I test TVs for living, and these are the 10 gifts I want this year for upgrading my living room

This is the first of a couple of gifts on my wish list that I would classify as “boring but essential.” Earlier this year, I spun up a guide to cleaning a TV screen, noting that chemicals ought to be avoided while doing so. But since then, I’ve been using a light amount of this screen cleaner in conjunction with a microfiber cloth, and I’ve become a believer. It’s safe enough for my OLED TV, comes with its own cloth and, now that my first bottle is almost empty, I could use a new one as a stocking stuffer.

This is the second “boring but essential” gift idea on my wish list. In my line of work, I need as many HDMI cables as I can get. As a TV expert, I also can’t help but be painfully aware of the fact that many people spend too much on HDMI cables. If your TV is outfitted with HDMI 2.1-compatible inputs, all you really need are reliable cables whose bandwidth supports HDMI 2.1-related features. These 48-Gbps, Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables from Monoprice are affordable, braided for additional durability and capable of supporting a TV's A/V- and gaming-related features. They’re perfect to pair with the LG C5 that I will definitely be receiving as a gift this year.

My streaming platform of choice is Roku, and I rely on a Roku Ultra for all of my daily streaming needs. It’s an essential part of my modest home theater setup, but unfortunately, I’ve dropped the Roku remote so many times that the thing just randomly opens Hulu or adjusts the volume on its own. I’ve asked for a Roku Voice Remote Pro this year not just because my old remote needs to be replaced, but because it comes with a bunch of benefits, like a rechargeable battery and customizable, backlit buttons.

One of my favorite mid-era Spielberg flicks is one that I haven’t owned since it first released on DVD decades ago. The 4K Blu-ray of “Minority Report” just hit shelves last week, and I’m dying to get my hands on this thing. If you’ve somehow managed not to see it after all of these years, I’m legitimately jealous. Just as this throwback, kinetic thriller twists time for dramatic effect, I wish that I could twist time and revert to a state of having not seen “Minority Report,” just so I could experience it for the first time again.

This year, few movies knocked me on my keister as hard as “Weapons,” a spooky, rollercoaster ride of a movie that blends horror, comedy and some of the most memorable performances of the year. If you haven’t figured it out already, I’ve been trying to build out my physical media collection in recent years, including my favorite new releases. “Weapons” will fit in nicely on my shelf (and look stunning on the aforementioned LG C5 that I will also be receiving this year).

This one’s easy: I need a soundbar and I don’t need anything super fancy. The Sony S100F is what my colleagues recommend in the all-important value category, and it seems like one of the best soundbars for my small living space. It’s easy to set up, comes in a compact size and I’ve been told it’ll help to clear up hard-to-hear dialogue during movies and shows.

When my colleague Nikita Achanta reviewed these gaming-focused, in-ear monitors a few months ago, I immediately knew they’d make my wish list this year. In Nikita’s Inzone E9 review, a case was made that these IEMs could transform someone’s FPS gameplay on account of their comfort, clarity and ability to foster concentration during intense, competitive matches. As someone who’s fully hooked on ARC Raiders, a game that emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s surroundings, I’m ready to upgrade.

As a burgeoning collector of physical media, I’m ready to stop relying on Xbox Series X and PS5 to play my 4K Blu-rays. Dedicated Blu-ray players are getting scarcer by the year, and this Panasonic player is one of the best you can still buy. It’s a hefty investment, but one that will continue to pay off the longer I collect 4K discs.

No, I’m not immune to one of the most popular gifts of 2025. I thought I could make it to Christmas of 2026 without needing a Nintendo Switch 2, but I just can’t wait any longer. This bundle arrives with a copy of “Mario Kart World,” so it saves me the trouble of buying that game separately. The Switch 2 will round out my array of consoles, and its upgraded hardware will have titles looking terrific on my LG C5 (a TV that I will surely be receiving as a gift this holiday season).

Look, I get it: The likelihood of me waking up to a new TV on Christmas morning is low. But if Santa could figure out how to get a 65-inch TV into my apartment without waking me up, the five-star LG C5 OLED is the one I’d want. It’s our best-reviewed TV of 2025 for good reason, delivering sensational performance no matter the content. It’s also jam-packed with extra features, including a class-leading selection of gaming enhancements. I currently own the LG C1, an earlier version of LG’s celebrated C Series OLED, and I’m ready to upgrade to a TV I know to be reliable. Get the full scoop on this TV’s many benefits in our full LG C5 review.