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12 popular tech gifts that are already selling out, from retro Nintendo consoles to Airpods

Miniature Nintendo and PlayStation consoles

12 popular tech gifts that are already selling out, from retro Nintendo consoles to Airpods

The Amazon Echo

The Amazon Echo
Echo (2nd Generation), $69.99, available at Amazon

Last year, the Echo was a big hit. The smart speaker comes with Amazon's perennially popular smart assistant, Alexa, built right into the hardware. That means you can call on Alexa to play music, make calls, set alarms, ask questions, control connected devices, and just about anything else.

It features a speaker powered by Dolby and is currently available in six styles, including fabrics and wood veneers — for the holidays, Amazon partnered with (RED) on a limited-edition red Echo to support the fight against AIDS.

It's worth noting that its siblings, the Echo Dot and Echo Show, are currently backordered until December 15 and December 16, respectively.

The Wyze Cam

The Wyze Cam
Wyze Cam, $25.98, available at Amazon

The Wyze Cam is one of those rare devices that costs much less than any of its competition. It records video in 1080P and sends your phone a notification each time its motion sensor is triggered. These video clips are stored in the cloud for two weeks for free; most other home security camera options only keep clips for a day if you don't pay a monthly subscription fee.

Wyze has gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews for this camera. Given its low price and great performance, we don't expect it to stay in stock this holiday season.

The Kindle

The Kindle
Kindle, $79.99, available at Amazon

If you know someone who loves reading, you won't regret getting them a Kindle. The e-reader is light and comfortable to hold, gives you the ability to download millions of books with the click of a button, and lets you make highlights and notes.

Apple AirPods

Apple AirPods
Apple Airpods, $159.99, available at Apple

Apple's AirPods are prime for holiday gifting, and already sold out at most stores that carry them — the exception being the Apple Store. The totally wireless buds look a lot like the EarPods that come with every iPhone purchase, but they're entirely cordless. They pair with devices like iPhones, iPads, and even the Apple TV, and they charge up inside their case. I tried them and fell in love with their design.

The Fire 7 Tablet

The Fire 7 Tablet
Fire 7 Tablet, $49.99, available at Amazon

Amazon's Fire 7 Tablet is more than enough tablet for most people. It's ideal for casual web browsing, video streaming, music listening, and reading for only $50.

The iPad

The iPad
Apple iPad (Wi-Fi, 32GB), $289.99, available at Amazon

While the Fire 7 Tablet is a solid option for $50, the iPad is still the best tablet you can buy. The 9.7" iPad was recently updated with a faster processor and Apple Pencil support. It's a great gift for anyone you want to spoil this holiday season.

The Ring Video Doorbell

The Ring Video Doorbell
Ring Video Doorbell, $99.99, available at Amazon and Best Buy

There's a lot of buzz surrounding Ring home security devices since Amazon acquired the tech company earlier this year.

Ring video doorbells give homeowners peace of mind about who's at their door, whether they're at home or not. The most popular one, the $100 model, is currently available in two colors, Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze, but the Satin Nickel version is backordered on Amazon until December 18.

Philips Hue smart light bulbs

Philips Hue smart light bulbs
Philips Hue Smart Lighting Starter Kit, $89.99, available at Amazon

Philips Hue bulbs are a smart home must-have for many people, including me, and they always get harder to find in December. This $90 starter kit includes two light bulbs and a Hue Bridge. Once the Hue Bridge is connected to your WiFi, you can control the bulbs with an app, or with your voice if you own smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Because they're compatible with all the major operating systems and smart home platforms, Philips Hue Bulbs are very popular.

The EcoVac Deebot robot vacuum

The EcoVac Deebot robot vacuum
Ecovacs Deebot N79S, $198.80, available at Amazon

Robot vacuums are expensive gifts, but their prices have come down significantly over the last few years thanks to tech manufacturers like Ecovacs.

The Deebot N79S vacuum has three cleaning modes, an array of sensors that keep it from banging into walls and furniture or falling down stairs, a battery that lasts up to two hours, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. These are features you don't typically find in robot vacuums under $200, which is why we expect it to be a very popular gift this holiday season.

The Fire TV Stick

The Fire TV Stick
Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, $39.99, available at Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with all-new Alexa Voice Remote, $49.99, available at Amazon

Amazon's Fire TV Stick puts all your streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, HBO NOW, and YouTube, in one place so you can easily navigate through them all. Outside of your home, you can pick up right where you left off by plugging the Fire TV Stick into any TV's HDMI port and connecting to Wi-Fi.

Either model makes a fantastic stocking stuffer for less than $50, which is why we wouldn't be surprised if one or both sold out this December.

The Fitbit Charge 3

The Fitbit Charge 3
Fitbit Charge 3, $149, available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart

Getting into better shape is a popular New Year's resolution, which is one of the reasons Fitbits become hard to find at the end of the year. The Charge 3 is one of Fitbit's newest models. It tracks your sleep, calories burned, steps taken, and heart rate to give you a pretty good idea of your general health. This information is all conveniently stored in the Fitbit app for easy viewing.

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