Best Christmas gifts for teens 2026, chosen by teenagers themselves

Detailed summary

Tried and tested by her teens, Helen Wilson-Beevers reveals the presents they’d actually choose

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With Christmas fast approaching, it’s time to get organised – and that means tackling the present-buying list. While some giftees are straightforward to shop for, teenagers can be notoriously tricky.

As a parent to two teens, I know first-hand how hard it is to keep up with the latest trends or know exactly what they’re into – yes, even if you are the coolest aunt, uncle or family friend.

This is where I come in. Equipped with my own expert shopping insight, I enlisted my teenage son and daughter, alongside their friends, to choose the presents they’d actually like to open on Christmas morning, and give their honest opinions.

Spanning tech, fashion, and fun, consider this your crib sheet for buying teens' gifts. From personalised phone cases and a mini speaker to a game, plush toy, beauty sets and more, you can expect to unwrap brands including Casetify, Glossier, Marshall, New Balance, Smeg and Lush in this guide.

Our testers range in age from 13 to 19, so all the gifts on this list have been put through their paces by an actual teenager. Each item has been used, worn, played and thoroughly reviewed. Keep reading for my roundup of the best gifts for teenagers, as tried and tested by teens themselves.

This hard-wearing phone case is a practical and stylish gift, and our teenage testers are huge fans of the personalised custom pebble case. With a tactile and robust finish, it merges everyday use with classic aesthetic points. We also love the seashell case (£66, Casetify.com) for its fun graphics on a transparent background. Our teens have used Casetify phone cases for several years now, and they protect the handset while impressing their friends. Suitable for a range of phones, just be sure to check what model they have first.

A fun trivia game with question cards, a main board, player boards, tokens and chips; this is an interactive way…

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