Know someone who loves their work from home world, or even just loves working in general? Consider a gift for the modern worker with this on-topic gift guide.
Even though the holidays are often for relaxing, some of us just can’t relax. Or perhaps crazily, working is relaxing.
That may not be you, but it could very well be the person you’re buying for. And if work is no bother for them, you may want to consider one of the following ideas, with gifts made for the modern worker, whether they work from home or make their way out to the office.
Journey Alti Lift Desk Mat
Price: $170
Making your desk a little neater is something many of us aspire to, but accessories like a desk mat can help, providing a sort of canvas to centre everything on.
Australia’s Journey has made that canvas a little more appealing this year, though, with a pop-out MagSafe stand to hold up any recent iPhone that isn’t the iPhone 16e, and a few Androids with support for Qi2.
The Journey Alti Lift is named because it does what it says, lifting a phone off the surface, all while keeping it charged. It’s a clever desk accessory and all about keeping your phone topped up and nearby.
Logitech MX Master 4
Price: $199
You can’t really work without a decent mouse, and try as we might, the mice our laptops come with are hardly decent versions of those.
Logitech’s MX Master range, however, is a totally different breed of mouse altogether.
More or less Logitech’s high-end mice, the MX Master 4 brings with it custom shortcuts, fast tracking, and haptic feedback, all so you can better control aspects of apps. It’s kind of like a mouse with superpowers, if that sort of thing could ever exist.
Keychron K10 Max
Price: $199
While we’re talking about a different breed of mice, let’s talk about the other accessory and peripheral no modern worker can live without: the keyboard.
There are plenty of these found about the place, but if you want every keystroke to matter and feel like they’re connecting through, mechanical keyboards are where you need to go.
A brand you’ve probably never heard of could deliver one of the more intriguing experiences, and certainly some of the nicest design. Rather than all beige, all silver, all grey, or all black, the wireless and mechanical approaches put forth by Keychron marry some lovely colours and designs, to create a keyboard that not only looks like a joy to use, it could just be comfier, as well.
Bellroy Transit Workpack 26L
Price: $289
The modern worker might work from home a little less than they did during that period we all went through back in 2000, but that also means they sometimes need to go into work, as well. And for that reason, modern workers need a decent spot of luggage.
Bellroy’s take on the work-pack is actually called the “workpack”, albeit the Transit Workpack, and it’a a surprisingly spacious bag meant to carry all sorts of important things. There’s a pouch for up to a 16 inch laptop, internal pockets for a water bottle, enough storage for important documents and your passport, and even a spot for an AirTag.
EPOS Adapt E1
Price: $365
There’s clearly no shortage of earphones for music and movies, but what about earphones focused on work? For that, the styles are a little lower in number. These models typically come with a specific wireless transmitter for reliability, not to mention possibly a button made for the video chat app of choice.
One we clearly liked this year is the Epos Adapt E1, a nice little middle ground between work and play that kind of gave you the support of both.
When you’re at work, the combination of USB-C and a small mic lets you just jump into work and chat for as long as you need. And when you make your way back home, the noise cancellation gives you a way to block out the world.
It’s a solid combination in a pair made
IKEA Ridspo desk
Price: $799
One of those desks this journalist keeps looking longingly at, the Ridspo has a look to it that makes it unlike pretty much any other desk IKEA makes. This isn’t your standard conventional workstation.
Rather, this cute and quirky spot of furniture comes with a nice draw and a window looking in, giving you a place to put photos and other nice nick-nacks, while also making your space look rather pretty.
It’s a desk that a modern worker will want to come back to over and over again, which could just mean getting more work done, as well.
Espresso 15 Pro
Price: $1099
The last gadget in this guide a bit of a doozy for the modern worker: a screen you can take with you that also upgrades your setup with touch. Yes, even for Macs.
Easily one of the more intriguing Australian gadgets worth checking out this year, the Espresso Pro 15 brings a touchscreen to a 4K panel, and marries it to a metal design with a magnetic stand, making for a classy spot of technology you can take with you.
Portability is one of the key factors here, with the magnetic stand only adding to the design. The Espresso 15 Pro is so well designed, it makes it easy for anyone to bring a good looking and capable screen wherever they need one, which is apparently anywhere the modern worker needs one in the first place.
