Top tech gifts for Christmas
A big trend in photography is being able to print out photos on the go, like old Polaroid cameras. One gadget that does this is The Lifeprint Instant Print Camera ($290 from apple.com/nz).
It’s a slim Bluetooth printer that attaches to an iPhone allowing you to print photos from your camera roll or from social media sites. It’s compatible with most iPhone cases and comes with a five-pack of photo paper.
Another cool gadget for photo and film fans is the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal ($199). A gimbal, also known as a stabiliser, is a handheld device that keeps your smartphone level allowing you to get smooth footage.
It has a lot of features, such as being able to track your subject, capture motion time-lapses or produce zoom effects usually found on professional film sets. If you’re looking for a laptop for the gamer in your life then the Dell G7 15 Gaming ($2398) is one of the best available.
It’s got a top-end graphics card that will play games on high to medium settings and has tech to keep it cool during long gaming sessions.
For something more affordable and for general use, a Chromebook is a great option. Take a look at the HP Chromebook 14, which is a great multi-tasking tool that has the advantage of a long-lasting battery. It’s also affordable ($525) and comes with 32GB of internal storage. With most smartphones now doing away with a headphone port, many people are looking for wireless options. One set to consider is the Sony H.ear On WH-H900N ($399), which is recommended by many tech reviewers. It offers good sound and active noise cancellation, making it a great all-around pair of headphones.
If you have an iPhone without a headphone port and don’t want to go wireless then take a look at the urBeats 3 ($99) earbuds. Instead of the traditional 3.5mm plug it comes with a lightning connector so it can be plugged into the phone’s charging port.
If you know someone who loves music, then one of the best gifts is a subscription to a music streaming service.
The downside of this present is that there’s nothing physical to give but the upside is that it lasts a year.
Your two best options are Spotify ($14.99 a month) and Apple The SNES Classic ($140) is fun for gamers young and old. It comes with two controllers which makes it multiplayer-friendly straight out of the box.
It also has 21 pre-loaded titles, including several Super Mario games, Legends of Zelda and Donkey Kong.
Fitness fanatics who love tech will enjoy the Samsung Galaxy Watch, which comes in two sizes: 46mm ($549) and 42mm ($499). Note that you’ll need an Android phone.
It doesn’t look like a smartwatch but it’s packed with features, including ones that track your fitness and help motivate you to exercise.
Drivers who love tech will appreciate the Garmin Dash Cam 65W ($299) which is small and powerful. It offers high-definition resolution and a 180-degree field of view.
It also comes with GPS, wi-fi, voice control, and safety alerts to help you avoid collisions and it has the ability to capture good footage during the day and at night.