The newest and latest high-tech gadgets are always the best gifts anyone and their brother could get for Christmas. It could be your nerdy nephew looking at gigabytes and microprocessors or your teenager who must have a new phone, or your spouse who loves to play with their tablet.
Whatever it is, a tablet, smartphone or game console will never fail to delight the loved ones in your life and leave them in awe of your clairvoyant abilities to know exactly what they want. But before you go and max out that little plastic thing, do your homework and find out what the “in” gadgets are. There are hundreds of these devices on store shelves and you can really challenge your brain trying to guess which one to buy. You don’t want to make the mistake of buying something that is out of date or a flop. So without further ado, here are the best electronic gift ideas for Christmas.
1. Apple products
There’s a bit of bias here, but there’s no denying the fact that all the iThingies Apple releases are the hottest mainstream gadgets every kid, girl, and adult wants to own. Here are three of her must-haves for the dearest people in your life.
has. iPad 4: Apple’s latest tablet, the fourth-generation iPad, is twice as fast as its predecessor and features a retina display that makes images even more vivid and natural. It has the new A6X processor and is equipped with 3.1 million pixels, ensuring you load faster and see images that capture the smallest details and richest colors. The camera turns out equally impressive photos. It runs on iOS6 and you can choose from 275,000 apps. At 9.7 inches, it’s lighter and slimmer too. The price is $499.00 in most stores.
b. iPad mini – A smaller and lighter version, this tablet measures 7.9 inches and weighs just 0.68 pounds. It has the A5 processor, so it’s not as powerful as the iPad 4. The iPad mini was designed to compete with the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7. It sells for $329.00, a bit more than other e-readers, but Well, it’s from Apple. !
vs. iPhone 5: good reviews, bad reviews. It won’t matter when your child or significant other opens your gift and sees the iPhone 5. All you’ll hear is their screams. Awesome factor aside, this thinner and lighter version has a faster processor (A6), super-fast wireless technology (4G LTE), turn-by-turn navigation, an even better camera than the iPhone 4, Siri and a bigger screen. Also, it has 8 to 12 hours of battery life. Except for its Apple Maps and the need for an adapter for some accessories (it has a smaller connector), the iPhone 5 is an excellent phone. Yes, some people would kill for it! Buy it starting at $199.99 for Verizon or AT&T postpaid plans. Unlocked phones sell for between $649 and $849, depending on the amount of memory.
2. For gamers: consoles and games.
Contrary to Grandma’s beliefs, the players do not belong to a certain age group. While it’s true that teen boys and girls and young adults comprise the largest segment of this captive market, parents and grandparents are not immune to the lure of playing online games. As a gift, you can choose from game consoles or from the many types of games such as single player and multiplayer. You can also add accessories. All of these are suitable gifts for them.
consoles
has. Super Slim PlayStation 3 Uncharted 3 Limited Edition – The newest in the PS3 series, this little package is just as powerful as its predecessors. It comes in two packages and is not sold as an out-of-the-box console. The first model is a 250GB with Uncharted 3 and Dust 514 and the second is a 500GB with Assassin’s Creed III; The SRP is $270 for the first and $300 for the second. Both come with the DualShock 3 controller. The streaming services are still there: NetFlix, Vudu, Amazon, and NFL Sunday Ticket.
b. Nintendo Wii U – There’s a lot of excitement awaiting this gaming console to be released on November 18, 2012, in time for the holiday gift-buying frenzy. It’s touted to match the Xbox 360 and PS3’s HD graphics and a new touchscreen controller that can also double as a universal remote. From $299.99 to $349.99
Games
has. Call of Duty: Black Ops II – $59.96 to $62.89
b. Batman: Arkham City – $37.99 to $54.68
vs new super mario bros U – $43.99 to $64.81
d. Halo 4 – $99.99
me. NBA 2K13 – $49.99 to $77.47
3. For serious camera buffs (and those who just want to take pictures)
There are dSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras for all levels of photography enthusiasts. For professionals who are picky about lights and resolutions, and for the majority who use their photos for posting and sharing, these new camera models are sure to be a treat.
digital SLRs
has. Nikon D7000 (Body Only) – An excellent choice for a dSLR, this device offers photo quality and performance and has a great design to boot. Starting at $849.99
b. Canon EOS Rebel T3i (with 18-55mm IS II lens): For the novice professional looking to develop their skills, this relatively inexpensive camera delivers high-quality video and images. It takes practice to operate its controls and it’s not fast enough for burst shooting. But at $549.00 to $899.99, it’s a great deal for your money.
point and shoot
has. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 – An improved product over its previous iterations, the Lumix DMC-ZS20 shoots fast and has better low-light photo quality. Its features include a 20x ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, GPS, manual and semi-manual shooting modes. From $229.00 to $355.99
b. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V – Its price (from $348.00 to $419.99) is quite expensive than most compact cameras, but its shooting options, video and photo quality, and other features make up for its higher price. Plus, it has faster autofocus and can take burst photos at 11 frames per second.
4. For Android lovers: smartphones and tablets.
Not everyone is hooked on Apple. Android smartphones and tablets also occupy a fair share of the US market. These are the trendy cell phones and tablets that run on Google’s Android and make great gifts to give away.
smart phones
has. Samsung Galaxy S3 – S – runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, has a 4G LTE/HSPA+42 wireless capability, an 8-megapixel camera and a dual-core processor, this is a top-of-the-line cell phone just up the road. right price. From $99.99 to $599.99
b. HTC Droid DNA: Its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, quad-core processor, 4G LTE wireless technology, and an 8-megapixel camera and LED flash complement its elegant design with a 5-inch screen. It has a long battery life, but it doesn’t have an SD card slot or a removable battery. Still, it’s a steal at $149.99, from Verizon Wireless or $649.99 for the phone alone. HTC Droid DNA will go on sale on November 21.
tablets
has. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF 700 – One of the fastest Android tablets out there, this device has a crisp, clear display, well-functioning GPS, and fast charging. It retails for $428.00 and is a great option for an Android tablet.
b. Google Nexus 7 – Best value for money, the Nexus 7 has a full Android 4.2 environment and a 10-hour battery life. The unit with 32 GB of storage and HSPA+ connection costs $299 and can be connected with a prepaid or postpaid plan. Its multi-user features, lock screen and gesture type customization, and a comprehensive app store make it possibly the best tablet on the Android market.
It’s still better to read as much as you can about the electronic gift you plan to buy for Christmas. But don’t let all the technical gibberish confuse you. Peruse the reviews and sort the important from the trivial. Ask for the opinion of people you trust and start shopping as soon as possible before the online and physical stores run out.