We like a scarf and socks as much as the next man, but they’re not the same as opening your own drone aircraft on a Christmas morning, are they?
Things you can plug in always make for more exciting gifts, so we’ve trawled through this year’s finest gadgetry to hand-pick the gizmos we’d most like to ignore the instruction manuals of.
In This Article
If you’re looking to start a smart home journey, the Amazon Echo Studio is the best place to start. This speaker is impeccably tailored and undeniably sophisticated. With its five-speaker setup, think of it as your personal concert hall, delivering 3D audio that’s as crisp as your favorite dress shirt.
From controlling your smart home to updating you on the latest trends, it’s all a voice command away. And let’s not overlook its design—a sleek, fabric-wrapped cylinder that’s more a statement piece than a gadget.
Yeah, some people wear Beats more for their looks than their circuitry and sonics, but with Bose you don’t have to sacrifice either. Active noise-canceling pinpoints external sounds to block (such as screaming children on Boxing Day, say), while the battery helps give you up to 20 hours’ battery life on a single charge.
Today, your digital footprint often precedes you, which is why Mobilo’s smart digital business cards are the ultimate statement for the modern gentleman. Forget the passé paper cards of yesteryears, ones that get crumpled, dropped, or left behind – these smart cards are creating networking for the 21st century. Whether you’re a high-flying executive or a budding entrepreneur, Mobilo offers a range of options that are as versatile as your wardrobe.
But let’s talk tech: these cards are NFC/RFID-enabled, making them the Aston Martin of business cards—sleek, efficient, and compatible with both Apple and Android. Got an older phone? No sweat, the QR code has you covered. And here’s the kicker: no monthly fees, rapid 48-hour shipping, and a choice of materials that range from classic plastic to luxe metal.
Nowadays farm-to-table is more than a trend, it’s a lifestyle. And if you have a food-conscious lover in your life, I’m sure they’ve told you all about their farmers market escapades. Thus with the Click & Grow Countertop Herb Garden, you can easily bring the farm to the table, even if you live in a high-rise.
With its sleek design and minimalist aesthetic, it’s the perfect addition to any modern kitchen, blending functionality with undeniable style. With all the easy features (grown light, herb pods) and none of the mess, even the design-picky will be happy to watch their basil grow in style.
If you’re considering a smartwatch for the tech lover in your life, the Garmin Venu 2 is the watch equivalent of a perfectly tailored tuxedo—sleek, functional, and undeniably stylish. This gift isn’t just a gift, it’s a functional lifestyle companion that tracks your fitness, monitors your health, and even plays your favorite tunes.
With its crisp AMOLED display and customizable watch faces, it’s an easy fashion statement and tech marvel. But let’s delve into the specs: From advanced sleep tracking to on-screen animated workouts, this is an easy Christmas gift for the fashion-forward tech man in your life.
A perfect gift for the time-short caffeine snob in your family, Breville is the best tabletop barista to dispense your daily wake-up potion. While this one isn’t beginner-friendly, it will certainly be rewarding to watch them figure it out, especially when they figure out the perfect pull. It’ll make a morning person out of anyone.
The photography and video snob’s snapper of choice, GoPro has (for years) produced some of the world’s greatest tiny adventure cameras. Its latest digital snapper is no different, offering the kind of quality and durability that no smartphone in the world could touch.
Wifi-enabled so you can upload to the cloud, with all the best video features (smoothing, high-definition, waterproof) all you have to do is kick back, relax, and record.
The newest generation of a highly rated (and affordable) tablet has all the features the screen lover in your life will need. With quick charge time an ample 10.5-inch screen and plenty of storage there is little left to be desired. Whether for a friend, a partner, or a new student this is an easy one to check-off for your Christmas list.
The world is full of wireless speakers these days, so you must seek out the right company to guarantee sound quality that will do Bob Dylan’s Christmas album justice. Riva Audio was set up by music industry veterans with a background in sound production – in other words, they know what they’re doing. The Arena speaker can be paired with others or used alone, streaming music from Spotify, YouTube and other platforms.
For the commuter who flits between their inbox, Netflix and the morning news, this laptop serves all your needs in one. At 13 inches, it’s small enough to stow in a bag and a 360-degree hinge on the high-definition touchscreen means you can use it like a traditional laptop or a tablet. The only thing it won’t do is get the guy sitting next to you to move his elbow.
It’s estimated there are 3,934,500,000,000 photos tucked away on hard drives in phones and computers around the world right now. This portable printer is designed to set some of them free.
It works like Polaroid, so you have to buy film rather than ink, and each photo takes 30 seconds to print. You can send social media posts and video stills to it, too, then reanimate them with an augmented reality app on your phone. Ideal for the cheesy Christmas jumper shot on the 25th.
This smart padlock automatically unlocks when its owner’s phone is held close, so don’t worry about keys or forgotten combination locks. Whether you’re securing your bike, your gym locker or just want to keep your housemates out of the food that was clearly labelled yours, this has you covered with up to a year’s battery life.
Apple’s decision to cut the wires on its headphones didn’t get everyone’s approval, but the company’s new in-ear standard is still a seriously impressive bit of kit. Take them out of the case and they’ll automatically sync with your nearest iProduct. Pop them in your ears and they’ll automatically play. Take them out and they’ll pause. You can also adjust controls via Siri, making them wearable tech that listens to you as much as you listen to it.
Some drones are little more than electronic mosquitos, buzzing around dodging swats from increasingly irate passers-by. Then there are some, like this flying behemoth, that genuinely make us marvel.
Boasting a 7km range, the RC aircraft is equipped with a film-quality 4K camera that beams footage straight back to your phone. Easy to fly and small enough to fold into a backpack, it lets you turn your next dog walk into an epic BBC nature documentary. Attenborough voiceover not supplied.