Father’s Day 2019: 16 gadget gift ideas for under £50

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (£50)

Your dad might have a film catalogue to rival the old rental shop down the road, but no shelved collection – however well labelled and curated – can match the smarts of Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick.

Sure, it won’t dig up a bootlegged copy of The Star Wars Holiday Special, but the nifty Stick can stream a host of movies and TV shows in stunning 4K Ultra HD – not to mention all the Prime Original content a dad could ask for, from The Grand Tour to Sneaky Pete, with an additional monthly subscription.

Lost in a sea of on-screen possibility? Hit the mic button on the remote and ask Alexa for help. Which was never an option with the VHS, no matter how much dad shouted at it.

Bee Brick (£28)

Dad forever buzzing around like the busy bee he is? Encourage him to rest his wings with this urban nest for flying friends.

Placed on the floor or built into a wall, the brilliant brick makes a stellar home for a host of solitary bees – the non-aggressive ones that don’t swarm or make honey, but do a sterling job of pollinating plants and flowers.

So papa won’t get any sticky stuff to spread on his toast, but he will be able to while away the hours watching the little critters at work as the garden flourishes around him. And that’s a kind of joy you can’t put in a jar.

Brumate Hopsulator Trio (£19)

If your papa’s after a partner for his gin distillery dreams, he needs a brew mate.

If, on the other hand, your papa’s after chilled tinnies whatever the weather, he needs a BruMate.

Compatible with all kinds of cans, this pint-sized insulator keeps heady beverages up to 20 times cooler than a standard koozie, thanks to triple-wall insulation and an optional Arctic Adapter. Drinking from draught? It’ll take pints, too.

Bulldog Bamboo Razor (£8)

Dad come over all eco-conscious after watching the plight of the penguins on that David Attenborough documentary? Add a dose of sustainability to his daily ritual with this bamboo razor from the beardy folks at Bulldog.

Topped with a five-blade head and shipped in recycled packaging, it’s not quite as carbon efficient as trimming his chin with a piece of flint from the garden, but it’s a start – and less likely to scare him back to his old wasteful ways.

VOX AC30 wall print by Dorothy (£30)

Dad might insist there are some rare gems hidden in his record collection, but it’s not worth suffering through a morning of scratchy Bob Dylan bootlegs to find out if he’s right.

Distract him from his belt drive with a different kind of hide and seek: this intricate pin-up might look like an everyday cutaway of the seminal VOX AC30 amplifier, but you’ll find more than just dust and wires inside.

From Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison to the aforementioned Mr Dylan doing his electric switch, Dorothy’s latest print – designed in intricate detail by Malik Thomas – packs 40 famous (and infamous) moments from rock‘n’roll history into one illustrated noise-box. Unearthing them all is sure to keep your pop away from the play button.

Tile Pro (£30)

“Where the devil are my keys,” asks dad, before patting down his pockets, rummaging in his rucksack then looking at the door to discover they were there all along.

Done with the daily game of domestic hide-and-seek? Stick a Tile Pro on your pop’s keys for far simpler finding. Paired with his phone via Bluetooth, one tap in the partner app will show the Pro’s last-known location and, if it’s close, he can have it play a sound.

Found his keys, lost his phone? Double tap the Tile to make it ring in reverse. Sadly, there’s no option to locate his common sense.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen) (£50)

“Alexa, what’s 12 inches in new money? Alexa, what’s the French word for camembert? Alexa, what should I buy my wife for her birthday?”

Some questions only you can answer. For everything else, there’s Alexa – and, wrapped in a svelte new coat, Amazon’s Echo Dot remains the most affordable way to get AI assistance in your home.

With better speakers than before, the clever puck will still tackle everything from shopping lists and smart home tasks to sports news and party tunes. Life advice remains a work in progress.

Lego Technic Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (£40)

Your dad might like a bit of American muscle, but there’s no way he’s getting WrestleMania tickets for Father’s Day. Not after that body-slam on your last birthday.

For a meaty machine without the sweaty flexing, gift him this Lego Corvette instead: an authentic replica of Chevy’s fabled ZR1, the 579-piece Technic set is accurate right down to the wheel rims, rear wing and V8 motor – albeit quite a lot smaller than the real thing.

Sure, it won’t roar like Roman Reigns, but it won’t scare your mum, either. And it might keep your old man busy enough building that he won’t want to watch wrestling re-runs.

T-Lab T-120 (£29)

Ah, the T-120 tape: truly an icon of the VHS era. If you weren’t enjoying its fuzzy footage and audio echo, you were kneeling in front of the TV trying to rewind to the right point in the film.

And what better way to celebrate the new-retro appeal of the humble magnetic strip than with this cotton tee from T-Lab – still luring us in with its promise of ‘pure sound quality’.

Papa prefer cassettes to video? T-Lab also does a fetching design inspired by the C90 format of the Eighties.

Native Union Stow Organiser (£50)

Some people like to be organised. Some people are dads. If you know someone who’s both, this clutter-buster from Native Union will surely be a win on June 16.

Cutting a dash in canvas and leather, the subtle Stow packs a raft of straps, loops and pockets inside – ideal for keeping your old man’s accessories in order – while a waterproof zipper will protect his particulars from drips.

Designed to carry cables, cases and all kinds of connected kit, the tidy pack will also manage all manner of travel essentials, from his favourite brand of biscuits to the all-important crossword pen.

Ikea Eneby Portable Bluetooth Speaker (£20)

We don’t normally talk about Ikea when dad’s around. Not after what happened with the meatballs and the vanity mirror.

But we’ll make an exception for this natty noise-box from the Swedes. Compact, understated and good for 15 hours of Fleetwood Mac over Bluetooth, your papa can either prop it up with the distinctive cork stand or pop it out for easy hanging in the garage. The best bit? He doesn’t have to build it himself.

Lifx Mini Colour (£45)

Refurbished curtains and a new rug used to be enough to make a home smart. Now it’s all internet tellies and talking to your light switch.

Ease your old man into connected domesticity with this standalone smart bulb: add it to a spare lamp and, by the power of Wi-Fi and the partner app, he’ll have 16 million colours on tap.

Once he’s digested its technicolour brilliance? Introduce dimming, colour temperatures, daily automation and voice control. At least with a 23-year LED lifespan there’s plenty of time to teach him.

Society Socks subscription (from £44)

What’s better than one pair of socks on Father’s Day? Why, two pairs of socks – followed by two more every month.

Yes, treat your old man to a Society Socks gift subscription and he’ll never be short of sheaths for his feet, as bold new stockings land on his doormat every 30 days.

And it’s more than just an antidote to holy heels and poked-out toes: for every pair delivered to your dad, another will be donated to charity – so as you do his soles a good deed, you’ll be helping souls in need.

Wacaco Nanovessel (£25)

As your dad told you after that loose-leaf tea turned out to dried seaweed, looks can be deceiving.

So it is with this stainless steel cylinder from Wacaco. See, while it might appear to be a standard vacuum flask, the Nanovessel is in fact a truly multi-talented tumbler: use the fitted filter mesh to steep tea as you travel or, if your dad owns a Nanopresso coffee maker, bolt it on the bottom for added caffeine capacity.

Alternatively, stuff it with seaweed and add some hot water. It might taste disgusting, but at least it’ll stay warm for ages.

Griffin Reserve Wireless Power Bank (£20)

Short of gifting your papa a pack of triple-As on Father’s Day, wrapping up a power bank feels pretty uninspired as gifts of gratitude go.

But this is no ordinary power bank. See, despite the pocket-money price tag, Griffin’s understated slab is quite the clever backup: if dad’s smartphone does Qi wireless charging, he can pop it on top for a cord-free charge, while a 5000mAh capacity will brim his blower two times over. Not bad for a penny short of twenty.

PlayStation Classic (£50)

Remember when you’d play Ridge Racer Type 4 for hours and dad would let you win because he’s nice like that? No? Of course not: the old man would never surrender his unbeaten record on Helter Skelter.

Revive the old racing rivalry with this reboot of the original PlayStation, back in all its boxy glory – albeit 45% smaller and equipped with an HDMI port.

Still as grey as ever, the Classic ships with two wired controllers and 20 iconic games on-board, from Grand Theft Auto to Metal Gear Solid. And, despite the faux slots on the front, the memory card is virtual – so no more blowing the pins to load your race wins.