WIRED's 2026 gift guide opens with a blunt observation: $25 no longer buys what it did a decade ago. The publication notes that the same amount now struggles to cover a single takeout meal, while national gas prices approach $5 a gallon and wages have failed to keep pace. Even so, the guide argues, there are still plenty of thoughtful, interesting gifts available at that price point.
To back that claim, the WIRED Reviews team says every item on the list was tested and vetted by at least one staff member. The recommendations are grouped by recipient type, from notetakers and party people to anti-party people and home chefs. Featured products include Field Notes notebooks, Muji ballpoint pens, Puffin drink cozies, a Matter-compatible smart light bulb, a Bluetooth karaoke microphone, a mulberry silk sleep mask, Loop Quiet 2 earplugs, a portable handheld fan, and Jacobsen Salt Co. finishing salt. Prices range from $13 for a discounted smart bulb to $25 for several items.
Because the article is a single source, there are no conflicting perspectives to compare. For business readers, the guide's significance lies in what it says about consumer behavior under inflation: rather than abandoning gift-giving, shoppers are looking for small, practical, and well-reviewed items that fit a strict $25 budget.