Gifts for teenagers (13–17) they’ll actually use

A closer look: With noise cancelling on, expect up to 8 hours per charge and 40 in total with the case, and a 10-minute top-up before leaving the house buys up to 3 hours. Six microphones help calls cut through wind and traffic, and a two-way translation feature covering 100 languages could earn its keep on a school trip abroad.

A closer look: One USB-C port works in both directions, so the cable that charges the phone also refills the power bank, and a USB-A socket covers older leads. A small digital display shows how much charge is left at a glance. Plugging it in every Sunday night is a good habit, so it’s full whenever the school bag needs it.

A closer look: A twist of the lens sets close-up mode, and the viewfinder shifts to match, so arm’s-length selfies come out framed as you saw them. Prints appear in about five seconds, with a 46 × 62mm picture on a 54 × 86mm card that suits wall displays and phone cases alike. A hand strap comes in the box, handy when it’s being passed round at parties.

A closer look: Ribbed cuffs stop the sleeves sliding down over the hands, so it stays practical for gaming, homework or a bowl of cereal on the sofa. It goes in the washing machine on a cold cycle and into the tumble dryer on low, which helps the sherpa stay fluffy. Wash it on its own the first couple of times, as fleecy fabrics can shed.

A closer look: Each plate is 5in (about 13cm) across, so every waffle is a single-serving round rather than a family batch. Beyond batter, it’ll press a cheese toastie, a quesadilla or a cookie, which makes it a fun one for sleepovers where everyone takes a turn. Once it has cooled, a damp cloth over the plates is all the cleaning it needs.

A closer look: First to 200 points wins, but each extra card risks flipping a number already in front of you, which busts you out of the round. The deck holds twelve 12s but far fewer low cards, so big numbers score well yet bust players more often. Freeze, Flip Three and Second Chance cards add twists, and the box says ages 8 and up.

A closer look: Up to 24 hours of play from its 5,200mAh battery means days of bedroom listening between charges. Two drivers give a proper stereo spread, which suits a desk or bedside shelf. After a session in the shower or a soaking at the park, dry it off and let the charging port dry out before plugging it in.

A closer look: Power comes from a USB lead, so plan on running it from a laptop, a plug adapter or a power bank. At its lowest height of 43cm (17in) it sits on a desk for video calls, and the Bluetooth remote takes photos without reaching for the phone. Setting the ring just above eye level gives the most flattering light.

A closer look: Start with a pea-sized amount of the balm on dry skin, massage it in, then add a splash of water and rinse off with a damp flannel. The toner is a milky essence that gets pressed in with the hands, no cotton pads needed, followed by the serum and then the moisturiser. Lining the bottles up in order on a shelf helps the new habit stick.

A closer look: No battery to worry about here: it’s wired, plugging into the 3.5mm socket on a controller, laptop or phone, and it works with older PS4 and Xbox One consoles too. Switch on a spatial sound setting such as Sony’s 3D Audio on PS5 or Windows Sonic on PC and it’s easier to tell which direction footsteps are coming from.

A closer look: Ice cubes drop straight in through the wide mouth, and the flip cover keeps the spout clean at the bottom of a PE bag. The powder-coated finish makes a good canvas for stickers, which for plenty of teenagers is half the fun. Full to the brim, a litre of water is a fair weight, so it rides better in a main compartment than a flimsy side net.