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Best Tech Gifts: The Greatest Gadgets to Give and Receive
By Jason Owen
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If you’re a techie or know somebody who loves to toy around with the latest gadgets, then feast your eyes on these best tech gifts for the 2018 holiday season. Experts have rated these gadgets as the cream of the crop for those who love tech, or anybody who may need an upgrade to their current gear.
From smartwatches and cameras to headphones and even gaming, these best tech gifts are sure to bring a smile through the holidays and beyond.
Amazon Echo Plus
Echo Plus is the simplest way to jump into the smart home craze. Echo connects to Alexa, which can seamlessly control your music, thermostats, smart lights, alarms, and more through voice activation. Echo Plus comes with a Philips Hue Bulb so you can easily (lazily?) dim the lights without moving an inch. The future is here as smart homes continue to become more mainstream.
AirSelfie Portable Selfie Drone
This portable RC quadcopter drone is the perfect solution for hands-free photography that will take your Instagram game to the next level. The 5 mega-pixel camera ensures a beautiful aerial photo or video. The lightweight camera can hover smoothly for an hour without recharging, meaning you won’t have to rush to grab that perfect scenery.
AKG Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones
The AKG Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones are perfect for anybody who works in a noisy office environment and needs some respite, someone who commutes on a busy bus or train, someone who travels often, or anybody who just needs a little peace and quiet every now and then.
Tile Mate Key Finder
This slim-as-can-be Bluetooth tracker easily slips onto keychains, into your wallet, or on any item that you’re always misplacing around the house. Using the Tile App, you can easily find your lost item in seconds with no hassle. And if you travel often, use the Tile to easily track down your luggage when you arrive at the airport.
Apple Watch Series 3
With a handful of different bands and styles, the Series 3 Apple Watch is updated with a built-in GPS and comes with a dual-core S3 processor and WatchOS4. But maybe better than all the operating frills is that the Series 3 is water-resistant up to 50 meters, perfect for wearing in the pool or taking a shallow swim in the ocean. With a heart-rate monitor, altimeter, accelerometer, and more, Apple’s smartwatch is still proving why it’s the leader of the pack.
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite
For anybody who loves to read and has a hell of a commute, the Kindle Paperwhite is perfect with its lighter design and larger, brighter screen, and it’s also waterproof, so taking it poolside or to the beach no longer carries that extra worry. Additionally, Amazon has upgraded the battery life and the Paperwhite supports Audible playback. You can opt for the larger 32GB, but most Kindle books average about 2.5MB, so the 8GB version should provide plenty of storage space – unless you need mags, comics, or audiobooks.
Nintendo Super NES Classic
Calling all 90s kids! Nintendo has finally re-released its updated SNES system. You’ll get the miniature console (that fits snug in your hand), controllers, and 21 preloaded games, including the never-before-released Star Fox 2. You’ll get an HDMI plug for optimal output on contemporary TVs, but also the option for post-processing filters to recreate that classic retro look. But be warned, this baby is in high demand and selling out fast. It starts at $99.95 on Amazon, but that price is going up!
BioLite CampStove 2
Just because you’re a techie, that doesn’t mean you have to sit in front of a computer, tablet, or other device all day long. With the BioLite CampStove 2, blend your outdoorsy side with your inner tech lover by turning fire into electricity. The CampStove 2 can generate 3 watts of usable electricity from your campfire, perfect for keeping lights, phones, or other devices charged while out in nature. You can even upgrade to the bundle for a grill and kettlepot for an extra $70.
DJI Spark Portable Mini Drone
The DJI Spark is a smaller design than the popular Phantom line, but that doesn’t mean the tech is any less impressive. A 3-D sensing camera can recognize human faces and movement, meaning you can control the Spark with a wave of the hand. And you can expect DJI’s usual high-quality video and photo capabilities. You can get the drone by itself for $318, but the Fly More bundle at $505 will get you extra batteries and a controller.
GoPro HERO6
Adventure seekers can now share all their breathtaking voyages in Ultra HD with the GoPro HERO6 action camera. It’s tiny, but you get the 60 fps frame rate in a gorgeous, high-quality 4K video capture. When it comes to transferring your pics or vids, the 5.0GHz Wi-Fi band provides a fast, wireless transfer to your mobile device.
LifeStraw Water Filter
Not every one of these impressive tech gifts need buttons or fancy gadgets. The LifeStraw Water Filter makes the list for its incredible design, which filters up to 1,000 liters of water for bacteria and chemicals. It does the job so well that it surpasses EPA standards. It’s a great stocking stuffer for any adventurer in your life.
Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch
For the fitness-focused smartwatch lover, the Fitbit Ionic comes with “dynamic personal coaching” and storage space for more than 300 songs. The powerful battery provides more than four days on each charge. The Ionic has built-in GPS capability and heart-rate monitoring that includes a special SpO2 sensor to track oxygen levels in the blood, as well as your sleeping patterns — something that other watches use a third-party app to monitor. The Ionic comes in a trio of sleek color designs, as well.
Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote
Get connected to a world of entertainment with the Amazon Fire TV, with a compatible 4K Ultra HD and HDR TV that allows you to watch thousands of movies and shows in vibrant color and contrast. And with universal voice search, finding the movie/show you want is easier than ever.
Gnarbox Portable Backup and Editing System
Do all your photo and video editing on the go with the Gnarbox Portable Backup and Editing System. The compact design means you won’t have to lug your laptop or an external hard drive around. Ports for USB 3.0, micro SD, and SD allow you to connect any camera to quickly access and manage your content.
Meccano M.A.X. Robotic Interactive Toy with A.I.
Definitely for the kids, but we have a feeling adults will get a kick out of playing with M.A.X. and its built-in A.I., and customizable programming that relies on S.T.E.M. problem solving to function, learn, and move. It’s the perfect toy for aspiring engineers, builders, visionaries, or tinkerers.
There you have it! Tell us your thoughts on these best tech gifts, and be sure to SHARE these with anybody who may need a hint about what you want this year. Did we miss any cool gadgets? Let us know!
Editor’s Note: Spine Media has an affiliate partnership with Amazon, so we may get a share of the revenue when you purchase through our website.
(H/T: Best Buy | Time | Esquire)
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