Last-Minute Tech Gifts Without the Gimmicks

This is a written companion post for Episode 25 of Tek With Josh, where I break down last-minute tech gifts that actually make sense based on real-world use, not hype.

Let’s be honest.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you either forgot to buy a gift, or you bought something and immediately started questioning that decision. It happens every year, and tech gifts are usually where people panic-buy the most.

That’s exactly why Episode 25 of Tek With Josh exists.

This isn’t a list of trendy gadgets or sponsored recommendations. Everything discussed here is based on things I personally use, have spent my own money on, or have real experience with. No gimmicks. No filler. Just tech that fits into everyday life.

Why last-minute doesn’t have to mean low-quality.

The problem isn’t timing. The problem is buying tech without thinking about how it fits into someone’s daily routine. The best tech gifts aren’t flashy. They’re practical, reliable, and still useful months later.

Productivity tech that earns its place on a desk.

Good productivity tech doesn’t scream for attention. It quietly makes work easier, more comfortable, and more efficient.

Power and charging for real life.

Reliable charging has become essential. A good portable power solution isn’t just for emergencies anymore.

Wireless charging that reduces friction.

Wireless charging shines when it removes friction. Drop devices down, walk away, and come back later.

Audio gear that fits different lifestyles.

Audio is personal, but it’s one of the most impactful tech upgrades.

Phones as long-term gifts.

A good phone is about reliability, camera quality, and longevity.

Desk and workstation upgrades that simplify everything.

A well-chosen dock or hub can transform a laptop into a full workstation.

Small accessories that end up being used the most.

Cables and compact tech accessories are affordable, practical, and often the most-used items.

Entry-level creator tech that doesn’t overwhelm.

Good creator gear should work out of the box and grow with the user.

Final Thoughts.

Last-minute doesn’t have to mean last-thought-out.

The best tech gifts are the ones that feel boring on paper but invaluable in real life.

In Episode 25 of Tek With Josh, I go deeper by breaking down my personal tech picks, why I actually use them, and what their MSRP pricing looks like in USD. If you want the exact products and price context, the episode is where that conversation happens.

You can find Episode 25 of Tek With Josh, along with all my podcasts, writing, and projects, at booksbyjosh.com.

Why I’m Not Buying the Samsung TriFold (Even as a Fold Owner)

    After being hinted at and teased for a long time, Samsung finally decided to officially announce its TriFold phone (it only folds twice, which is confusing). If you listened to Tek With Josh, then you would know that I daily use a Z fold 7 as my secondary phone, so will I be getting this? Nope, but it’s not for the reasons you might expect. Let’s discuss.

    The first reason is the price, as of right now, the announced Korean price is a bit over $2400 when converted. Technically, my Z Fold 7 MSRP was $2200 for the 512 GB version, but here’s the kicker: that's the Korean price. We don’t have an international/ US price. A prime example is the OnePlus 15 global version is $900, but the Chinese ROM is $630 on Giztop.com.  Now, don’t get me wrong, Samsung has some of the best trade-in offers in the game, which is why I’m able to upgrade yearly, plus the free storage upgrade is welcome. The thought of spending close to or over $3000 for a phone is insane. For that price, you can buy a folding phone and a tablet, you could buy an S25 Ultra, a Galaxy Book Windows laptop, and a Tab S 11 Ultra, along with a pair of Galaxy Buds. Now I know what most of you are thinking, but Josh, that the purpose of the TriFold is to fit all that in your pocket. Yes, but we all know the saying Jack of all trades, master of none and that's the problem here.

    The phone has two operating modes, one-screen or three-screen mode. Unlike the Huawei Mate XT (their TriFold) allowed you to use it in single screen, dual screen, and triple screen mode. Samsung decided to take a different approach; instead of three screens on the device, there are four screens. They decided not to make any of the flexible screens  the main display, but rather, they made a separate cover display. If you watch the videos about the devices, it is not intuitive to open them. Mr WHosetheboss said it takes twenty minutes for it to become natural, but I don’t buy it. I live in NYC, and riding the train and opening that phone up and trying to use it on a crowded subway car looks impossible. I use my Fold 7 to read while on the train, and I use it mostly open. If I wanted to use a phone that's not open, then I would rather use my 17 Pro Max. By limiting it to those two modes, you are forcing users to use it in tablet mode, which can be too big for certain tasks and can introduce problems with scaling apps. Sure, you can use Dex mode on it in tablet mode, but I never use Dex mode. Everyone I know who has a Samsung phone, never mentioned that they chose Samsung because of Dex mode. Honestly, it’s a niche feature that the average user probably doesn’t even know exists.

    The main problem that I see with the Trifold is that it’s a first-generation product. They might not seem like a big deal, but if you think back to the first-generation Galaxy Fold, it was riddled with problems. I was intrigued by the idea of a folding phone, but didn’t purchase one until the Fold 5 was out. Let’s reference the previously mentioned Huawei Mate CT, the first tri-folding phone and which was plagued with problems. Durability was a main concern, and before you say that the Samsung phone isn’t out yet, in videos, reviewers have scratched the screens already. These are tech reviewers who know how to take care of their devices and have tested other folding phones. This isn’t looking good. Another problem with it being a first-generation product is that it uses the same camera system as the Z Fold 7, which isn’t their top camera system. The main 200MP shooter is okay, but I don’t rush to take out my fold to capture moments. Other than the weaker camera system, it also uses the previous Snapdragon for Galaxy rather than the new, faster Gen 5 one that's found in newer devices like the OnePlus 15. This device costs approximately $3000, and you aren’t getting the best specs. The phone is still using a lithium-ion battery and does include 45-watt fast charging, but still slow compared to the newer phones like the Red Magic 11 pro and OnePlus 15, which charge at 80 watts at have over 7000 silicon carbide batteries. It's not going to last that long or charge back up fast.

    The phone will be a conversation starter and your new tech gadget, but what happens after that wow effect runs out? I don’t see myself getting used to pulling out a trifold and using it to be productive. If I want to use a tablet, I'd rather grab my iPad. A normal folding phone is perfect for me and lets me web browse without issues, and doesn’t give my pocket a giant bulge. Hey, I might be wrong, but only time will tell.

Enjoying this breakdown? Dive deeper on the Tek With Josh podcast — where I unpack topics just like this every week.

→ Listen to the latest episode here.