The work from home trend has continued post-COVID pandemic, but many companies are now asking employees to head back to the office at least for a few days a week. For someone who is still able to work from home part-time, or who maybe decided to throw caution to the wind and start their own home-based business, they’ll need the right tools to get the job done. We have put together some practical yet thoughtful gifts for the home office.
Top Picks (sponsored)
1. LG Smart Monitor Swing
While they probably have a monitor at the office to which they can connect their laptop (or use as part of a desktop set-up), they can’t exactly bring it home with them. To replicate the same set-up at home, you need a monitor for the home office. And I’ll bet you’ve never seen one as unique as the LG Smart Monitor Swing. The idea is that it functions not only as an ultra-smart monitor, but it doesn’t even need a PC connection to do so because it has webOS built in with access to streaming services, apps, and the Home Office Hub for Google Workspace. The cherry on top is that it comes with a flexible, moveable stand.
The 4K UHD IPS 3,840 x 2,160 monitor measures 31.5 inches while the rolling stand lets you position it where it makes sense. For someone like me who works from the couch in my living room a lot of the time versus at my actual desk in the basement, a monitor like this one would be a dream. You can adjust the screen’s angles to suit the task at hand, whether it’s standing up tall while working at a standing desk or sitting down low for a creative project.
The LG Monitor Swing touchscreen monitor displays accurate colours thanks to a wide 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 350 nits of brightness, making it a good option for those who work with content, like photography, video production, musicians viewing sheet music, even painters making digital art, or using digital images for inspiration as they put brush to canvas. A hidden adapter in the stand helps ensure a clean setup.
With webOS built-in, you have lots of content at your fingertips so you can play the morning news while you get to work or use it as a remote PC. You can also mirror your device using AirPlay 2 or Screen Share. Additionally, it has three USB-C ports and two HDMI ports for connecting source devices.
The advantage of having the LG Monitor Swing at home is that it has so many other uses, too, like displaying a TV show or cooking video in the kitchen while prepping lunch for you and a client or moving it to the kids’ room or basement. It rolls easily from room to room, so it can live in your office during the day then follow you to other rooms at night.
At $1,500 for both the monitor and the stand, that’s the same you’d pay for a high-end monitor anyway. You can basically have a portable TV, monitor, entertainment hub, and productivity device in every room of the home whenever you need it. I haven’t tried the LG Monitor Swing myself yet, but with two LG TVs at home and having reviewed the LG Cinebeam Q 4K projector, I’m confident in the webOS experience and it’s delivery on this clever rollable device.
2. Kanto Audio UKI Compact Bookshelf Speaker
I first saw the Kanto Audio UKI compact bookshelf speaker at CES 2025 earlier this year, and it’s finally it’s coming to Canada through Gemsen in time for the holiday season. The speaker, which is perfect for the home office desk, will be available some time in mid-November. The budget-friendly speaker is just US$199/pr. with a distinctive clamshell design and compact footprint that makes them ideal to use as computer speakers. We haven’t yet reviewed this model, but we did review the REN active speaker and absolutely loved it. At CES, Kanto Audio’s Brett Smalley tells us it packs a big punch of sound in its small footprint.
You get Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and RCA connectivity so it’s suitable for everything from connection to your laptop or desktop to a turntable. There’s also a headphone jack if you are working in a shared office and want to bring them with you, or you need to make a private call while the kids are around.
Available in Black, White, Cobalt, and Sage, the Kanto Audio UKI is poised to become a hot seller this holiday season. While it’s great in a variety of scenarios, these make a perfect set of home office speakers.
Other Gift Ideas
Kensington High Clarity Eyesafe Blue Light Privacy Screen Filter
The Kensington High Clarity Eyesafe Blue Light Privacy Screen Filter is designed for laptops and monitors to limit the screen viewing angle to ±30º and protect sensitive information from prying eyes. Made in the U.S., it’s simple to install using frameless tab holders or double-sided tape and are scratch resistant and military grade tested. It has an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare and a reversible design with a matte side for reduced fingerprints and glossy side for optimal clarity. Nanolouver technology allows up to 78% of light through, reducing harmful blue light by up to 28% to ease eye strain. Check out my review of the Kensington MagPro Elite privacy screen for more details on how privacy screen works and my assessment of that model.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is designed for creators and professionals, excelling at tasks like sketching thanks to the inclusion of a redesigned S Pen BT LE. There’s also a new DeX mode for multitasking and, of course, the inclusion of Galaxy AI. It has an 11” Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz screen, MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor, 12GB RAM, 128, 256, or 512GB storage, 8,400 mAh battery, on-screen fingerprint, and an IP68 rating. Available in grey or silver, pricing starts at $1,100.
Plugable TBT-UDM Dock
The premium Plugable TBT-UDM Dock is designed to complement Macs, delivering dual 4K HDMI support, 96W host charging, and 13 ports, including USB-C, USB-A, UHS-II SD, and microSD card readers, along with Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s also a downstream Thunderbolt 4 port for high-bandwidth accessories such as external SSDs and displays. Offering native support for dual 4K 60Hz HDMI displays, its downstream Thunderbolt 4 port supports a display up to 8K 30Hz, or high-speed peripherals, and driverless plug-and-play compatibility across macOS and Windows. The dock is compatible with all Apple M4 systems, all Pro/Max models, and M3 base models with the lid closed. For base model M1 and M2 Mac users who would otherwise be limited to a single external screen, Plugable’s DisplayLink-based docks are recommended for dual display. It sells for US$200 and comes with a one-metre Thunderbolt 4 cable, a power supply, and Plugable’s two-year warranty.
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 All-in-One Printer
With the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 all-in-one printer, they won’t have to buy ink refills for years, especially if they’re only printing half the time at home. It comes with an up to three-year supply in the box and offers fast print speeds in both black and white and colour. It has a 250-sheet paper tray, auto duplex printing, and a 2.4-inch colour display. With built-in USB and Apple AirPrint connectivity along with Wi-Fi, you can print from anywhere. Use the app to print photos right from your phone. The ET-4950 adds fax capabilities and sells for $599, or you can opt for the ET-4850 that doesn’t have fax and has a smaller touchscreen for the same price. I reviewed the ET-4850 and named it among my favourite tech products of 2024.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5G
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5G has a 13.8-inch screen, is powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, and, as the name implies, comes with the option for 5G connectivity. It features a powerful 40+ TOPS Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivering fast on-device AI for smarter workflows and real-time collaboration. With the integrated 5G modem, you can enjoy seamless 5G connectivity (with a subscription) so you don’t need to search for hotspots or worry about signal strength. Perfect for the hybrid worker who is constantly on the move and working from different locations, it seamlessly transitions between 5G and Wi-Fi networks, so you always maintain a steady and secure connection. Plus, use it as a mobile hotspot for other devices when Wi-Fi isn’t available.
Kanto ORA4 Powered Speaker
The Kanto ORA4 powered speaker, available through Gemsen Distribution, would look great in a home office set-up. It features a 4” aluminum concave cone woofer paired with ¾” silk dome tweeters creating 140 watts of peak power through an integrated Class-D amplifier. With a full array of both analog and digital connections, you can choose from Matte Grey, Matte Purple, and Matte Red exclusive colours as well as standard Black and White, for $500.
Asus Zenbook 14 Laptop
Originally shown at CES 2025, the Asus Zenbook 14 is designed for power, portability, and AI capabilities with extended battery life, a premium design, and a customizable Copilot key. At the heart is the new Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2) featuring integrated AI acceleration, next-gen Intel Arc graphics, and an upgraded core architecture. Thin and light, it has a 14-inch 16:10 Asus Lumina OLED touchscreen and super-linear speakers. There’s also an AMD-powered variant featuring the new AI-enabled AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU for accelerated AI performance. It’s a great machine for a traveling worker who doesn’t just do a traditional 9-5.
Napster View Holographic Second Scree Display
Remember Napster? The company is back, this time with a holographic AI device and smart assistant companion designed for the home office. The Napster View works alongside Napster 26 for Mac to provide an enhanced conversational AI experience that can work across apps and software on your computer. Use it in the web browser or attach the Napster View device to the top of the laptop or monitor like you would a webcam. Then, start talking to your virtual companion, which appears as a human avatar. Ask for help on all types of topics, from how to do something in Excel or Photoshop to coding instruction, business advice, even wellness coaching. You can even create a digital twin that serves as your virtual doppelganger, providing assistance as you work. Is it creepy? A little. But maybe this is the future of the workplace. I mean, it can get lonely working from home, after all. Napster View is US$99 and comes with a one-month trial to the Napster 26 platform. Monthly and annual subscription plans are available after the first month and require a Mac app.
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro M5
The latest MacBook Pro boasts the new M5 chip, which is designed to power the AI workflows. With a 14-inch screen, it offers up to 24 hours battery life along with faster SSD performance, a Liquid Retina XDR display with a nano-texture option, 12MP Center Stage camera, six-speaker sound system, a wide array of ports, Apple Intelligence capabilities, and macOS Tahoe. The new design features Liquid Glass, offering new ways to personalize your Mac with an updated Control Center and new colour options for folders, app icons, and widgets. The menu bar is also now completely transparent, making the display feel even larger. Starting at $2,099, the same starting price as the previous-generation version, it comes in Space Black and Silver with up to 4TB storage. It’s the perfect level up for a MacBook user.
Hyper HyperPack Backpack
The Hyper HyperPack backpack is small and compact enough to carry a laptop and a few essentials to and from the office. The recycled PET polyester exterior is made from 20 water bottles with a durable and weather-resistant nylon exterior, and water-resistant zippers. So, you can comfortably bring it along with you on an e-scooter to the office or commute via train, even as a carry-on for a flight that will fit under the seat. A pass-through charging design, built-in locator pocket, and luggage pass-through make it ideal for travel. It sells for US$90. Stay tuned for my review.
All sponsored top picks are recommended by the WiFi HiFi team. All views expressed are our own.