Stuck on what to buy the geek in your life? While we should be eating mince pies in Crimbo jumpers, we’re often stressing about finding the perfect gift for loved ones. So, to keep your shopping stress free, we’ve pulled together a gift guide with gadgets that are sure to put a big smile on anyone’s face.
Keep scrolling and you’ll find gadgety gifts you’ll love giving, or receiving, this festive season. With cute robots, high-tech VR headsets and top tablets that won’t break the bank, there’s plenty to choose from. And if you fancy clicking away to make a purchase at any point, we won’t be offended…
Our pick of the best gadgets to gift this Christmas
HTC VIVE VR headset
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a VR headset, so we’ve plonked this one right at the start! You’ll have to reach deep into your pockets for the HTC Vive VR headset (with the mainline version priced at £499 and the Pro edition at £1,299) but it’s best in class if a full room-scale setup floats your boat. To give a fully immersive experience, you’ll find there’s two controllers, two base stations and a hub included – even with the cheaper headset. The Vive headset works well when seated or standing and has an impressive screen. Plus, there’s loads of games on offer, too.
Anki Vector robot
Wall-E scores the top spot for most adorable robot but the Anki Vector comes a close second. For that, we can thank the Pixar animators for developing Vector’s facial expressions and body motions. Simply connect him to Wi-Fi and he’ll be ready to answer any questions, play games and check the weather. Our thoughts? Vector is a nifty, and charming, pal to have around the house and a little cheaper thanks to a £50 discount. (It’s now £199.99)
Samsung Galaxy Watch
With the Samsung Galaxy Watch, you just need to look to your wrist to pay for coffee, order an Uber or start your fave playlist. The 4G-enabled smartwatch might be the new kid on the block but it’s ready to please with plenty of all-new features: like iPhone and Android compatibility, swim-tracking and a seven-day battery.
Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet
Hunting for a budget tablet? The Amazon Fire HD 8 is the best of the bunch, coming with a high-definition display, 16GB of storage as standard and a 10-hour battery life. Designed with entertainment at the forefront, this Alexa-enabled tablet will make a swanky gift for adults, or kiddies. And it’s only eighty quid!
RAVPower Charging Stand
A long commute and dead phone isn’t a match made in heaven. Luckily, The RAVPower Charging Stand is here to solve all our wireless charging woes. Not only does it deliver a 10V output for Androids (and 5V for iPhones) but it has a nifty stand feature that allows for uninterrupted Netflix binge-watching. Not the most exciting gift out there but a practical one your friends will be thanking you for.
Sphero Bolt
Because one robot isn’t enough, here’s another gift that adults and kids can enjoy. The Sphero Bolt is an app-enabled bot that’s programmed to do exactly what you tell it, whether that’s scuttling around the floor, changing speed or the colour and brightness of the LEDs. With a matrix display, ambient light sensor and a robust water-resistant housing, the Sphero Bolt can take a good bashing while teaching kids how to code.