COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: EIGHT TECH THE HALLS
Go-go gadget gift-getting with our top guide to future-proof pressies for Xmas
IF you are looking for some lastminute Christmas gift inspiration, there are plenty of great gadgets and gizmos available to suit family and friends of all ages. Technology expert
MARK KAVANAGH
chooses 20 brilliant devices that cater for a variety of budgets...
LESS THAN €100 Project Yourself Phone Projector
Enjoy eight-times image magnification for a small home theatre experience. The projector which includes the magnifying lens is easily assembled and installed and ready to project. €30 from Three.
Xiaomi MI LCD writing tablet
This lets you take notes or draw and record your ideas wherever you are. Ideal for all ages, the tablet uses a customised LCD film with blue-green handwriting and a strikingly clear display, combining the experience of writing on traditional paper with that of a smooth LCD screen. €30 from Three.
Airtag tracker
Useful gift gadget for anyone who is always losing their keys, coats or handbags. Airtag is small enough to fit in anywhere and is great for finding lost luggage no matter where in the world it ends up. Airtag needs to be paired with an iphone and has a battery that needs replacing about once a year. €39 from Apple.
Vodiac VR Headset
Compatible with most smartphones, this is a simple way to enjoy VR. Download the app, insert your compatible smartphone into the VR headset and lose yourself in a world of virtual reality entertainment. €70 from Three.
Gamesir G8 Galileo gaming controller
Pro-grade mobile phone gaming controller that works with both iphone and Android devices. G8 Galileo supports mobile gaming on many platforms, including Xbox Game Pass, Steam Link and PS Remote Play. €67.95 from Gamesir or €95.09 from Amazon.
Fujifilm Instax Pal camera
Tiny, colourful, pocketable camera aimed at teens with multiple sharing options and the ability to print to a Fujifilm Instax printer. €99.95 at Harvey Norman (faster shipping).
Majority D40X Active Bookshelf Speakers
Boasting 70 watts of sound, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and a compact design, these Usb-powered speakers are an ideal upgrade to a home entertainment system. €81.13 from Amazon.
€100-€250 Karcher WV 6 Premium Window Vac
This innovative and streak-free cleaning solution is perfect for condensation and is three times faster than traditional methods. It’s great for regular cleaning of the inside of windows, screens and other smooth surfaces. It’s super-quick to charge too. €119.99 from Currys.
Propress Mini Handheld Clothes Steamer
It’s time to say farewell to the days of wrestling with an ironing board and hello to the future of garment care. This mini steamer delivers crease-free clothes and isportable
enough to take to the office or on holidays. €130 from Amazon.
Urbanista Solar Panel Los Angeles headphones
These solar-powered headphones deliver deep bass and sculpted highs, along with solid active noise cancellation. And they do it in a distinctive design that converts all light, outdoor/indoor into energy providing a battery reserve of 80 hours. €169 from Three.ie and in Three stores.
Amazon Fire HD10 tablet
One of the cheapest and best-value 10in tablets that you can buy. It’s got up to 13 hours of battery life, a stunning full HD screen, selfie camera for video calls, 32GB of storage and an octa-core processor. €124.81 from
Amazon.
Fitbit Charge 6 health tracker
Charge 6 includes built-in support for Google Maps, Google Wallet, and Youtube Music controls. It tracks your heart rate and sleep accurately along with your blood oxygen levels and it can do an ECG. It works with Google Wallet too so you can use it to pay for goods. €129, Harvey Norman.
€250-€500 Honor 90 5G smartphone
Top quality smartphone from one of the most widely tipped smartphone brands for Ireland in 2024. It’s got a 200MP camera and 512GB of storage. €259.99 from Three.ie.
Apple Airpods Pro 2 earphones
If you are an Apple user, these are so worthy of a five out of five rating. The
deep and seamless integration with its range of products makes Airpods Pro 2 the best choice in a saturated earphones market and you will get plenty of mileage out of them. €279 from Apple.
Apple Homepod speaker
Over the past year, a pair of these speakers have become one of my most-used Apple devices. First up, you get incredible room-filling Hi-res audio over Airplay (at up to 24-bit/48khz) and you get Dolby Atmos which works a treat when you pair them with an Apple TV box. There is Siri and smart home integration too. €349 from Apple.
Bose Quietcomfort Ultra Headphones
The new kings in active noise cancellation (ANC) come from Bose who outdo both Sony and
Apple’s highly acclaimed top-ofthe-range ANC cans. You can also personalise your immersive audio experience and make and take crystal clear calls. They look great too. €479.99 at Currys.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
This is a large but thin premium e-reader with a 10.2in screen that also includes a stylus to enable you to use it like a notebook. €365.33, Amazon. More than €500 Asus ROG Ally gaming device
Amazing portable gaming device that runs Windows. Its 7in full HD touchscreen and Dolby Atmos speakers combine to deliver silky smooth game play. €649 from Currys. Google Pixel 8 smartphone
The best Androidsmartphone
experience of 2023 is on both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This more affordable 6.1in model includes almost all of the great features of its big brother including the exclusive software features and the fantastic camera system and editing tools. €799 from Google.
JBL Authentics 500 speaker
This gorgeous hi-tech speaker is designed for home use. You get 270 watts of 3.1 channel sound, with virtual Dolby Atmos that creates a lifelike musical experience with seriously booming bass. And it supports both Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. €629 from Harvey Norman.