# The 12 gifts teens actually want this Christmas (and 3 to rethink) We read the reviews, tracked the drops and checked what Americans are searching for right now. Here is what will get a real reaction on Christmas morning, what to buy exactly, and when to give it a miss. By the GiftHeat editors. Updated 23 October 2026. Teen wish lists are short and very specific. They don't want "a water bottle", they want a FreeSip in a colour nobody at school has. They don't want "cards", they want the Pokémon set that sold out on launch day. Get the exact thing right and you're a hero; get it slightly wrong and it ends up in a drawer. So for each gift below we tell you which version to buy, what owners actually complain about, who it's wrong for, and what to get instead. We also show how many people in the US searched for it last month, because that is the most honest signal we know of what's wanted right now. ## The short version - The one they'll scream about: Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World bundle - The safe bet: Owala FreeSip, 24 oz - For the collector: Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box - The sleeper hit: Loop Quiet 2 earplugs ## 1. Nintendo Switch 2 **Still the most-wanted big gift of the year, and the bundle is the way to buy it.** A year after launch, Nintendo has sold 23.68 million of them, and the library finally has the games teens ask for by name: Mario Kart World with up to 24 racers, Pokémon Pokopia, Tomodachi Life. GameChat lets friends talk while they play, which is half the point at this age. It also just got Switch Sports Resort (October 22), so there is something new to unwrap with it. **Get this one:** The Mario Kart World bundle: console, game and three months of Nintendo Switch Online in one box. That membership matters, because GameChat doesn't work without it. **Skip it if:** They mostly play on PC or PlayStation and don't care about Nintendo's own games, or they already own a Switch and only play older titles. **Instead:** Nintendo Switch OLED Model. It has a 7-inch OLED screen and plays the existing Switch library, which suits a teen who mostly plays older Switch games. Sources: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/showroom/nintendo-switch-2-bundle/, https://www.nintendo.com/sg/news/article/4AWyjYU61ObMrsm01IzKML, https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/, https://www.nintendo.com/gaming-systems/switch-2/tech-specs/, https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68547/p/1095/c/208, https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-one-year-later/, https://www.esrb.org/blog/a-parents-guide-to-pokemon-pokopia/, https://www.esrb.org/blog/a-parents-guide-to-mario-kart-world/, https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/tomodachi-life-living-the-dream-direct-spotlights-quirky-fun-with-player-made-mii-characters-game-launches-on-nintendo-switch-april-16/, https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/686603/nintendo-switch-2-review, https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html, https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch/oled-model/ ## 2. Owala FreeSip **The bottle of this school year. Fortune calls it to Gen Z what the Stanley was to millennials.** The #owala hashtag has passed 272 million views on TikTok, and the appeal is half drinking, half collecting: limited colour drops sell out and rarely come back. The FreeSip lets you sip through the built-in straw or tip it back and swig, and the spout stays covered in a bag. **Get this one:** The 24 oz in stainless steel. It fits a standard cup holder and a backpack side pocket; the 32 and 40 oz don't fit average cup holders. For extra points, pick one of the limited Target holiday colours (Cozy Does It, Bear Hug, Toile Be Home, Take a Bow) if you can still find one. **Skip it if:** They are rough on bottles: in Good Housekeeping's lab it dented and started leaking after three drops from three feet. **Instead:** HydroJug Traveler (flip-straw tumbler with handle). A handled straw tumbler in 20, 32 and 40 oz that HydroJug says fits standard car cup holders in every size, for a teen who wants a bigger bottle than the 24 oz FreeSip. Sources: https://fortune.com/2025/03/15/owala-water-bottle-gen-z-explosion/, https://www.ypulse.com/newsfeed/2024/08/06/which-water-bottle-will-reign-supreme-this-school-year/, https://wishposter.com/blog/teen-girl-gift-guide, https://owalalife.com/en-us/products/freesip, https://owalalife.com/en-us/color-drop, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/a46652524/owala-water-bottle-review/, https://flexwearlab.com/gym-wear/hydrojug-vs-stanley-vs-owala, https://targetlyhq.uberflip.com/news-updates/the-first-owala-holiday-drop-lands-at-target-this-weekend-how-to-buy-all-8-new-colorways, https://www.al.com/shopping/2026/08/owala-just-launched-2-new-book-themed-water-bottles.html, https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/owala-pokemon-collab-target-rcna598026, https://www.thehydrojug.com/collections/traveler ## 3. Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration **The trading-card set of the year, and teens are the ones driving the boom.** Circana says toy sales grew 17% in the first half of 2026, led by trading cards, and 12 to 17 year olds were the fastest-growing group (+33%). The 30th Celebration set launched on September 16 to long lines at Target, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Every pack holds one of 30 Pikachu illustrations, so there is always something to chase. **Get this one:** The standard Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, a Nidorina promo card, 65 sleeves, energy cards, dice and a storage box. It's a complete gift on its own, not just a pack. **Skip it if:** They play competitively: the 30 returning classic cards aren't legal in Standard tournaments. And don't count on a restock a week before Christmas. **Instead:** Battle Deck Espeon ex & Umbreon ex. It is a 60-card ready-to-play deck that comes with a deck box, coin and playmat, so a teen who wants to actually play has everything in one box; it is due out Oct 30, 2026. Sources: https://www.pokemon.com/us/news/pokemon-tcg-30th-celebration-product-showcase, https://support.pokemoncenter.com/hc/en-us/articles/51588609258644-30th-Celebration-TCG-FAQ, https://www.aol.com/articles/pok-mon-fans-wait-long-165631000.html, https://billsarchive.com/articles/30th-celebration-pull-rates.html, https://pokemon.gamespress.com/MEDIA-ALERT-Pokemon-Unveils-New-Pokemon-Trading-Card-Game-30th-Celebra, https://www.ptcg.news/news/pokemon-tcg-restocks-october-22-2026/, https://www.circana.com/post/us-toy-industry-posts-strongest-first-half-in-six-years-circana-reports ## 4. Jellycat Bashful Bunny **Not just a baby gift. Jellycat has a cult following among teens, and it's growing.** NBC Select describes fans who are babies, teens and adults alike, and Jellycat bag-charm searches jumped 790% at the August 2025 back-to-school peak. The company's 2025 sales rose 43% while US plush sales overall fell 8%. Teens like it for the same reasons adults do: it's soft, a bit silly and genuinely hard to find in the right colour. **Get this one:** Bashful Bunny in Medium, the flagship line with more than a dozen colours. Buy from Jellycat or an authorised store: the brand says it can't verify a toy from photos, and fakes are around. **Skip it if:** They aren't into plush at all. A small bag charm they'll actually carry is the better bet. **Instead:** Jellycat bag charm (for example the Clyde Capybara Bag Charm). A small Jellycat clipped to a backpack or bag is how many teens actually show the brand off. Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/jellycat-brand-review-rcna590266, https://us.jellycat.com/bashful-beige-bunny/, https://us.jellycat.com/safety-care, https://us.jellycat.com/brand-protection-statement, https://us.jellycat.com/bags-bag-charms/bag-charms, https://www.k12.com/tips-support-for-parents/back-to-school-trends-2026/, https://fortune.com/2025/02/16/jellycat-250-million-gen-z-consumers-marketing-strategy/, https://mail.jellyjournal.com/news/article/jump-for-joy-here-come-your-jellycat-juniors, https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-02/soaring-demand-for-viral-toys-drives-jellycat-to-240m-profit, https://jellycatecommerce.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/27831691943709-Can-you-authenticate-if-a-Jellycat-is-real-or-a-fake ## 5. UGG Tasman II **The Tasman has quietly replaced the classic Ugg boot, and it works indoors and out.** British Vogue wrote in April that the Tasman had "exploded" as the new go-to, and UGG built its 2026 back-to-school campaign around students with the Tasman in the lineup. New versions keep landing, from the Western Tasman in August to the JW Anderson collaboration in October. **Get this one:** Tasman II in Chestnut. Women's sizes run 5 to 12, and a Kids' Tasman II (13K to 6K) covers younger teens. Whole sizes only. **Skip it if:** They avoid animal products (the lining is real sheepskin), or you don't know their size and can't exchange easily. **Instead:** UGG Tasman GTX Slipper. A waterproof Tasman variant for a teen who will wear them outside in wet weather. Sources: https://www.ugg.com/women-slippers/tasman-ii/1174470.html, https://www.ugg.com/men-sale-slippers/tasman-slipper/5950.html, https://www.nordstrom.com/s/tasman-slipper-women/2764319, https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/ugg-tasman-trend-spring-2026, https://ir.deckers.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/661/deckers-brands-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2027-financial-results, https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/uggr-celebrates-back-school-campaign-championing-self-expression-through-arts-2026-07, https://www.nj.com/shopping-deals/2026/08/revealed-uggs-new-western-tasman-slipper-is-the-one-everyones-wearing-for-fall.html, https://hypebeast.com/2026/10/jw-anderson-ugg-collaboration-collection-release-info, https://blog.klekt.com/features/ugg-tasman-woven-the-tasman-gets-a-basket-weave/ ## 6. HydroJug Traveler **The Owala's biggest rival, for teens who want a big cup with a handle.** Gen Z trend-watcher Casey Lewis put the Traveler on her list of the top 15 Gen Z holiday gifts last year, and the flip-up straw is why. Like Owala, it's bought for its looks: limited patterns go viral and sell out. A new limited collection, After Dark, drops on October 24 with no restock. **Get this one:** Traveler 40 oz. Every size (20, 32, 40 oz) fits a standard car cup holder, so going big costs nothing. Black is the safe choice; a limited pattern is the better gift if they follow the brand. **Skip it if:** It goes in a school bag: HydroJug says it's only leakproof with the straw pushed down. **Instead:** Owala FreeSip 24 oz. Its lid locks and covers the spout, and the slimmer 24 oz shape slides into a backpack side pocket, which suits a teen who carries the bottle around all day. Sources: https://www.thehydrojug.com/products/black-40oz-traveler, https://www.thehydrojug.com/collections/traveler, https://www.thehydrojug.com/pages/avery-woods, https://www.inc.com/annabel-burba/gen-z-is-ditching-stanley-cups-for-a-40-water-bottle-thanks-to-1-critical-feature/91283995, https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/a63935186/hydrojug-traveler-review/, https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/home-accessories/a65562094/brumate-vs-hydrojug-review/, https://flexwearlab.com/gym-wear/hydrojug-vs-stanley-vs-owala, https://www.target.com/p/-/A-1005782485, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/a46652524/owala-water-bottle-review/ ## 7. Dyson Airwrap i.d. **The "someday" gift on a lot of teen lists. If you're doing a big one, this is it.** It curls with air rather than a hot barrel, and the i.d. version connects to an app that times each curl for their hair type, which helps beginners. For Christmas 2026 Dyson released a limited Plum and Copper edition that comes with a presentation case. Dyson.com shows 4.7 out of 5 from more than 23,000 ratings. **Get this one:** Airwrap i.d. Straight+Wavy in Plum/Copper, or the Curly+Coily set for textured hair. Pick the set that matches their hair; it makes a real difference. **Skip it if:** They already own an Airwrap (the attachments are cross-compatible, so the i.d. adds little), or their hair is thick and curl-resistant. **Instead:** Shark FlexStyle. The Guardian's head-to-head found it a surprisingly close call: it dried and styled in the same time, has an easier manual and better brush attachments, and the base bends into a hair dryer shape. Sources: https://www.dyson.com/hair-care/hair-stylers/airwrap-id/straight-wavy-plum-copper, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/a62717135/dyson-airwrap-id-review/, https://www.techradar.com/home/hair-care/dysons-hair-stylers-get-a-gorgeous-new-plum-and-copper-color-option-and-theyre-going-straight-to-the-top-of-my-christmas-list, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dyson-relaunches-its-fastest-most-powerful-airwrap-coanda2x-multi-styler-with-four-new-attachments-302821378.html, https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/mar/24/dyson-airwrap-shark-flexstyle-comparison, https://wishposter.com/blog/teen-girl-gift-guide ## 8. Kindle Colorsoft **BookTok made reading cool again, and this is the Kindle for comics and illustrated books.** The LA Times reports Kindle sales at their highest in over a decade, driven by younger readers, with most new buyers getting their first Kindle. Amazon even designed its new page-turn remote, the Kindle Click, with BookTok in mind. The 2026 Colorsoft ships October 28. **Get this one:** The 2026 Colorsoft in Graphite (16GB). The Signature Edition adds storage, an auto-adjusting light and works with the new Page-Turn Cover, but most teens won't need it. **Skip it if:** They mostly read plain-text novels: a Paperwhite gives sharper text. And it isn't a tablet, so no apps or video. **Instead:** Kindle Paperwhite (2026). For text-first readers it has a warm light, a waterproof design and about 12 weeks of battery, per Gizmodo's hands-on. Sources: https://gizmodo.com/kindle-paperwhite-colorsoft-e-reader-2026-hands-on-2000819737/, https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-kindle-lineup-2026, https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-10-01/younger-readers-fuel-kindle-boom-amazon-adds-new-lineup, https://www.wired.com/review/kindle-colorsoft/, https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-colorsoft-review-the-missing-link-in-amazons-ereader-lineup-131529685.html, https://www.tomsguide.com/tablets/e-readers/kindle-colorsoft-review ## 9. Loop Quiet 2 **The gift they won't think to ask for and will use every single day.** Earplugs have become an accessory: Vogue reports Gen Z buying design-led pairs, and Loop has been the hearing partner at Coachella and Glastonbury. The reason is real, too: Vogue cites UK data that 58% of Gen Z have had hearing loss or tinnitus after music. The Quiet 2 is the model for studying, sleeping and noisy buses. **Get this one:** Quiet 2 in a colour they'll wear (White, Violet, Black or Mint). It comes with several tip sizes including small ones, and Loop offers 100-day returns if the fit is wrong. **Skip it if:** They want them for concerts: the Quiet 2 blocks too much for that, so get the Experience 2. **Instead:** Loop Experience 2. Loop's own rating table lists it at 17 dB SNR against 24 dB for the Quiet 2, so it blocks less, which suits a teen who wants to stay aware of speech and music. Sources: https://us.loopearplugs.com/products/quiet, https://usloopearplugs.dixa.help/en/article/7decb1, https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/sleep-tech/loop-quiet-2-earplugs-review, https://www.hearingtracker.com/earplugs/loop-earplugs-review-lab-and-real-life-test-of-engage-experience-quiet-switch-2, https://www.vogue.com/article/are-earplugs-the-next-jewellery-play ## 10. Fugglers **Ugly on purpose, and that is exactly why teens love them.** Which? lists Fugglers among the toy trends of 2026, pointing to the meme-culture humour teens respond to, and the 9-inch Fugg Stars range won a Hero Toy award at this year's Toy Fair. They are the anti-Labubu: human teeth, odd eyes, very soft. ZURU, which makes them now, designs several ranges for teen fans and adult collectors. **Get this one:** Any 9-inch (22 cm) Fuggler; Sir Belch is a classic. For a bigger laugh, the 18-inch Chunky Fuggs. **Skip it if:** They like their plush conventionally cute. The teeth are the whole design and they do divide opinion. **Instead:** Jellycat Bartholomew Bear (28 cm). A classic teddy bear that Which? also lists as a 2026 plush trend, for a teen who wants something soft and collectible without the grotesque face. Sources: https://www.fuggler.com/meet-the-fugglers/originals, https://zurutoys.com/brands/fuggler/, https://www.34st.com/article/2026/10/fuggler-collectibles-etsy-louise-mcgettrick-zuru-powerpuff-girls-care-bears, https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3315400/move-over-labubu-fugglers-look-steal-crown-hong-kong-designed-plush-toy, https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/toy-trends-for-2026-allFx4G2N0mT, https://pmitoys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fugglers-x-PMI-Press-Release.pdf, https://www.influenster.com/reviews/fuggler-stuffed-animals-and-plush, https://www.target.com/p/-/A-94798364, https://thetoyinsider.com/wow-stuff-fuggler-puppetronics-news/, https://rss.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/05/3339367/0/en/wow-stuff-gives-fugglers-a-voice-for-the-first-time-with-new-fuggler-puppetronics.html ## 11. Ninja Creami **For the teen who lives on TikTok recipes and protein ice cream.** The Creami went viral for protein ice cream and copycat pints, and it's still all over food TikTok. Good Housekeeping calls it fun for students and anyone who likes to experiment, and Tom's Guide found protein and coffee recipes are what it does best. It's a gift the whole house ends up eating from. **Get this one:** The 7-in-1 with two 16 oz pints (the current model is the second-generation NC351PU). Add a few extra pints: each recipe needs its own pint frozen for 24 hours. **Skip it if:** They want ice cream right now. Every pint needs a full day in the freezer, and it's as loud as a blender. **Instead:** Ninja Creami Scoop & Swirl (NC701). For a teen who prefers soft serve, it adds soft-serve dispensing and 13 programs; Bob Vila's reviewer found full-fat bases as tasty as a parlor, though it is larger, takes some setup and is loud. Sources: https://www.sharkninja.com/kitchen/frozen-treat-makers/ice-cream-makers, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/a71628020/ninja-creami-reviews/, https://www.tomsguide.com/home/home-appliances/ninja-creami-review, https://applianceevidence.com/frozen-desserts/ninja-creami-vs-creami-deluxe, https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/sep/11/ninja-swirl-by-creami-soft-serve-ice-cream-maker-review-uk, https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/ninja-swirl-review/, https://newsroom.sharkninja.com/new-ninja-swirl-by-creami-is-the-next-generation-of-enjoying-frozen-treats-on-your-countertop/ ## 12. Ninja Slushi **Slushies at home in about 15 minutes. Best for families and sleepovers, not for one cup.** Ninja calls the Slushi a viral sensation since its 2024 launch and spent the summer posting weekly recipes on TikTok and Instagram. Tom's Guide got a sugary drink to slush in as little as 15 minutes, and Good Housekeeping named it the best large-capacity slushie machine. **Get this one:** The original FS301 (88 oz) is now labelled first generation and often out of stock; the current Smart SLUSHi FS351BR is the like-for-like replacement. **Skip it if:** The house runs on diet drinks: sugar-free liquids don't freeze into slush properly. **Instead:** GreenPan Frost Classic Ice Cream and Frozen Drink Maker. Good Housekeeping picked it as best overall for slushie machines, with 5 presets, as a different take on the same idea. Sources: https://www.sharkninja.com/ninja-slushi-professional-frozen-drink-maker/FS301.html, https://www.lowes.com/reviews/Ninja-Slush-drink-machine-Gray/5017377789, https://www.tomsguide.com/home/home-appliances/ninja-slushi-review, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/a71551232/best-slushie-machines/, https://s202.q4cdn.com/977000893/files/doc_news/Ninja-Launches-SLUSHi-Twist-the-Dual-Flavor-Frozen-Drink-Maker-Built-for-Summer-Entertaining-2026.pdf ## Crazes to rethink These were the hottest teen gifts of the last two years. They aren't bad gifts. But search interest has fallen hard, and unless one is literally on their list, the alternative is the better buy. - **Stanley cup**: The Stanley Quencher went from an outdoor-gear niche item to a status accessory after a shopping blog, The Buy Guide, championed it; Fast Company reports Stanley's revenue grew from $73 million in 2019 to an estimated $750 million in 2023, and shoppers camped at Target for a Valentine's color drop in January 2024. Since then the water-bottle category has cooled: Circana saw year-over-year declines at sporting-goods retailers every month from September 2024 to February 2025, Stanley's CEO described 'a settling of the hydration category' in March 2025, and searches for 'Stanley' on the ASI promotional-products platform fell about 50% in 2025 while Owala searches rose about 60%. Better buy: Owala FreeSip insulated stainless-steel water bottle. - **Labubu**: Labubu, drawn by Kasing Lung since 2015 and sold by Pop Mart since 2019, took off after BLACKPINK's Lisa was seen with a Labubu keychain in April 2024, and Pop Mart's revenue roughly tripled in the first half of 2025. The wave then receded: Google Trends interest for Labubu fell from 66 in August 2025 to 6 in March 2026, Pop Mart's US sales were down 45% year on year in March 2026, and by June 2026 discounted secondhand listings appeared within hours of a new release. In August 2026 Pop Mart reported first-half growth of 24%, said The Monsters line (which includes Labubu) fell to about a quarter of sales from a third, and warned it would likely miss its 20% growth goal, with analysts citing 'Labubu fatigue'. Better buy: Crybaby blind-box figure (Pop Mart). - **Squishmallows**: Squishmallows launched in 2017, exploded on TikTok during the pandemic (more than 4 billion #Squishmallows views by November 2022) and won the Toy Association's overall Toy of the Year award in 2022 with 125 million sold by May 2022. The buzz has cooled even though the product has not vanished: US plush sales fell 8% in 2025 (Circana), and Jellycat, a rival plush brand, grew sales 43% to GBP 450 million in 2025 on social media and collector demand. Squishmallows still has scale, since its 8-inch assortment was Circana's top-selling US plush item and Jazwares says more than 590 million have sold worldwide as of October 2026. Better buy: Jellycat plush (for example Horatio the pistachio nut). ## Questions people ask **What is the most popular gift for teens this Christmas?** The Nintendo Switch 2 is the most-wanted big gift: about 1.5 million US searches last month, and Nintendo has sold 23.68 million worldwide. For a smaller gift, the Owala FreeSip water bottle is the safest pick. **Are Stanley cups still popular with teens?** Less than before. US searches for Stanley cups are down about 70% from their peak, and the Owala FreeSip has taken over at school. Buy a Stanley only if it's specifically on their list. **Are Labubus still a good gift in 2026?** Only for a teen who already collects them. Searches have fallen about 90% from the peak and Pop Mart itself has warned of slowing growth. A Crybaby figure or a Fuggler is a fresher pick. **What should I buy a teen who has everything?** Something they'll use every day but wouldn't buy themselves: Loop Quiet 2 earplugs for studying and sleep, or a limited-edition Owala or HydroJug colour they can't get anymore.