We know it might seem a little early, but Father’s Day in Australia will be here before you know it, and finding the right gift for your dad can be tricky. Whether he’s a fully-fledged tech-head with a smart home setup, or a little averse to electronics, we’ve got you covered with plenty of practical gift ideas he’ll actually use.
There’s recommendations here to suit a variety of budgets, and something for the dad who appreciates high-fidelity, wants a clever security system or simply enjoys relaxing with a book. Everything below is available online, just make sure you order early enough for it to arrive in time for Father’s Day on September 6!
1. Beats Powerbeats Pro
If your dad’s the active type, consider gifting him the rather stylish Beats Powerbeats Pro. These true wireless earbuds are designed with working out in mind, with a unique and adjustable hook that keeps the ‘buds securely on the ear. These aren’t just made for exercise though – most importantly, the sound quality is up to scratch, warranting them a place as your dad’s all-purpose set of headphones. The Powerbeats Pro also have an IPX4 sweatproof rating and nine hours worth of juice on a full charge, and an extra two charges from the case, each worth about eight-or-so hours. Time to kick dad’s fitness back into gear? Now he can do it in style.
Read our Beats Powerbeats Pro review
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch
There are plenty of smartwatches to choose from these days, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch stands out from the crowd by looking like a sophisticated, classic wristwatch. The rotating bezel is one of its best features, so your dad won’t have to try and navigate his brand-new smartwatch through a touchscreen. The Galaxy Watch also has plenty of fitness tracking features, and a very impressive four-day battery life. This savvy smartwatch works with both Android and iOS phones, though it will play better if you own an Android device.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Watch review
3. Nest Cam IQ Indoor
The Nest Cam IQ is really darn smart. While this rather sweet-looking security camera will look unassuming wherever it’s placed, it’s hiding some pretty impressive power. When it detects movement inside the house, not only will it differentiate between people and animals, it will also identify whether it’s a familiar or unfamiliar face – pretty remarkable. With a 4K image sensor, you can monitor your home in full high definition (1080p), while two-way audio should help in deterring unwanted guests. It’s worth noting that full functionality of this smart security camera will require a subscription fee to Nest Aware. Without one, you’ll only be able to see snapshots of the past three hours. So while the Nest Cam is usable without it, it’s something to consider if dad wants continuous and live video recording.
Read our Nest Cam IQ Indoor review
4. Kobo Libra H2O
If your dad often has his head buried in a book, the Kobo Libra H2O should make for a fantastic gift. It’s comfortable to use single-handed thanks to page-turn buttons and an asymmetrical design, so your dad can kick back and get cosy. The Libra uses the latest E Ink technology, so the 7-inch display imitates real paper and is wonderfully fast and responsive. Kobo’s ereaders also have OverDrive support, which means ebooks can be borrowed from the local public library as well. Oh, and did we mention it’s waterproof? The user interface is also streamlined and intuitive, making the Libra H2O, in our books, one of the best ereaders you can get without spending too much money.
Read our Kobo Libra H2O review
5. UE Megaboom 3
The UE Megaboom 3 is for the dad who wants to enjoy his music both indoors and out. It’s an incredibly rugged Bluetooth speaker, with an IP67 waterproof rating to handle rain, accidental spills, and even a dip in the pool. While it’s portable, it’s also powerful enough to be a go-to home speaker, with a 360° design that pumps out loud room-filling sound. We favour the Megaboom 3 over the slightly smaller Boom 3 because it has better bass, louder volume and a longer 20-hour battery life for a reasonable price – but either will make a great present for dad.
6. Nanoleaf Canvas
To really make your dad’s eyes light up, consider gifting him the unique Nanoleaf Canvas. It’s a set of interactive smart light panels that can absolutely transform a space. The colour on these panels can be adjusted to suit the mood, from playful colours for entertaining to soothing ambient light. Those colours and scenes can be controlled through the app, but they’re also touch- and voice-sensitive, with a touch sending out a mesmerising ripple and colour change effect. While setting up the Nanoleaf Canvas might sound like a tricky task, it’s actually quite easy, and your dad can get creative with the design – the app will help if you need a hand.
Read our Nanoleaf Canvas review
7. TP-Link HS110 smart plug
At first glance, this is a rather unassuming power plug, but it’s a nifty device that can turn almost any appliance into a smart home gadget. You just need to insert the plug into an AC outlet, then connect it to your home Wi-Fi using the companion Kasa app. Once that’s sorted, simple home devices, like an electric kettle, can be controlled remotely. Even their power usage can be monitored through the app. That means you can switch off lamps without getting up, or set on and off schedules for your devices. If your dad accidentally leaves something on while he’s away, he’ll be able to switch it off with a tap on his smartphone from anywhere.
8. Audio Technica AT-LP60XUSB
If he loves his vinyl collection, get your dad an easy-to-use turntable this Father’s Day that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. This deck from Audio Technica is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable, and has a line output so it can be plugged directly into any amplifier. What’s more, this turntable can also convert vinyl records into digital audio files, in case your pop wants to take his music with him while on the go.
9. Oculus Quest
For the gamer dad, the Oculus Quest is a superb piece of kit. If he’s curious about virtual worlds, this VR headset will deliver it right out of the box, no expensive extra equipment required. The set comes with two handheld motion controllers, and it’s completely wireless, so you can really immerse yourself in virtual worlds without fear of tripping over a cable. There are a ton of games available – he can get his hands on a virtual lightsaber and face off against Darth Vader himself, or play puzzle-platform games if that’s more his speed.
10. Kayo Sports
Got a sports-mad dad? A subscription to Kayo will be the gift that keeps on giving. Signing him up to Kayo this Father’s Day will get him almost everything sports-related that’s available on Foxtel for a pretty nice price. That’s over 50 sports live and on demand, plus a bunch of excellent features not available on any other platform. That includes SplitView, that allows you to watch multiple streams at once, and a No Spoilers mode, to ensure you don’t see the scores of the matches you've missed. Kayo offers a 14-day free trial, and after that, a basic subscription costs AU$25 a month.
11. Binge
If your old man’s more into Emmy-worthy drama over sports, then a subscription to Foxtel’s new streaming service is definitely worth a look. It has a huge library of classic HBO TV shows and an impressive movie line-up, and it’s quite affordable compared to a regular cable TV subscription. Binge also offers a free trial for 14 days to new sign-ups, and once that ends, plans start at AU$10 a month for a single standard-definition stream. For AU$14 per month, you can step up to two simultaneous high-definition streams, and hey, that’s not a bad deal if you want to Binge for yourself as well.... we won’t tell.
12. Google Nest Hub
If he’s been curious about a smart home setup but has been worried it might require some elaborate equipment, put your father’s mind at ease and get him the Nest Hub. This smart display is a nice introduction to Google Assistant (if you're not already using it on a smartphone), and it’s intelligent enough to answer almost any question you can throw at it. YouTube is also available, and now so is Netflix, Stan and Foxtel too. So not only can your dad listen to music or follow along to a recipe in the kitchen hands-free, he can even stream his favourite shows and movies while he’s pottering around with other things. There’s Google Photos integration as well, so when it’s not busy fielding queries, this device makes for an excellent digital photo frame.
Read our Google Nest Hub (formally Google Home Hub) review
13. Tile Mate
For the forgetful person who always seems to be misplacing their valuables, a Bluetooth tracker could be just the thing they didn’t even know they needed. Tile make some of the best, and the Tile Mate is the most affordable. It looks like a keychain, and it can easily be attached it to your keys, lanyard or even laptop bag. So next time your dad asks “have you seen my…” he can use the companion app to find it again. The range of the Mate is 61 metres from a smartphone, and the tracker will ring out loudly when you’re near the lost item.
14. Sonos One
If you’re looking to get your dad a smart speaker, why not spoil him with one of the best. Not only is the Sonos One the best-sounding on the market, it has support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That means you can request songs from Spotify, hear the news, set an alarm and get questions answered completely hands-free. The audio really is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, and if you want to elevate it a step further, a second Sonos speaker can create a multi-room setup.
15. Apple TV 4K
For the film buff who wants to watch movies and TV shows in picture perfect quality, the Apple TV 4K is a great gift. To match the brighter colours and richer detail, it also has support for Dolby Atmos sound to deliver a truly immersive experience. It supports the most popular streaming apps including Netflix, Stan and Apple TV Plus, as well as most Aussie TV catch-up apps. You can use the remote to search, or simply ask Siri to find what you’re looking for. We’d strongly recommend this one be paired with a 4K HDR-ready telly, and being an existing Apple user can be beneficial, though not essential.
16. GoPro Hero 8 Black
GoPro’s flagship model is its best offering yet, and it’s ideal for the dad who wants to capture all his adventurous exploits in glorious 4K. It’s image stabilisation is second to none, so all the action from his (mis)adventures will look much better than he might be letting on. There’s unique time-lapse modes as well, and sound quality for video recording has improved over previous models. If you want to make your father feel like a video pro, this is a brilliant buy.
Read our GoPro Hero 8 Black review
17. Nespresso Vertuo Plus
For anyone that craves a shot of caffeine in the morning, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is convenient, easy to use and serves up great-tasting coffee in a variety of flavours. This is a great gift if you’re not interested in grinding your own coffee beans, and prefer the thought of just getting delicious coffee with two touches of a button. It’s a compact machine, so you won’t have to worry about it taking up too much valuable countertop space. It’s one of our favourite coffee machines here at TechRadar, so we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to any caffeine-loving dad.
Read our Nespresso Vertuo Plus review
When is Father’s Day 2020?
Father’s Day in Australia is reserved for the first Sunday in September. This year, it’s on September 6, 2020. It’s a day to celebrate the men who look after us, or have helped us raise children of our own, whether that be our own fathers, stepfathers, guardians, caregivers or partners.
This year, Father’s Day is likely to look very different in Australia. Physical and social distancing are still strongly encouraged, and the traditional gatherings may not be able to go ahead.
Despite all this, we can still take time to make our dad’s feel special. That might mean getting them a gift they’ve long wanted, or a nice surprise with the latest gizmo or gadget. If you’re planning to shop online, we’ve laid out some excellent gift ideas right here – just make sure you order in time to have it delivered by September 6.
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