THE holidays are just around the bend and many of you are starting to think about what perfect gift to give this Christmas.
You may have the budget, but not the idea.
So save someone from your yearly Kris Kringle transgressions and veer away from the usual mugs and picture frames as we list down the 10 must have gadgets that you can buy to surprise that techie friend or loved one of yours.
1. DSLRs
Digital photography has seen a big boost in recent years with more and more affordable consumer line models available in the market for the growing enthusiasts to choose from.
Nikon D3400
It ranks up on top of the entry level DSLRs in the market today. If you’re looking for your first DSLR to upgrade from your point-and-shoot camera, then this model is really a bang-for-the-buck. Notable entries are Canon’s 800D and Nikon D5600.
Price: P20,000-P22,000
Parting point: Get professional looking pics at your Christmas party. But please, don’t wear this as a necklace, you’re not a jejemon.
2. Smart Watches
If we’ll be adhering to the natural order of things, then watches are reserved primarily to show you what time it is. But if you’re like me where time is just a concept and a reminder of how I’m perpetually late all the time, then smart watches that offer so much more other than telling time, is a worthwhile gift to give this holidays.
ZTE Quartz
This bad boy is insanely priced lower than its competitors. Unlike the notable apple watch 3, the ZTE Quartz is handsomely priced at the 5k mark that lets you experience almost the same specs of other brands at a fraction of a cost.
Price: P4,500-P5,000
Parting point: Now you have proof that you actually jogged earlier this morning. No to those fake “after run” selfies!
3. Laptops
These reliable computers-on-the-go, are perfect for anyone. From students, working professionals, businessmen, entrepreneurs and even gamers, laptops provide so many in a build so compact. So this gadget really is one of the more staple products on anyone’s wish-list every Christmas.
Asus VivoBook Max X541NA and IdeaPad Y910
It’s the most affordable that we can find but can still muster enough firepower to be a do-it-all laptop. Dell’s Inspiron 14 and Acer’s Aspire ES1-332 are also honorable mentions but it’s really up to you as the products don’t really differ from each other’s specs and price range.
Price: P17,995
For the serious gamers, who have really serious money to burn, you can’t go wrong with Lenovo laptops, such as the IdeaPad Y910, a stylish, powerful and portable plug-and-play device with DIY flexibility that offer the most immersive experiences.
Price: Hold you breath, P130,000 to P150,000
Parting point: With a laptop, you’ll look very professional at your everyday coffee break at Starbucks. “May tinatapos lang na business report.”
4. Home entertainment speakers
The subtitle might be misleading as most HES or home entertainment speakers are more frequently used (and boasted) outdoors. Make every pool or garden Christmas party much more entertaining with these booming boxes.
Heos 1
Listen to your favorite audio tracks wirelessly, indoors or outdoors, via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi audio streaming with the new Heos 1. The compact enclosure features humidity resistance, making the HEOS 1 ideal for listening in damp or steamy environments, such as the bathroom. It’s also a perfect outdoor system when on the go.
Price: P16,000.00-17,000
Parting point: Use this anywhere and you’ll find yourself partying even in the middle of nowhere, just hope you still have the energy to dance even if you’re basically lost though.
5. Smartphones
To rid smartphones off of this list is blasphemy so we take a look at the coolest smartphones options to give this holiday season.
And 2017 saw a number of innovations in the smartphone scene with many brands offering unheralded features in their handsets at very competitive prices. Features that blew us away is the added security of the face recognition technology.
Vivo V7+
One such phone that has this technology is Vivo’s newest flagship phone. The phone sports an unheard of 24MP front cam and saw significant improvement in both hardware and specs from its predecessors.
This phone is perfect for anyone that loves selfies, is all out at Mobile Legends and a perfect phone for the all-screen purists.
Price: P17,990
Parting point: Well, smartphones. There’s not much explaining needed to why it’s a perfect gift to that techie loved one.
6. Gaming Consoles
After setting record after record, Sony’s PlayStation series still tops anyone’s dream gift every holidays. A bespoke gift for those gamer daddies and the ultimate reward for the kids, game consoles are hard to scratch off any wish list.
Sony PlayStation 4
Everyone who has owned a PlayStation or any gaming console for that matter will salivate at this product which features cool game controllers that match up to the games that they offer. If you’re on a smaller budget but still want this beast, try out their Slim version. Game on!
Price: (Pro) P18 to 19,000 (Slim) P14 to 15,000
Parting point: Get super HD quality on games and an enhanced gaming experience that you can share as a family this holiday break!
7. Earphones/Headphones
For the music junkies, to receive a good pair of high quality in-ear earphones or headphones is a Christmas wish come true. Escape the cacophony of the metro manila traffic when you commute with these devices.
Bose SoundTrue Ultra Earphones
Touted as one of the most comfortable in-ear headphones available in the market, that delivers clean and well-balanced sound. These stay securely in your ears, and an integrated inline remote works well for making cell-phone calls.
Price: P4,000
Parting point: There are a lot of options out there but if you want to really cancel out the honking bus behind your ride, then consider putting these bad boys on. A word of caution though, don’t use them while crossing the street.
8. With the advent of internet streaming, Smart TVs are the in thing. And you need the “King of TV” to enjoy Netflix, iFlix and the like.
LG OLED TV
Powered by the only organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology in the world, the LG OLED TV is designed to elevate home entertainment to premium cinematic levels. From delivering unrivalled audio-visual experiences right at home to a sleek, ultra-thin minimalist design perfect for any decor, the LG OLED TV is definitely on a league of its own.
Price: See parting point.
Parting point: You want a really nice TV set, be ready to cough up serious money.
9. External Drives
Memory limits won’t be anymore of your problems when you receive (or give) external hard drives.
Variants come in at 256GB, 500GB, 1TB and so on, but if you really want to store all those K-Dramas and Netflix Series, then I suggest going for the 1TB or 2TB hard drives.
Western Digital My Passport 1TB
Perfect for those hoarders of movies and soap operas, Western Digital’s credible line of true 1TB external storages would give anyone a terabyte of happiness when they receive on.
Price: P3,000-4,000
Parting point: Don’t mistake these for powerbanks though. They might look the same but one’s not for the use of the other. Terabytes don’t charge phones. Or do they? Only time will tell.
10. Drones
All right, this product is probably for the uber enthusiasts, but having a drone is sooo cool. So consider giving this product to your camera buff family member as an advanced gift for the next three Christmases.
DJI Spark
A mini drone that features all of DJI’s signature technologies, allowing you to seize the moment whenever you feel inspired. With intelligent flight control options, a mechanical gimbal, and a camera with incredible image quality, Spark empowers you to push your creative boundaries.
Price: P30,500
Parting point: Drones are just so cool.