While the cinema is still the best way to experience movies, it’s admittedly hard (and expensive!) to corral kids for a theater trip. And don’t even bring up babysitting costs. These days, it’s far easier to turn your house into the perfect entertainment cocoon, with all of your required creature comforts. Here are a few suggestions to help dads get their kids into Across the Spider-Verse (or perhaps catch up on all the Marvel and Star Wars shows they may have missed).
Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
There are plenty of soundbars out there, but few are as versatile as the Sonos Beam. It’s a sleek box that’ll instantly upgrade any TV with expansive and detailed sound. But, it’s also a smart speaker with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That makes it a viable alternative to devices like the Echo. Being able to shout “Play some Sesame Street songs!” comes in really handy for new parents. Trust me.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
If your entertainment runs through a game console, and dad just wants to kick back to watch a game or some Blu-ray discs, then he’ll appreciate navigating things with a remote instead of a gamepad. The PS5 Media Remote matches the console aesthetically, and includes shortcut buttons for several popular apps. Plus, its batteries will last longer than the one in a DualSense so it will always be ready to go. Your biggest problem could be probably finding one in stock, although if you managed to snag the console then we think you’ll be able to figure this out too. For Xbox owners, the PDP Media remote works for systems from the One through the new Series X/S. Instead of shortcut keys it includes a fairly standard universal remote setup so that there’s not a lot of re-learning involved.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Anyone with an older TV set would appreciate Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K. It’s a $50 dongle that’ll do just about everything you’d want from a streaming device: Access a vast library of apps, offer fast performance and play content in 4K (and on supported TVs, it can also handle HDR and Dolby Vision). Even if a TV already has built-in apps, there’s a good chance the Streaming Stick will be faster, especially if the set is a few years old. Roku’s stick also makes for a great travel companion: Instead of logging into services on a hotel TV, dad just needs to plug this in.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
The latest version of the Apple TV 4K is, unsurprisingly, the best. It’s faster than ever, it’s far more affordable and it includes Apple’s revamped Siri Remote, which has a responsive (and clickable) circular trackpad. The new version is a solid upgrade for anyone with the original 4K model, and it’s even a bigger leap for owners of the company’s older set-top boxes. Sure, Apple’s TV app is also available on many competing devices, but we still prefer the user experience of the Apple TV 4K. Consider it a must buy for any iPhone-toting parents in your life.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Sony’s latest pair of noise-canceling headphones are among the best we’ve ever seen. The XM5 are supremely comfortable, offer excellent sound quality, and have far more powerful noise-blocking capabilities than before. While they’re not great for group watching, they’re the perfect pair of cans for a new dad who wants to fully immerse themselves in the latest Fast and Furious movie.
Philips Hue
Whether the house is already leaning into automation or not, this starter kit of Philips Hue White and Color lights should be a good fit. It comes with three bulbs that can glow in millions of colors, as well as a button for easy manual control and a Hue bridge. The latter will be important if dad eventually wants to add to its lighting system as it supports up to 50 connected lights. He’ll be able to control his lights from anywhere using the companion mobile app, set schedules and routines and use Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri commands to change the lighting in the house as he sees fit. That means it’ll be easier than ever for dad to get the right ambiance for his next movie night.
NEBULA
Portable projectors have come a long way over the last few years — instead of just being expensive toys , they’re now genuinely affordable ways to enjoy movies on the go. What dad wouldn’t want that? The Nebula Mars 3 Air is one of our favorite options: It offers a decently bright 400-nit image with support for 1080p video, HDR and enough battery life for two-and-a-half hours of movie watching. You could bring it outside to turn your backyard into an outdoor cinema, or set it up anywhere indoors for big-screen Bluey marathon sessions.
LG
LG’s C3 OLED TV isn’t its newest model, but that’s what makes it an ideal Father’s Day gift. Its price has fallen considerably since last year, so you can now easily find a 65-inch C3 OLED for around $1,600. Given everything it offers — an incredible 4K OLED panel with vibrant colors and inky dark blacks, LG’s Gen6 a9 AI processor and a fast 0.1ms response time for gaming — most dads won’t miss having the added brightness of the C4 OLED ($2,500 or more). LG has also earned its place as a reliable OLED TV maker, so you won’t have to worry about your gift becoming a dud in a year or two. In the pricey and sometimes confounding land of OLED TVs, the C3 is the smart and practical choice. Hank Hill would approve.