The best tech gifts for some Netflix and chill
The holiday season is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends.
It's also one of the best opportunities to spend some quality time with a special friend (or friends — no judgment here if you have it like that).
With time to kill on lazy days off from work and school, nasty winter weather and few hours of sunlight, you're going to wind up inside on the couch sooner or later. You know what that means: time for some Netflix and chill.
Even if you're totally focused on watching that two-star flick that's been stuck in your queue for the last three months, you need the right setup to evoke that cozy, intimate mood for your holiday hang. With gifting season in full swing, there's plenty of opportunities to pick up some strategic tech gear for you and your partner in chill.
Popcorn maker
Whether you're Netflix and chilling with a brand-new fling or snuggling up with your steady flame, good hospitality is a must. It's not super high-tech, but this popcorn maker spits out a tasty snack in no time while you're deliberating over what you're going to (not) watch. Bonus points if you also invest in this crazy butter spray gadget to make it even better.
Price: $35.52 (Biēm Butter Sprayer: $129.00)
Remote controlled candles
For the best chill session, the mood has to be right. Set the scene with a few of these LED remote-controlled candles. They have all the best features of the real thing — they're made from wax, have "flickering motion" effects and even produce a vanilla scent — without the potential to burn down the house after you forget about them.
Price: $13.95 each
LED TV backlight
Candles are a good first step in creating some home ambiance, but this string of TV backlights really kicks it up a notch. Just plug it into the USB port in back of your TV, set the room lights low, and get ready for a good time.
Price: $19.99
Home Projector
Some people are content to enjoy the Netflix part of their chill on a tiny laptop screen. For overachievers, a high-quality home projector will light up your whole wall with the movie you're doing your best to ignore. If you're gonna go all-out, invest in a good rig like this 1080p 3D Epson Home Cinema.
Price: $682.99
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV is one of the best options out there with a major perk: Alexa. The personal assistant can be controlled by voice, so your hands can be used for ... other activities. Go all-out for the Fire TV box with 4K streaming capabilities, or keep it simple with the .
Price: Fire ($89.99), Stick ($49.99)
Smart pillow
This Kickstarter-funded smart pillow is best for chill sessions in bed, complete with music streaming and sleep tracking. Plus, if you conk out and start snoring (definitely unattractive), it gently prods you out of your stupor.
Price: $179.00
Google Home
Just like the Fire TV, Google Home responds to your voice commands so you can keep your hands free. Have one close at hand to switch things up on the fly with some mood music or go all the way and set up a connected home with lights and thermostats from Nest so you can create the perfect atmosphere for intimacy.
Price: $129
USB heated blanket
This USB-heated blanket makes getting all cuddled up even more toasty. Just make sure the temp isn't set too high to start — the whole point is to move the hang from chill to hot and heavy through other means, after all.
Price: $27.99
Bonus gift - Girlfriend body pillow
No matter how much you invest in your setup, it's all for naught if there's no one to actually chill with. Whether the winter weather keeps them from coming over or if they just don't exist, this girlfriend body pillow (or boyfriend version if that really matters) gives lonely streamers something to snuggle up to.
Price: $24.99
Topics Google Home
Brett Williams is a Tech Reporter at Mashable. He writes about tech news, trends and other tangentially related topics with a particular interest in wearables and exercise tech. Prior to Mashable, he wrote for Inked Magazine and Thrillist. Brett's work has also appeared on Fusion and AskMen, to name a few. You can follow Brett on Twitter @bdwilliams910.
