Hardware Gifts for Gamers: Top Choices for 2023’s Holiday Season!

Choosing gifts for the holiday season is hard. Especially if you're buying a gift for a gamer. Sure, you could splurge on an exciting new game or two, but do you know for a fact that your favorite gamer doesn't already own a copy? We'll have a game gifting guide ready for you soon, but today, we're all about choosing hardware gifts for gamers. Y'know, the sort of stuff you can actually physically grab and interact with!

We're going to go over some of the obvious pieces of gaming kit, but also a few niche offerings that you might not have even heard about. And hey, if you're lucky enough to be able to splurge on an RTX 4090, by all means - it's a safe bet. For all of us regular mortals, though, the goal is to keep things somewhat reasonable, and with that in mind, we've kept the hardware on this list rather affordable overall!

Of course, if you'd like to keep things neat, simple, and just about impossible to mess up, you may wish to consider getting a version of the Xbox Game Pass instead of anything shown off below. That's a good choice, too, albeit a very safe one, too.

So, if you're in the market for something a tiny bit more exciting, let us move on!

READ MORE: Top 100 PC Games: The Updated 2Game List for 2022

Top Hardware Gifts for Gamers: The Ultimate Shortlist

As we suggested above, this section of the article is separated into distinctive hardware gifting categories. Stuff is pretty simple, in general. Does your gamer need a new keyboard? Check that section! Does your gamer need a mouse? Check that section, instead. Something more exotic? Oh, we've got some of that, too. No dawdling, then: let's roll up our proverbial sleeves and get going! Here are all the featured categories:

• Keyboards
• Computer Mice
• Headphones
• Ergonomics
• Exotic Gear

Keyboards as Hardware Gifts for Gamers

Is your gamer still using a generic, uninteresting board for gaming and typing? Well, we won't judge, but the mainstream has certainly moved on from using overdesigned red and black click-clack keyboards willy-nilly. Thankfully. The good news, then, is that there's a truly monumental selection of truly impressive keyboards to choose from. And, sure enough, it can get expensive if the person you're gifting ends up thinking of custom keyboards as a hobby, it doesn't have to be! Here are some excellent choices for you to consider!

Keychron Keyboards

Keychron has, over the years, established itself as the go-to brand for those who want customizable, beautiful, and affordable mechanical keyboards. It's hard to single out a single product because there's an immense variety to choose from, but the company provides top-notch quality and fast shipping across the board.

Ducky Keyboards

If Keychron is a baseline, Ducky is the slightly more premium choice of the two. A bit more of a lifestyle brand, Ducky fires on all cylinders no matter whether you choose one of their boards or mice. The only potential problem is that you may need to find a local shop to purchase a Ducky board, for example.

Razer BlackWidow V3 (in Pink)

Razer peripherals have been a gamer's mainstay for a long while now, and its BlackWidow in its V3 iteration doesn't leave any performance on the table. In fact, if you're looking for a top-notch pink version of a gamer board, this may be the way to go. Not particularly cheap, mind you, but rather excellent regardless.

Logitech POP (in Pink)

Here's something weird and delightful! If you've been looking for a stellar keyboard with round keycaps, the Logitech POP boards may be the way to go. They can be found pretty cheap in a variety of color schemes, and the pink one, in particular, stands out as a unique and beautiful option for those who have slightly more eclectic tastes.

Computer Mice as Hardware Gifts for Gamers

Mice are, much like keyboards, a crucial yet deeply personal accessory. Do you go wired? Do you go wireless? How on earth could you possibly choose the right quality mouse for your gamer? Well, we've got a few options for you to consider, and it's hard to go wrong with any of them!

Logitech G305

A legend in its own right, the G305 has been a trusty gaming companion to gamers from across the globe. Featuring a top-notch wireless sensor that offers effectively instantaneous input transition with an absolute minimum of input lag, it's a perfect choice for gamers who want classy, reliable gear more than anything else. Rather cheap, too!

Logitech G-PRO

Another Logitech mouse this one is a higher-end solution for higher-end gaming. Over the years, G-PRO has effectively become the go-to option for eSports participants, meaning that it's virtually impossible to go wrong with it. Note that it is a tad more expensive, and it doesn't necessarily offer a better bang-per-buck than the G305 does.

Glorious Model O

Voted by Eurogamer to be the finest gaming mouse on the market in 2022, the Glorious Model O is, indeed, phenomenally performant. It's a wired mouse that's been designed from the ground up to deliver the ultimate gaming experience. Lightweight, customizable, and rather neat to look at, this may be the best choice for the largest subset of gamers. If you're in need of a wireless gaming mouse, though, tough luck.

SteelSeries Rival 3

Should money be a concern, SteelSeries has got your back. Rival 3 is a lightweight, ergonomic, RGB-enabled gaming mouse that comes with particularly reliable mechanical switches and a stellar tracking sensor. All contained in a sleek, neat-looking chassis that comes at a low price!

Headphones as Hardware Gifts for Gamers

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (Wireless)

SteelSeries strikes again, this time with a top-notch set of headphones that will satisfy every profile of gamer. They do come at a premium price tag, but audiophile gear is expensive by default, and it's hard to argue with the quality of sound delivered by Arctis Nova Pro. And hey, wireless means minimum desk mess!

Astro A10 (Wired)

If value is a primary consideration for you, then you may consider the snazzy A10 headset from Astro. Affordable, sleek, and with stellar sound quality, this is the go-to headset if you're looking for the right balance between price and performance. Widespread compatibility also means that your gamer can take this set with them to whichever platform they like the most!

Ergonomic Gear as a Gamer Gift

Look, ergonomics are crucial. While it may seem like the sort of unimportant fluff that's an excessive expenditure, it's not. Especially if the person you're assembling a gift for spends a lot of time in front of their PC. Whether it's improved hand support or a better seating option, looking into these is a long-term necessity, and we recommend investing in some of these gadgets early on.

DeltaHUB G-Carpio 2.0 (Special Edition)

DeltaHUB's Carpio has been a mainstay for many office workers and gamers, and it's an excellent way of combating early carpal tunnel problems, for sure. An issue for gamers, specifically, with Caprio 2.0 has been twofold, however:

• it's one more thing you need to move around with your mouse
• it requires you to get used to it all anew

The special - or gamer - edition of Carpio 2.0 alleviates about half of those problems, and once you get used to it, it's going to be a long-term must-have. Your gamer's hands will thank you!

Ergo-Cushion

We cannot recommend a proper ergo-cushion enough. A small issue on that front, though, is that these are surprisingly rather niche products, and it can be pretty hard to get any of them without excessive shipping costs and wait times. Still beats purchasing a proper office chair, financially speaking! If your gamer doesn't already have a proper, high-quality office chair (those gaudy gaming-branded racing chairs do not apply in most cases), then this may be the way to go.

Exotic Gear as a Gamer Gift

Wanna make your gamer feel really special in 2023? This category is dedicated to some incredible gadget head-turners that will leave some gamers speechless. While premium in their own right, value proposition was still a major consideration for us, so you know you're getting an awesome bang for your buck, even with the more expensive gadgets listed here.

Steam Deck

Obviously! The talk of the town is a tried-and-true portable gaming PC that will easily run just about anyone that could be thrown at it. Best of all, though, is that you won't even have to wait long! Steam Decks are now in stock for most SKUs, meaning that if you're looking to snag one as a present, you don't need to worry about long shipping times and other assorted problems. The Deck is perfect for those who enjoy indie games, older PC titles, and general fiddling with hardware, so if your gamer fits into any of these categories - now's the time to jump onto the hype train.

PlayDate

The same principle as the Steam Deck, really. Except, PlayDate is more of a hipster sort of thing. We joke, but only partially. This is a crank-controlled handheld that hosts a number of exclusive games you'll find nowhere else. It's packed with an amazing screen, it's exceedingly pocketable, of tremendously high quality, and it's plain fun. This device comes in at about half the price of a Steam Deck, but it's way weirder and arguably more interesting as a result. Not for everyone, but that's the jig with experimental gear, isn't it?

Xbox Elite Controller (Series 2)

Few things beat a good controller, and Xbox Elite Series 2 sits near the very pinnacle of this niche. It's hard to overstate just what a tremendously good gamepad this is. You're getting top-notch customization, premium build quality, and basically ridiculously satisfying button switches and triggers across the board. Extra paddle sticks sure come in handy, too. Is it expensive? Absolutely. Is it worth the price? Well, here's the thing: even if it breaks down in a few years' time, it's still going to make for a heck of a showoff piece. If it seems too pricey, don't forget about the regular Xbox Series controller!

CHECK OUT: November Creator Spotlight: Resting Peach Face