MEGATech Guide to Father's Day Gift Ideas

Believe it or not, Father’s Day is only two weeks away. If you want to show your pops some appreciation and you want to avoid the stereotypical gifts of yet another necktie, wallet or flask (you are the reason he drinks), then you might consider a few more tech-oriented presents for your dear old dad. So, just as we did for Mother’s Day, here is our guide to some geeky gifts for Father’s Day.

The Roku 3 Streaming Media Player ($84.49) offers a lot more than you might think. In some ways, it can turn just about any TV into a “smart” TV with access to hundreds of different streaming channels, including plenty of sports and comedy. There are some new features like Roku Search that make it even more convenient to find movies on services like Netflix too.

The little black box sure offers a lot of terrific entertainment, but do you know what is the single greatest feature on the Roku 3 compared to other devices in the Roku lineup? The smart wireless remote (which isn’t infrared so it doesn’t need line of sight) has its own headphone jack. What this means is that when dad wants to watch yet another episode of Married with Children in the wee hours of the night (while drinking that brewsky, no less), he can do so without bothering anyone else in the house. It’s automatic and it’s awesome.

Speaking of headphones and an awesome listening experience, the Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset ($99.99) is, dollar for dollar, one of the best headsets you can find on the market today. It is decidedly geared toward gaming, as you can imagine a product from the HyperX line would be, featuring 7.1 surround sound for those epic first-person shooters and action-adventure games. At the same time, it’s also incredible for movies and music too.

In the glowing review by Futurelooks, we discuss not only the great styling of the Cloud II headset, but also its great performance across a variety of genres and usage scenarios. The included USB sound card really adds an extra level of aural enjoyment to the mix and it can even be used with earphones and headphones other than the Cloud II. I’ve got the gunmetal version myself and I think it’s terrific, but I think the red looks even better.

The ZTE Grand X Plus ($200.00) represents one of the best things about the world of Android smartphones these days. Yes, we can all lust after the flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S6, but it can be hard to justify the higher price point when you might not be getting three or four times the value out of the thing.

This Father’s Day, if your dad is in need of a new and reliable smartphone but he’s not terribly interested in getting something all that fancy, surprise him with this affordable number from ZTE. In our MEGATech review, we commented just how capable this phone is, especially given the $200 outright price (or $0 on contract). It’s the perfect first smartphone for the Luddite of a dad who has continued to use “dumbphones” up until now.

The PowerCurve Mini Mobile Surge Protector ($24.99) solves several problems all at the same time. If your dad has to travel for work, then he’ll know that one of the biggest frustrations with many hotel rooms is the lack of accessible power outlets. I know it’s a common problem for me.

With this handy little surge protector, you get a couple of USB charging ports (for a total of 2.1A), plus two rotating AC outlets to best accommodate the larger plugs that your father might have. Around the back, the plug folds flush in with the body of the surge protector for ease of travel. It’s also important to note that the plug on the back is oriented such that the PowerCurve Mini is used sideways, keeping the second wall outlet available for more power and charging needs too.

The Rode NT-USB Condenser Microphone ($169.00) is the perfect gift for dads who want studio quality sound in a package that’s straightforward and comprehensive. It’s perfect for all of those daddy podcasters, for example, or any of the dads who like to record their jam sessions too. Coming from Rode, you know you’ll get some amazing quality.

Have a read through Jeremy’s review for a closer look at this USB microphone that’s clearly a step above what its affordable price point may indicate. It even comes with a slew of accessories, like the tripod stand, pop filter and ring mount.

Check out the photo gallery below for more pictures of the items listed in this gift guide. What are you getting your dad for Father’s Day?