18 BEST tech gifts for any budget
We've rounded up the 18 best tech gifts you can buy this Christmas
If you’re struggling to to find presents for family and friends this Christmas – look no further. Here’s our guide to the best tech gifts in 2016.
Whether you’ve got thousands to spend or you’re looking for something under £40, we have a tech gift for everyone on your list no matter their level of gadget know-how.
It’s not just geeks who love tech: your mum, dad, partner, kids, best friend and even your gran would love to receive some of the tech gifts in our ultimate Christmas 2016 gift guide.
We’ve got everything from fitness trackers to drones, so this year you can forget that Christmas Eve dash to the High Street.
Read on for our best tech gift guide 2016
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones – Black
The QuietComfort product series by Bose is, as far as we’re concerned, the gold standard for noise-canceling headphones. The QuietComfort 35 over-ear headphones are a great fit; feature a sleek design; long battery life; the best noise-cancelling technology in the business. Not to mention the finely tuned sound signature – so you’ll never miss a bass drop or a snare kick. Yes, they are a bit pricey, but they’re also the best of their kind.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphone review here
Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate and Fitness Wrist Band
The Fitbit Charge 2 is a user-friendly fitness tracker that’s a great gift for any friend or family member. The gadget features continuous heart-rate tracking; GPS; handy OLED touchscreen; and swappable wristbands. In addition to tracking health data and delivering smartphone notifications, the tracker can also help users unwind via personalized breathing exercises.
Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon is hoping to bring digital voice assistants to the home with the Echo Dot. Connected via Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm stereo cable to speakers, you really can ask her anything. Play music, find out about the weather or if your train’s going to be late. And it’s only £40!
Read our full Amazon Echo Dot review here
HP Sprocket Photo Printer – Black
The brand new HP Sprocket is a portable photo printer, which allows your favourite social media aficionados to get physical copies of their best mobile pics. It’s designed to work with iPhone and Android smartphones via a free app and this Bluetooth gadget utilizes zero ink photo paper.
Tile Slim Tracker
This small and nifty gadget by Tile will help your forgetful friend find whatever they’ve lost. Barely thicker than a credit card, the tracker easily slides into your pocket or wallet, and when paired with the app can even make your phone ring on silent. And, as an added plus, it’s non-removable battery lasts for a year.
UE BOOM 2 Bluetooth Speaker
The UE BOOM 2 delivers excellent 360-degree sound, IPX7 rating for water resistance, and clever gesture controls. The first iteration was a fantastic compact Bluetooth speaker, and this one definitely continues in that the tradition. This one is a great pick for its price range and small enough to make it easy to travel with.
Read our fulll UE BOOM 2 Bluetooth Speaker review here
DJI Phantom 4 Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter – White
Yes, this is at the top end of most people’s’ budgets, but drones really are the must-have gadget for 2016. The DJI Phantom 4 can capture 4K video, as well as Full HD content in slow motion. It can automatically avoid obstacles and track moving objects, as well as reach maximum speed of 44mph. Other key features of the drone include maximum control range of 3.1 miles and up to 28 minutes of flight time.
Read our full DJI Phantom 4 Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter review here
Sony Cybershot HX60
While we all carry around smartphones with decent cameras these days, sometimes there’s no substitute for a decent compact camera. Sony is definitely the leader here, and this affordable compact boasts a 30x optical zoom that you won’t find on any smartphone. For under £200 and with a pop-up flash, this is the perfect gift for someone who wants near-DSLR quality results from a smaller, cheaper camera.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Amazon’s number one best-selling tech gift this year. Just plug it in and turn your TV into an all-singing all-dancing media centre. Stream shows from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and original Amazon shows like The Grand Tour.
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick review here
Mophie Powerstation
This is for anyone who wishes their phone battery life was longer (so that’s everybody then). Mophie’s latest Powerstation battery packs are slimmer than ever, making them easy to stash in a backpack, purse or pocket. Even the smallest versions can completely recharge a dead phone, effectively doubling your battery life.
Acer Chromebook R11
For the price, Acer’s Chromebook R11 adequately covers all of the basics: a comfortable keyboard, a fluid trackpad, and a touchscreen that’s sharp enough to to make for watching videos and viewing photos. The R11’s display can also fold backwards, transforming into a tablet.
Read our full Acer Chromebook R11 review here
Fitbit Aria Wi-fi Smart Scale
No fitness gadget obsessive should make do with an old-fashioned pair of bathroom scales. Instead, get them some wireless smart scales. They don’t just tell you your weight, but will also track weight changes, as well as monitoring BMI and body fat percentage.
Samsung Gear VR – Virtual Reality Headset
Virtual Reality is going to be everywhere in 2017, so why not get your friend or family member ahead of the game? Although there have been a few teething problems, this is a fun and relatively inexpensive novelty for someone who owns a Samsung smartphone.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60 USB Turntable
Whether they’re a hardcore music-lover or a casual vinyl collector, you can’t go wrong by gifting this classic turntable. For under £100, it’s also a great stepping stone for any aspiring DJ.
Samsung T3 USB 3.1 500 GB External Solid State Drive
This sleek, portable SSD has a USB Type-C port and is available with up to 2TB of storage. It also features a shock-resistant build, powerful encryption and password protection. In addition to connecting to PC and Mac devices, it can also connect to USB Type-C compatible smartphones and tablets. So you’ll never run out of storage again.
Flashforge 3D Printer
Finding a 3D printer that won’t break the bank but still offers quality technology isn’t easy. Flashforge, however, is one company that has made its bones on inexpensive machines, and its latest desktop model is both inexpensive and the best-quality printer around for the money. For that creative someone, they’ll get a no-frills machine that’s intuitive to use and able to produce accurate, good-quality objects – even multiple builds at the same time.
Nintendo NES Classic Edition
Old-school gamers can relive their 80s nostalgia with the NES Classic – a mini console that comes with 30 in-built games, including: Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and The Legend of Zelda.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet
Not only has Amazon upgraded its Fire HD 8 with improved performance and more memory (16GB instead of 8GB), but it’s dropped its price as well. At just £105, it’s an absolute steal.
