Need Christmas gift ideas? We’ve listed the best tech gadgets and gizmos in every budget to make your Christmas shopping easy.
‘Tis the season to get shopping with Christmas just round the corner. At TechRadar, we understand that finding the perfect gift for your loved ones can be hard. So we’re here to help you find options that go beyond advent calendars, perfumes and wine.
If you want to make an impression and watch those grins erupt on the faces of your loved ones when they finally rip off the wrapping, you’ll want something that lasts. And the latest gadget can do just that.
Technology is evolving so quickly that if you decided on a gizmo last year, there’s always something new to choose from this year. And we understand it can be quite overwhelming to find a gadget that makes for a great gift at this time of year.
To help you find the gift that will make your friends and family wonder if you’ve been intercepting their mail to Santa, we went a-hunting and found some of the best tech gift ideas that will make you the best person this Christmas.
And there’s something for everyone in our gift ideas – presents that would suit every budget, from e-readers to connected toys, smart home products to gaming gear.
To make it easy for you, we’ve divided our gift ideas into sections. If you’ve got a particular budget in mind, then jump right to the section you need and take a gander at the options we have for you.
Got a teenager who loves taking pictures? The Instax Mini 9 is a new addition to Fujifilm’s instant camera range, and this little compact bundle makes taking pictures a whole load o’ fun. There’s a selfie mirror to ensure framing is right, there’s a close-up lens attachment for shooting up to 35cm away and the brightness can be adjusted to your satisfaction. There’s a few bright colours to choose from and the Instax Mini 9 is available from various retailers for less than $100.
Has a loved one been talking about smart home gadgets all year? Gift them the Google Home Mini – the bite-sized smart speaker from Google – so they can get help with organising their day, keeping up with the news or even doing the little chores like switching lights on and off. It’s the roommate that will not encroach on personal space.
This nifty little gadget is one of our favourite streaming devices and it’s the best way to watch your favourite shows on Netflix or Stan, streaming direct to your non-smart TV. The Google Chromecast isn’t capable of streaming in 4K, for that you’ll need the Chromecast Ultra, which is also available for under $100.
Google isn’t the only big tech company to offer smart home products on a budget. Amazon’s Alexa is here to help too, with the latest 2018 range of Echo smart speakers. The puck-like Echo Dot is the smallest of Amazon’s Echo range and can help you keep up with the news, listen to music, control your smart lights and much more, all with voice commands.
Know someone who keeps misplacing their keys or wallet? Consider giving them a Tile Bluetooth tracker, a white square puck that will audibly let you know its location via Bluetooth as long as you’re within a 100 feet radius of it. While there are different Tile trackers to suit everyone, the latest range is the 2018 Mate and Pro trackers that come with replaceable batteries.
These unassuming wired in-ear ‘buds are a great budget option for someone looking for good sound for a low price. With surprisingly spacious and clear sound, the Byron has punchy bass and lively mid-to-upper frequencies that flatters most genres you can throw at it. Chuck in a carry pouch and three sizes of ear-tips and you’ll be struggling to find a better way to drop $59.
Got a loved one who enjoys tech? Gift them the ability to stay up to date with the latest tech news and reviews with a subscription to one of Australia’s best-selling tech mags. You can pick up 12 issues of TechLife or APC for just $69 – that’s a saving of 42% on the regular cover price! And with TechRadar’s Australian team contributing to both mags, we can guarantee that they’re great reads!
This very affordable drone threatens to be educational while being fun. Made in partnership between Ryze Robotics and DJI, the quadcopter has a 720p camera which shoots reasonable footage and takes acceptable photos that are full of colour and life. The drone can flip, capture rotating shots and long rising ones. The Tello is primed for those who want to learn how to code with Scratch or an SDK – a terrific initiative and a big reason to gift one.
This budget action cam is easy to use, comes with voice control and produces excellent Full HD footage. It’s got a refined design and polished controls, and although it’s not as feature-packed as GoPro’s other action cameras, it’s perfect for the novice user or the budget-conscious.
If you thought smartwatches are expensive, think again. This Android Wear smartwatch has all the essentials anyone needs on their wrist at a very affordable price. It may not be the best-looking wearable either, but it sure is great value for money.
Another example of how affordable smartwatches can be. The Ticwatch S has a lot more features than the Ticwatch E, and yet comes in well below the $300 mark. It exceeds expectation for something at this price range – it’s well designed, a joy to use and feature-packed. And although the Ticwatches run on Wear OS, they’re compatible with iOS as well.
Smart speakers are fast becoming mainstream but Google’s Home are still popular, and pocket friendly too. It’s perfect for anyone looking to set up home automation as well as get a speaker with decent sound. And with Google Assistant at your beck and call (literally), controlling a smart-home setup is easy as.
The Echo Dot’s bigger brother also has a 2018 model. If you want big sound from a smart speaker without spending too much money, then this one is for you.
