A very merry Tech-mas
KID-FRIENDLY robots, smart screens, shrinking cameras and retro toys are the top gadget gifts this Christmas, in a season experts tip will be the most tech-filled to date.
Fuelled by a long list of product launches and quirky innovations, Australians will see everything from sleep-assisting earbuds to phone-charging photo frames under their Christmas tree.
But retail and tech experts are warning buyers to keep an eye on their budgets, with the price of some devices skyrocketing this year, and to keep electronics purchases local and check return policies to avoid nasty surprises.
Australians are expected to spend a record $51.5 billion during the Christmas period, according to Roy Morgan, and shopping expert Kathy Sheeran said much of it would be splashed on innovative tech.
“For kids, there are a lot of robots out,” she said.
“You can build your own robot this year, or there’s Furreal toys which are interactive and you can talk to them and tell them jokes. They’re going to be one of the bestsellers this Christmas.”
Other robots range from the educational Sphero Bolt and the know-it-all Anki Vector to a sensor-packed Harry Potter wand you can program and command using an iPad.
In addition to brand new technologies, eBay Australia chief marketing officer Julie Nestor said retro products were also staging a comeback in tech toys such as Tamagotchi “allowing big kids to revisit their childhood”.
Amazon Australia also revealed that Nintendo classics and new Switch games topped local purchases, with “more Australian buying Nintendo products than any other brand”.
Superhero films in 4K also dominated home entertainment purchases, in the same year high-resolution video arrived on Australian small screens, and Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said homeentertainment purchases would also be a popular choice.
“A lot of people with older TV sets who want to get apps on their TV might be looking for a gadget to smarten up their TV experience, whether that’s from a carrier or a third-party set-top box to watch Netflix, Stan or Kayo,” he said.
Mr Fadaghi said he also expected drones to fly back on to shopping lists after becoming “more socially acceptable”, smartwatches to become the most popular gift from Apple Stores due to falling prices, and interest in highly publicised smart speakers with screens. Smartphones would likely fall off shopping lists this year, he said, as the price of even mid-range handsets had soared. A “mini-boom” in wireless internet devices could also be on the cards to ensure all the gadgets worked, he said, as “you don’t want your robot vacuum cleaner stopping halfway down the hall”. Other popular devices this year include new-generation mirrorless cameras from Nikon and Canon, redesigned tablet computers with lighter bodies, gadgets to entertain pets, and lifestyle devices like the Bose Sleepbuds to lull you to sleep, the Tile Pro to help you locate lost keys, and the Twelve South PowerPic, a photo frame that also acts as a wireless phone charger. Ms Sheeran said savvy Christmas shoppers should make sure to check stores’ return policies before purchasing gifts, and to buy tech gifts from Australian stores so they received a local warranty. And don’t leave it too late if buying online.