iPhone 7
Photography enthusiasts would probably prefer to see the dual-camera 7 Plus under the Christmas tree and the lack of a 64Gb model still rankles with some users, but there’s plenty to recommend the iPhone 7, all the same. This time out you have a 4.7″ screen, 2.34GHz quad core processor, full HD playback, 12/7MP rear/front cameras and a 750×1334 pixel display. Apple has made a lot of fuss over the improved stereo speakers – if you’re into that kind of thing – and you can offset your ire and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack with the knowledge that an adapter comes in the box.
Price: Varies by network
HTC Desire 530
HTC’s Desire 530 is a mid-range smartphone that offers plenty of spec for a relatively modest price point. We’ve found some in the wild selling for as little as €160 and for your money you get a 5″ screen, 16Gb internal storage (expandable, of course), 8/5MP cameras and a 720×1280 screen. That it looks a lot more expensive than it is probably as good an endorsement as you’ll get.
Price: Varies by network
Doro 6520
The Doro 6520 still has all of the core functions of previous Doro feature phones aimed at seniors such as loud and clear sound, Hearing Aid Compatibility, large display and wide spaced keys.
Price: €69.99 (Vodafone)
Nvidia Shield K1
Tablets have found their way as casual devices or, latterly, replacements for the laptop but there doesn’t seem to be much aimed at the gaming space. The Shield K1 runs Android 5.0, has a 2.2GHz quadcore processor, 16Gb storage (expandable, of course), an 8″ screen (making it a little on the small side), 10 hours of battery life and its own controller. You won’t do better for less than €200.
Price: €199
Kindle Paperwhite
The base Kindle Touch model comes in around €89 and delivers a fine, if basic e-reading experience. If you want something more elaborate, the Paperwhite adds annotations, a vocabulary builder, 3G connectivity and a built-in light. Perhaps more impressive is the 300ppi screen and six-week battery life.
Price: €149.99
Parrot Bebop 2
You can spend as much as you like on a drone from less than €100 to more than €1,000. The Parrot Bebop represents the mid range. As well as a 14MP HD camera with 8Gb of storage it comes with first-person goggles, so you get a front row seat to see how well you fly. Make sure you get an IAA permit with it.
Price: €464
Box Charge Hub
Box got a mention on a recent TechRadio podcast for its power solutions and this is a fine example of what they do. This little box has five UDB ports for you to handle all your chargeables at the same time. You might also look out for the company’s wireless charger and a surge protector with four built in USB ports.
The small and useful Charge Hub will find favour with regular travellers or people with just that many gadgets to look after.
Price: €39.99
Google Chromecast Ultra
You can pick up a regular Chromecast for €39 but if you want a little bit of futureproofing, the new Chromecast Ultra is a sound investment. The latest model adds 4K and HDR support and is simple to set up through any mobile device connected to Wi-Fi via the Google Home app.
Price: €79.99
Apple TV
Where the Chromecast excels in convenience the Apple TV might just have an edge when it comes to catalogue. For only €10 on the price of a Chromecast you have access not just to Apple’s library but a host of other apps like Netflix and YouTube. It might be a bit of an either/or choice but both devices are discrete enough that finding a home for both won’t be too hard.
From €89
Samsung Gear S3
We’ve left out the obvious contenders in the smartwatch space from Apple, Pebble, Garmin and Fitbit in favour of the Samsung’s third attempt – the Gear S3.
For the first time in the Gear series, the S3 features Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, a super AMOLED, 16 million colour Always On Display (AOD) and a rotating bezel acts at the watch’s digital command centre, allowing you to accept or reject calls, receive texts, e-mails and alerts.
Built-in GPS functionality and S Health app enables users to accurately monitor their daily fitness activities while the alti/barometer and speedometer apps allow users to track everything from altitude and atmospheric pressure to sudden changes in weather, distance travelled and speed.
The ‘classic’ model shown here goes for €489
HTC Vive
If it comes down to a battle between the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, the Vive delivers a more immersive experience and will get you out of your chair for some proper exploring. Its tie to the Steam store means you’ll have plenty to do once you get set up and you won’t have to spend extra for hand controllers, unlike its more hyped-up competitor.
Price: €929
Freefly VR
Not everyone wants to spend hundreds on VR so there are plenty of generic headsets out there to leverage your mobile phone akin to the Gear VR or Google Cardboard. The Freefly VR will take any smartphone with a total length between 135mm and 165mm (there’s a list of compatible handsets on the website). Unlike some of the competition, the Freefly comes with a Bluetooth controller, to give you a little more control over your virtual experience.
Price: €55
Bose SoundLink Mini
More than a simple Bluetooth speaker, the SoundLink Mini promises deep base, 10 hours of battery life and a built in speakerphone. If you buy from the official Bose website it works out €70 than many shops and you have a 30-day free trial.
Price: €229
Panasonic DMR-PWT550EB
A combination of HD box, TV recorder (500Gb capacity), media streamer and Blu-ray player, this set-top box from Panasonic covers all the current home entertainment functions. It also offers multi-room viewing and dual channel recording in the unlikely event two shows of interest are being broadcast at the same time. Normally retailing above €400, there are plenty of deals to be found online. The one quoted here come direct from the manufacturer website.
Price: €379
Western Digital MyPassport Ultra
Portable hard drives definitely fall into the ‘unsexy but necessary’ category but that doesn’t mean they make bad presents. This little number from industry stalwart Western Digital crams in an impressive 2Tb into a small case. It comes with a USB3 connection and its own backup software, though you may prefer to go with Windows’ baked in alternative.
Price: €109
LG 49UH668V
For most people a 4K HDR TV won’t be under the tree but we found this basic model at Currys with €370 off the original asking price, so that might be enough to bring you on board for the next generation of HDTV.
Features include a built-in digital tuner, two HDMI ports and direct access to Netflix.
Price: €629
HP Spectre x360
HP is taking on the ultrabook space with the Spectre x360, a 13” laptop which weighs a mere 1.1kg. Under the hood is has a 256Gb SSD, 8Gb RAM, Intel HD Graphics and a 1920×1020 display.
Price: €1,199
For more Christmas gift ideas listen to this week’s TechRadio podcast.
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