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Best Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys Reviewed

Best Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys ReviewsRaising boys is no small feat, and giving a 12 year old boy something to focus all that energy on is a challenge of its own.

And there is nothing better than knowing you nailed the gift when they really enjoy what you’ve chosen. It goes without saying that boys love adventure and personal challenge. A gift that helps boys explore something new, test their skill, and even frustrate them will go much further than something boring and average.

Finding the nest gift for a 12 year old boy isn’t easy, but Firefly Mommy is here to help you nail it.

There are a lot of great gifts for 12 year olds out there, and they are drowning in a sea of bad gifts. That’s why we put together a review of our top 8 gift ideas for boys in the pre-teen years. Whether you are shopping for a boy who loves the outdoors, loves a new hobby, or enjoys technology or sports, we have you covered.

You can see our top five picks in the comparison chart below, and read more about the details and features of our favorite gifts for 12 year olds in the reviews below.

Check out our favorite Gift For a 12 Year Old Boy

We list a few suggestions below that might shed some light on reasonable features to consider before you make a purchase.  You can also jump down to the comparison chart below for quick answers and details.

Top Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys Comparison Chart

Top Choice
Holy Stone 2K GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 with HD Camera Live Video and GPS Return Home, Large Quadcopter with Adjustable Wide-Angle Camera, Follow Me, Altitude Hold, 18 Minutes Flight, Long Control Range
Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack - Vintage Sunburst
Nintendo Switch Lite - Gray
Genesis Original Bow Archery Kit, Right Hand,Black
AKASO V50 Pro Native 4K30fps 20MP WiFi Action Camera with EIS Touch Screen 100 feet Waterproof Camera Web Camera Support External Mic Remote Control Sports Camera with Helmet Accessories Kit
Fun Features
GPS Assisted Flight, High-Quality Wifi Camera, Real-Time Remote Viewing
Everything you need to start playing guitar right away
Handheld Nintendo Switch gaming at a great price
Official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program
Waterproof Underwater Camera - Excellent For Outdoor Use
Customer Rating
Top Choice
Holy Stone 2K GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 with HD Camera Live Video and GPS Return Home, Large Quadcopter with Adjustable Wide-Angle Camera, Follow Me, Altitude Hold, 18 Minutes Flight, Long Control Range
Fun Features
GPS Assisted Flight, High-Quality Wifi Camera, Real-Time Remote Viewing
Customer Rating
More Details
Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack - Vintage Sunburst
Fun Features
Everything you need to start playing guitar right away
Customer Rating
More Details
Nintendo Switch Lite - Gray
Fun Features
Handheld Nintendo Switch gaming at a great price
Customer Rating
More Details
Genesis Original Bow Archery Kit, Right Hand,Black
Fun Features
Official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program
Customer Rating
More Details
AKASO V50 Pro Native 4K30fps 20MP WiFi Action Camera with EIS Touch Screen 100 feet Waterproof Camera Web Camera Support External Mic Remote Control Sports Camera with Helmet Accessories Kit
Fun Features
Waterproof Underwater Camera - Excellent For Outdoor Use
Customer Rating
More Details

Best Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys

1. Holy Stone HS100 Drone with GPS and 1080P Camera

Holy Stone HS100 Drone with GPS and 1080P Camera Review

Holy Stone HS100 Drone

Any young man obsessed with flying and gadgets would love a Holy Stone HS100 Drone. While this toy is advanced in terms of features, those features are what makes it a brilliant choice for beginners.

GPS navigation would provide your son with accurate details of their drone’s location, which means they won’t lose the toy if it were to fly out of sight. The GPS allows for a built-in Return-To-Home function too, so the drone automatically returns home when the battery runs low.

Using a phone for wi-fi, this drone will take high-quality photos and videos, which are viewable in real-time. What’s more, the Follow Me Mode means that your child can set-up their toy to follow them automatically, allowing hands-free flying and selfies.

Heavy winds are an issue for any drone, but with powerful motors and a bigger body, the Holy Stone HS100 will hover stably, even in the wind. The Altitude Hold, Headless Mode, and One Key Takeoff and Landing make orientation much easier too.

Most boys would see a drone as an awesome birthday gift, but with excellent camera quality and easy navigation, this model will compare well against any that your son’s friends have.

2. Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack Review

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar

Buying a musical instrument for any child is a big deal. Unlike many birthday gifts for boys, this one could influence your son’s life forever. That is why you must make sure that you do it right. The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack is a brilliant set up for any new musician. This bundle contains everything that your son will need to start playing the guitar right away.

A genuine Les Paul Special-II LE guitar is the star of this pack. Although this instrument is known to be budget-friendly, it is also among the best guitars currently on sale. Even professional musicians rely on these instruments while touring and recording records. The incredible sound and exceptional hardware are designed to last decades of frequent use.

Beyond the guitar itself, there are countless other features to get excited about. An easy-to-carry gig bag will make it easy and comfortable for your son to carry their instrument to music lessons and shows. A guitar strap and medium picks are two more included essentials that many parents purchasing guitars forget to include. With a chromatic tuner and 10-watt Electra guitar amp also supplied, your son will always be loud and in tune.

An instrument can change a person’s life, especially a young boy. With everything a new musician could possibly need, this bundle will get your son rocking in no time.

3. Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo Switch Lite Review

Nintendo Switch Lite


Every pre-teen boy loves a great gaming console. If you’ve heard of the Nintendo Switch, you might be interested to learn about the Nintendo Switch Lite. This new version of the Nintendo Switch system is optimized for personal, handheld gameplay, making it a cool gift for boys who don’t want or need to play on a big screen.

A sleek, unibody design and built-in +Control Pad makes the Nintendo Switch Lite the perfect choice for on-the-go gaming. From airports to the dentist’s waiting room, your young man can play with this new gadget from almost anywhere. Plus, there are several colors to choose from.

When many gaming brands release new consoles, the previous games aren’t compatible. Thankfully, that isn’t the case with the Nintendo Switch Lite. If you already have a Nintendo Switch at home, any games for that console will work on the new one. This means that your son can continue to play their favorite games, like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Any growing boy would be happy with a games console for their birthday, particularly the Nintendo Switch Lite, which allows them to play the best Nintendo games, even on-the-go.

4. Genesis Original Bow Kit

Genesis Original Bow Kit Review

Genesis Original Bow Kit

An official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program, the Genesis Original Bow Kit is a perfect starter bow for young archers. Unlike many alternatives, this beginner’s bow has no draw length requirement, which means that your son won’t ever outgrow it. If your young man has expressed an interest in archery, this kit will ensure that they won’t develop any bad habits typically caused by an ill-fitting bow.

Along with the bow, this kit includes a belt tube quiver, five aluminum arrows, an adjustable arm guard, a 3/16” hex wrench, and an owner’s manual. Although five arrows might seem like a small number, they can be used again and again. If you find that doesn’t work, you can always purchase more from a sporting goods store.

The bow itself is built with single-cam technology, which means that are no tuning issues, as well as less noise and recoil. Overall, this results in more accurate shooting.

Archery is a highly rewarding sport, so gift your son the tools that they need to thrive in it.

5. AKASO V50 Pro Action Camera

AKASO V50 Pro Action Camera Review

AKASO V50 Pro Action Camera

In this digital age, there are many expensive gadgets we would happily leave in our children’s hands. Among them is an action camera. Kids, especially young boys, can use action cameras for countless reasons. Some children enjoy recording their sports games, while others make home movies. Whatever the purpose, an AKASO V50 Pro Action Camera would work well.

This camera comes in black or grey and can be used to film anything your twelve year old wants to. A durable waterproof case means that your son can even capture underwater footage, both in the ocean and swimming pools. A Diving Mode will filter out the red light while underwater, so you won’t have to purchase a red filter.

Whatever your child films and wherever they film from, you can guarantee impressive video quality. This action camera features 4K and built-in electronic image stabilization, which ensures a stable video, even when the camera shakes or tilts.

With all of those features and many more to boot, you can be certain that your pre-teen will be happy with their birthday, Christmas, or graduation gift.

6. Kids Smart Watch Phone with GPS Tracker

Kids Smart Watch Phone with GPS Tracker Review

Kids Smart Watch Phone with GPS

Children usually want to be like their parents. This means that owning a smartwatch will make your son wish he had one of his own. If a birthday or other celebration is just around the corner, that could be the perfect gift. A Kids Smart Watch Phone combines all the essential elements of typical smartwatches, including video and voice calling, messaging, and location-tracking into one device. Since this product is aimed at children and pre-teens, there are safety features too.

Included in the box are the smartwatch, a wrist band, two strap pins, and a charging cord. The black watch comes with a black wrist band, while the white instead offers a neon pink band.

Being a device aimed at children, it makes sense that this smartwatch is water-resistant, with a durable structure design. If your child were to splash or hit their new watch, it wouldn’t break right away.

There are countless features for your young man to play around with, such as reminders, messaging, GIF stickers, calls, and even a camera. The real-time locator means that you can keep track of your child, as well as check where they’ve been.

If you’re in the market for a child-friend, yet advanced smart watch for your son, there aren’t many better options than this.

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7. Folding Hockey Goal with Backstop

Folding Hockey Goal with Backstop Review

Folding Hockey Goal with Backstop

Hockey is an active and rewarding hobby enjoyed by many pre-teen and teenage boys. If your son is a fan of the sport, they might wish for an aid to improve their skills. This folding hockey goal could be the perfect solution for their training troubles.

Built from quality materials, this goal is made for longevity. The think, heavy-gauge steel frame is not only rock-solid, but Regulation size, while the netting is UV-protected, so it won’t deteriorate if left outside. However, with a fold-up frame, there’s no reason why your son can’t store it inside safely.

Along with the goal, you’ll get a Shooter Tutor, which is a removable goal cover that serves as a goalie. Having the Shooter Tutor in goal means that your son will only have a small target available to shoot at.

When gifts for boys are concerned, this is among the most active toys you can find.

8. Laegendary 4×4 Off Road Remote Control Truck

Laegendary 4x4 Off Road Remote Control Truck Review

Laegendary 4×4 Off Road Remote Control Truck

Most boys can’t wait for the day when they can drive. Until that time comes around, you could entertain your pre-teen with a remote control alternative. The Legendary 4×4 Off Road Remote Control Truck is a high-speed and powerful vehicle perfect for the boy that loves all things fast, muddy, and monster.

This off-road truck features shock absorbers and a durable body, making it stable and durable in the face of a multitude of obstacles. The remote control itself runs in a 2.7 GHz frequency, which provides a stable signal. The non-jamming function means that multiple users can play simultaneously too.

A USB charging line makes powering this RC truck easy. The charger offers several helpful functions, including overcharge protection, to prevent an accident and improve safety.

Everyone knows that no two remote control vehicles are built the same. However, the speed, durability, and safety of this car are certainly built for your son.

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