It’s time once again for my annual Christmas Gift Ideas for the Editor column. This series has been running for 15 years now: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. That’s a lot of gift ideas. For years now, I’ve tried to avoid the obvious items you might find on other gift ideas for the edit, or as it’s easy to list a new M3 Ultra Mac Studio. But after 15 years, new and unique ideas can sometimes be hard to come by. Last year, I asked the social media masses and got some great ideas. 2023 was more of a Greatest Hits edition, and there’s still good stuff there. This year, I’ve bookmarked and taken a lot of inspiration from a number of Black Friday sales and other gift lists that I’ve seen around the internet. I try to give credit where credit is due for those items.
So without further ado, here are some Christmas gift ideas for the editor for 2025.
iPad Pro
It’s easy to recommend an iPad Pro as a Christmas gift idea for the editor, as I find it an indispensable tool in the edit suite. I reviewed the M4 iPad Pro, and it’s now up to the M5. This generation is best because the devices are so thin and light. As one who sits in front of a large screen and keyboard for hours upon end, having a touchscreen device for simple document reading, email replies, and basic web browsing is a nice change from sitting at the desk. I often grab it and head to the couch for some desktop downtime when I’ve got some work to do. It’s a great video companion for when I want to run YouTube or have a game going on next to me while I work. It lets me keep a number of websites and applications closed on the desktop but yet running nearby. Sidecar makes it easy to quickly jog the mouse over for a response. Sidecar also lets me use the iPad Pro as an external display on my video editing tools. While it’s not a dedicated grading display, it’s pretty darn accurate as far as color goes.
Felt Right acoustic tiles
If your edit suite is a bit too echoey, and you want to tamp down the sound that bounces around, acoustical tiles are the answer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any as stylish as the plethora of options that come from Felt Right. These things look gorgeous. There are so many different designs and shapes to choose from. You can make them work in any edit suite. The residential tiles would probably be perfect for most editors when they come with what looks to be an easy-to-apply adhesive backing. These are at the top of my bookmark list for when I redesign my edit suite. Thanks to The Verge Installer newsletter for this one and the next few ideas.
Brick
If you have trouble being distracted by your phone and its constant notifications (and a do-not-disturb setting doesn’t seem to work), then Brick might be the gift for you. Brick is a physical device that blocks apps and notifications from your phone. You set the apps you want to block (or keep), and Brick will block them. If you want to bypass Brick, you have to physically bypass Brick. It’s a clever way to eliminate distractions from your phone. And at $60, there’s no subscription required.
One of the Kensington Expert Mouse Trackballs
Despite my decades-long quest for the best editing control surface (the Loupedeck CT still reigns supreme), one constant has always been the Kensington Expert Mouse trackball. I’ve got one that’s been working as long as I can remember (and can be had for cheap), but with the new Expert Mouse™ TB800 EQ Multi-Connection Trackball, I’m putting that on my Christmas list. This $130 device looks to ship on 12/9 so it might make it in time for Christmas. But if you want to save a few dollars, the $110 Expert Mouse® Wireless Trackball is still a great option. And then don’t forget the software to make the most of your trackball.
Ridge Wallet
If you’ve ever wanted a metal, RFID-blocking wallet that has a color bar pattern then the Ridge Wallet might be for you. Ridge has many different colors and patterns you can get on your wallet, but as a video editor, you know you want color bars. And we have to have something with color bars as a Christmas gift idea! $95 will get you one unless you can find a sale.
An Edit Pet
I don’t mean a stuffy or a toy, but how about a real edit sweet pet like an edit dog? Never would I recommend someone taking on the responsibility and ownership of a pet, especially one as needy as a dog can be, unless they were ready for that commitment. But having a furry companion in your edit suite can really make those lonely days without a client a little bit brighter. Besides dogs being just a lot of fun, taking your pup for a midday stroll or to go out and do his or her business is a good incentive to get out of the chair, stretch your legs, and see a little bit of sunlight. We got our dog from a local adoption agency. But I do know a couple of people who have used Petfinder successfully to adopt a pet. A big, big bonus if you adopt your pet from a shelter.
F… Off, I’m Editing coffee mug
This one isn’t for the easily offended, but it’s often the sentiment many editors feel when they are deep in the grind. While I censored the image above, for $15 you can get an uncensored version for your edit suite! This is sold to photographers, but we video editors edit too.