sell comes with a 3.5 mm cable with a microphone, which can also be replaced if it breaks. KEFINE is still little known in Europe; we tell the brand’s story in Meet KEFINE.

Who it’s for: someone who likes explosions and electronic music with weight. See the KEFINE Loric

X-raypad mousepad: the gift that almost always works

A mousepad wears out, and hardly anyone replaces theirs as often as they should. X-raypad pads are cloth, with flat stitched edges that don’t bother the wrist, and they differ mostly in how the mouse glides:

• Equate Plus v2 Kiwami: a balance between speed and stopping power. The safest choice if you know nothing.
• Aqua Control Plus: more control, the mouse stops easily. For precise-aim games like Valorant or CS2.
• Aqua Control Plus V2 Bee: the second generation of the Aqua Control Plus, with a cloth that resists sweat better, in a 500 × 500 mm square format. BlackBee and YellowBee editions. It costs more than the others and goes over 30€.
• Aqua Control II: a hybrid, glides faster without losing control. Also comes in XXL, which covers the whole desk.
• Aqua Control Zero: a control pad with a softer base you notice in comfort over long sessions. It costs 1€ more than the others and also comes in XXL.

Who it’s for: anyone who plays on PC with a mouse. Just check the desk has room for an XL size. See them all in mousepads.

ATK Sky XSoft and X83 XSoft: hybrids with a soft base

Two cloth mousepads with a glide between speed and stopping power, on the same 4 mm XSoft base that gives a little when you press down on the mouse: the harder you press, the more it stops. They measure 490 × 420 mm and the edges sit below the surface, so the wrist doesn’t feel a step. They differ in the cloth and the colour:

• Sky XSoft: composite fibre cloth, in several colours.
• X83 XSoft: Special Weave cloth, with a glide that doesn’t suddenly speed up or stop, and a Poron base, a foam that keeps its shape over time. Black only.

Who it’s for: someone who plays at low sensitivity and likes to control stopping with their hand. Anyone coming from a firm-base mousepad may need a few days to get used to it. See the ATK Sky XSoft or the X83 XSoft

X-raypad skates: they fit almost any mouse

Skates are the mouse’s feet, the parts that touch the mousepad. The ones we sell are dots: small pads you stick on the base in place of the original skates, so they don’t depend on the mouse model. With fewer dots the mouse glides faster, with more dots it stops more.

• Jade Air: pure PTFE, 6.5 mm dots, smooth and quiet glide.
• Obsidian Pro Air: UHMWPE with a matte texture, more stopping power for micro-adjustments. Works on cloth and glass.

Who it’s for: someone who already has a mouse they like and wants it to glide like new. We explain what changes between materials in Mouse skates explained.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C: a controller for the PC

Hall Effect sticks and triggers, which read position with magnets and so don’t suffer the wear that causes drift in traditional controllers. 1000 Hz polling wired and wireless (2.4G) and two extra buttons (L4 and R4) you can program. It works on Windows and Android, and there is a Bluetooth version for Switch and Switch 2, which goes a little over 30€.

Who it’s for: someone who plays racing, sports or adventure games on PC, or wants a second controller to play with someone on the sofa. See the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C

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What to give a gamer for up to 50€?

With 20€ more you can get a first magnetic keyboard, a first wireless mouse and a pair of IEMs with three tunings.

KEFINE Klean SV: IEMs that change sound without software

A 10 mm driver with a DLC diaphragm and three nozzles (the tips the sound comes out of) you swap to change the balance between bass, mids and treble. There are two versions: the USB-C one with a microphone plugs straight into laptops and phones with USB-C; the 3.5 mm one is for anyone who already has an audio output or a DAC.

Who it’s for: someone who likes to play with the sound and have more than one tuning in the same pair. See the KEFINE Klean SV

Akko MonsGeek FUN60 Pro HE: the first magnetic keyboard

Magnetic (Hall Effect) switches measure the key’s position instead of waiting for the click. With Rapid Trigger, the key resets as soon as it starts to rise, so your character stops the instant you let go of A or D. The FUN60 Pro adjusts Rapid Trigger down to 0.01 mm, reaches 8000 Hz wired, and the wireless version has 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and a 3000 mAh battery. The difference from a normal keyboard is in Hall Effect vs mechanical.

Who it’s for: someone who plays FPS on PC and still uses a membrane or mechanical keyboard. Note: it’s a 60%, with no dedicated arrows or F keys, and the layout is ANSI (more on that below). See the FUN60 Pro

VXE Dragonfly X3: the first wireless mouse

PAW3395SE sensor, wired, 2.4 GHz at 1000 Hz and Bluetooth connections, and Omron switches. What sets it apart are the two 300 mAh batteries in the box and the magnetic dock: while you play with one, the other charges, and swapping takes seconds. There are two versions:

• X3 Pro: 51 g, solid shell.
• X3 Turbo: 54 g, perforated shell with RGB underneath. It sits a few euros above 50€.

Who it’s for: someone who still plays with a wired mouse and wants to go wireless without spending much. As with any mouse, it helps to know whether the person gets on with the shape. See the VXE Dragonfly X3

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Which gifts for gamers to choose up to 75€?

Three gifts for someone who already knows what they like: a magnetic keyboard with arrows and F keys, a pair of IEMs for games and music, and a controller for Switch and PC.

Akko TAC75 HE: magnetic, with arrows and F keys

75% format: it keeps the F keys, the arrows and some navigation keys in a body only slightly bigger than a 65%. Rapid Trigger adjustable down to 0.005 mm, 8000 Hz polling with 16,000 Hz internal scanning, and Snap Key (SOCD), which gives priority to the last direction key you press. Akko Glare linear magnetic switches and PBT keycaps.

Who it’s for: someone who wants a magnetic keyboard but finds a 60% too short for everyday use. ANSI layout, wired only. See the TAC75

Truthear x Crinacle Zero Blue 2: for gaming and music

Two dynamic drivers, a 10 mm one for the bass and a 7.8 mm one, with tuning by Crinacle, one of the most followed IEM reviewers in the world. With 119.5 dB/Vrms sensitivity, it sounds good plugged straight into a 3.5 mm output. It comes with a 5 Ω adapter that adds a little more bass, and there is a version with a microphone cable.

Who it’s for: someone who wants a single pair of IEMs for games and music, on PC, console or phone. See the Zero Blue 2

8BitDo Pro 3: one controller for Switch, PC and Apple

TMR sticks, magnetic like Hall Effect and drift-free, triggers with a switch that goes from analogue mode (racing) to short-click mode (shooting), and magnetic ABXY buttons that swap places for the Nintendo or Xbox layout. It comes with a charging dock and a wireless adapter.

Who it’s for: someone who plays on Switch and PC and wants one controller for both. See the 8BitDo Pro 3

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Which Christmas gifts for gamers to choose up to 100€?

This is where you find the upgrades a player keeps putting off because they are never urgent: the mouse, the keyboard or the sound they use every day. We grouped them by type of gift.

WLMOUSE Beast G: the same mouse in three sizes

The Beast G comes in three sizes with the same PAW3950HS sensor, the same 8000 Hz polling and the same solid shell, with no holes. It doesn’t remove the need to know the hand size, but it gives you room to get it right:

• Mini: 116 × 58 × 35 mm, 37 g
• M: 122 × 62 × 37 mm, 40 g
• Max: 126 × 65 × 39 mm, 43 g

If the person already uses a mouse they like, measure its length and pick the closest size. If you can’t see the mouse or the hand, choose another gift. We explain what 8000 Hz changes in mouse polling rate.

Who it’s for: someone who plays competitive FPS and already uses, or wants to try, a light wireless mouse. See the WLMOUSE Beast G

ATK Blazing Sky F1 V3 Ultimate+: 37 g with no holes

A compact symmetrical shape and a solid 37 g shell, without resorting to a honeycomb. PAW3955 sensor, 8000 Hz receiver included and optical switches, which work with a light beam and don’t develop double clicks as they wear. The 300 mAh battery lasts up to 300 hours at 1000 Hz.

Who it’s for: someone with a small or medium hand who plays with a claw or fingertip grip. See the ATK F1 V3 Ultimate+

ATK Dragonfly A9 Air Ultimate+: for medium to large hands

The same PAW3955 sensor, the same 8000 Hz and the same optical switches as the F1 V3, in a 125 mm symmetrical shape at 47 g. It’s light without being a compact mouse.

Who it’s for: someone who finds ultralight mice too small for their hand. See the ATK A9 Air Ultimate+

MCHOSE Ace 68 Air: a 65% magnetic keyboard with arrows

For anyone who finds a 60% too short: a 65% keeps the arrows and some navigation keys without taking up more desk. Magnetic switches with Rapid Trigger, actuation adjustable from 0.1 to 3.4 mm, 8000 Hz polling and an aluminium plate with five layers of dampening underneath.

Who it’s for: someone who wants a magnetic keyboard for FPS and also types a lot on the same keyboard. ANSI layout. See the MCHOSE Ace 68 Air

Akko MonsGeek FUN87 HE: the TKL format

A TKL is the full keyboard without the number pad: it has the F keys, the arrows and the whole navigation cluster, and leaves more room for the mouse. Rapid Trigger down to 0.005 mm, 8000 Hz wired and per-key adjustable actuation.

Who it’s for: someone coming from a full-size keyboard who doesn’t want to give up any key other than the number pad. ANSI layout. See the FUN87 HE

Akko 5075 V5 HE: 75% with a volume knob

F keys, arrows and navigation, plus a knob for the volume. Rapid Trigger down to 0.005 mm, 8000 Hz polling, per-key adjustable actuation and a gasket mount with an aluminium plate, which makes typing feel softer. The Akko Hakutaku switches can be swapped for other magnetic switches.

Who it’s for: someone who wants a complete magnetic keyboard for gaming and work. ANSI layout, wired only. See the Akko 5075 V5 HE

Fosi Audio K5 Pro: for PS5 players with a microphone

It plugs into the front USB-C port of the PS5, a PC, a Mac or the Switch, with no drivers, and sits between the console and the headphones. It has two rotary knobs for bass and treble, 1000 mW at 16 Ω and a 3.5 mm microphone input (in USB mode). In practice, footsteps get clearer and the background noise of the controller output disappears. Paired with a GATE, it makes a complete PS5 gift.

Who it’s for: someone who plays on PS5 or PC with wired headphones or IEMs. Note: it doesn’t work on Xbox Series X|S. If you’re not sure a DAC is needed, read Do you need a DAC for gaming? See the Fosi K5 Pro

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What are the best gifts for gamers up to 150€?

In this tier the difference is in the materials and the finish: machined aluminium, carbon fibre, glass and planar drivers.

MCHOSE Ace 68 Turbo: one of our favourite keyboards

A CNC-machined aluminium case weighing 1361 g that doesn’t vibrate or ring. Magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger from 0.1 to 3.4 mm and polling up to 16,000 Hz with the Mount Tai GT switches (8000 Hz with the Gateron ones). It’s configured in a web driver, with nothing to install.

It’s one of the team’s favourite keyboards: the feel and the sound are excellent, and it has a wheel on the left side that switches between Rapid Trigger profiles without opening the software. Handy for going from gaming to typing.

Who it’s for: someone who plays FPS and wants a keyboard for years to come. ANSI layout, 65%. See the MCHOSE Ace 68 Turbo

ATK Blazing Sky Phantom Ultimate: 44 g in carbon fibre

A hollow carbon fibre composite structure at 44 g, with no magnesium. PAW3955 sensor with 850 IPS and two 8000 Hz receivers in the box: one stays by the mousepad, the other in the laptop. Omron optical switches and a 300 mAh battery, up to 200 hours at 1000 Hz (at 8000 Hz it lasts less, as with any wireless mouse).

Who it’s for: someone who already has a light mouse and wants ATK’s top model. Check the shape against the mouse the person uses. See the ATK Phantom Ultimate

Moondrop RAYS: IEMs made for gaming

A 10 mm dynamic driver with a sapphire coating and a 6 mm planar magnetic driver. The USB-C cable has its own DSP, so the EQ is set in the MOONDROP Link app or the online equaliser and stays saved in the IEMs. The microphone cuts background noise with a dedicated chip, and there is also a 3.5 mm connection.

Who it’s for: someone who plays on PC or PS5 and wants IEMs with a microphone that sound good without buying a separate DAC. See the Moondrop RAYS

Fosi Audio IM4: open IEMs for gaming at home

Unlike the other IEMs on this list, the IM4 are open-back: they let outside sound in and, in return, the sound seems to come from further away, as with open headphones. A 10 mm driver with a PU and beryllium diaphragm, an aluminium shell, two nozzles (the aluminium one warmer, the brass one with more presence in the treble, which helps you hear footsteps) and nine tips in three bass profiles.

Who it’s for: someone who games and listens to music in a quiet room. Not for someone who plays with noise around them or needs a microphone, because it doesn’t come with one. See the Fosi IM4

Glass mousepad: Yuki Aim x Pulsar Superglide3 or ATK Lian

Both measure 490 × 420 mm, are 2.5 mm thick and have a silicone base, and they differ in how the mouse glides:

• Yuki Aim x Pulsar Superglide3: aluminosilicate glass with a fast glide, in a special edition with the Yuki Aim design. It’s on pre-order; check the delivery date on the product page before counting on it for Christmas.
• ATK Riffle Lian Yi: tempered glass with the texture etched into the glass itself, so it doesn’t peel. This is the Control version, with more stopping power, designed for CS2 and Valorant.

Who it’s for: someone who already plays on glass or has said they want to try it. If you don’t know, first read what we say about glass further down.

Akko Air 01: the keyboard for work, not for gaming

This one is for the hours away from the game. The Air 01 is mechanical, not magnetic: for gaming we still recommend the magnetic keyboards on this list. For typing all day, the low profile keeps the wrists in a more comfortable position, the chassis is aluminium with a gasket mount and it connects by USB-C, 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth, with a 4500 mAh battery. The layout is Mac and it comes with Windows keycaps.

Who it’s for: someone who games at home and spends the day typing at work, or uses a laptop and a Mac on the same desk. See the Akko Air 01

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What to give over 150€ or to someone who has everything?

Someone who already has a good mouse, keyboard and headphones will appreciate the upgrade they’ve been putting off for months. Above 150€, our pick is audio.

Truthear NOVA: the step up for someone who already has IEMs

A hybrid setup: a 10 mm dynamic driver for the bass and four balanced armatures for the mids and treble, with a three-way crossover splitting the frequencies. At 14.8 Ω and 123 dB/Vrms they sound good plugged into a phone, a controller or a DAC. Detachable four-core 2-pin cable.

Who it’s for: someone who already uses entry-level IEMs, like the GATE or the Zero Blue 2, and wants to hear more detail. No microphone included. See the Truthear NOVA

Fosi Audio K7: the desktop DAC/AMP

AK4493S chip and TPA6120A2 amplifier, with 2100 mW at 32 Ω on the 4.4 mm balanced output and a 3.5 mm output for regular headphones. It takes sound over USB-C, optical, coaxial and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD, so it serves the PC, the console and the phone at the same time. It has a 3.5 mm microphone input and works with the PS5.

Who it’s for: someone who has good headphones, or will, and wants a single device on the desk for everything. If the person only uses IEMs, the K5 Pro is enough. See the Fosi K7

If you want to spend more on another kind of gift, combine two from this list (a mouse and a mousepad, or IEMs and the Fosi K5 Pro) or give a gift card of up to 300€.

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Which gifts work even if you know nothing about gaming?

If you can’t ask the three questions from the start, choose what depends least on the person’s hand and gear:

• A large cloth mousepad, if they play on PC. The Equate Plus v2 is the most neutral on the list.
• Dot skates, like the Jade Air or the Obsidian Pro Air. They fit almost any mouse, because they aren’t cut for a specific model.
• A pair of IEMs with a microphone, like the GATE or the Loric. They work on PC, console and phone. The only caveat: they are hygiene items and can’t be returned once opened.
• A controller, if you know which platform they play on.
• A gift card, which lets the person choose what they want: 10, 25, 50 or 100€, or any amount you like between 20 and 300€, valid for 24 months. See the gift card

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What should you never buy a gamer blind?

Some excellent gifts only work if you get one detail right. If you don’t know it, pick something else from this list.

A mouse, without knowing the hand size

Mouse shape is the most personal choice in a setup. If you can see the mouse the person uses, pick one with a similar length; the Beast G helps because it comes in three sizes. If you can’t, give skates or a mousepad. You’ll find more options in gaming mice.

A keyboard, without knowing the layout

The keyboards on this list are ANSI, the US layout: a horizontal Enter and no extra key next to the left Shift. If the person types in a language with its own ISO layout (German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and so on), accents still work because the typing language is set in Windows or macOS, but the key legends won’t match. We explain it in ANSI vs ISO keyboards. And if the person uses the number pad a lot, a 60% or 65% won’t suit them; see the other formats in keyboards.

A glass mousepad, for someone who plays on cloth

Glass glides much faster and is noisier. Some people never go back and some give up after a day. If you don’t know which side the person is on, stick to cloth; the differences are in Glass vs cloth mousepad.

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What are the last order dates for delivery before Christmas?

Orders placed by 12:00 (Lisbon time) on a working day leave our warehouse in Portugal the same day. After that, the carrier’s delivery times apply, and in December they can slip by up to 48 hours. For the gift to arrive by 23 December, order by:

Shipping is free from 70€ in mainland Portugal and from 100€ in Spain; for other destinations, the shipping cost appears at checkout before you pay. You get the tracking code by email as soon as the order ships.

If the date has passed, the gift card solves it: it arrives by email right after purchase, with a PDF to print and an image to send by message.

Prices change for Black Friday, from 23 to 27 November; each product link always shows the price of the day. People on our newsletter hear about promotions before everyone else.

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Frequently asked questions about gifts for gamers

What if the gift isn’t right?

You have 14 days after receiving the order to request a return. Before sending it, contact us so we can authorise it; the product must be unused, in its original packaging and with all accessories, and return shipping is at your expense. IEMs and other hygiene items can only be returned with the packaging unopened.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

We don’t offer gift wrapping. The order ships in careful, well-protected packaging, but it may reveal what’s inside. If the gift is a surprise, the safest option is to ship it to your own address and hand it over in person. There is also the gift card, which arrives by email and doesn’t spoil the surprise.

Do you have a gift card?

Yes. You choose the amount (10, 25, 50 or 100€, or any other between 20 and 300€), you receive by email a PDF to print and an image to send by message, and the recipient uses the code at checkout. Whatever isn’t spent stays saved until it expires, after 24 months. Buy the gift card

Is shipping free?

It is from 70€ in mainland Portugal and from 100€ in Spain. For other destinations and below those amounts, the shipping cost appears at checkout before you pay.

Will the order arrive before Christmas?

It will, if you order by the dates in the table above. For the rest of the European Union, allow 3 to 12 working days after it leaves our warehouse.

What warranty do the products have?

All hardware has a 3-year legal guarantee. If the gift breaks down, we handle the process with the brand; with purchases from marketplaces outside the European Union, that doesn’t always happen.