2016 Tech Gift Guide
'Tis the season for comfort, joy, and cool new gadgets. Ranging from practical essentials for the home to high-tech entertainment, discover the perfect last-minute gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. After all, why should Santa get all the credit?
Cell Phone Signal Boosters
A breakthrough in cell signal boosters is eqo by weBoost. It’s a high-end device at $350, but when it’s placed correctly near a window, it boosts your cell coverage up to 32 times over an area of 1,500 square feet, which is enough to cover an office or average size home. There’s also the convenience of cell coverage for any type of cell phone or provider. It might not solve all your cell phone signal problems, but it offers reliable cell reception in designated zones in your home or office. It’s an expensive tech accessory but totally worth it if you’re in a rural area with poor cell tower reception. Another plus is the easy set-up, which makes it a perfect gift for the technologically challenged folks on your Christmas list. Simply find a sturdy ledge near a window, plug it in, and enjoy a reliable cell signal without bothering with an outside antenna.
Clip-on Camera Lenses
Take photography to the next level of high art with clip-on camera lenses for your Smartphone. The Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens ($70) features Fisheye, Macro 10x, Macro 15x, and Wide Angle, which gives you endless possibilities for artistic effects. This lens is also lightweight and fits in the palm of your hand. For a lens that captures fine details, the Moment Micro Lens ($100) features low distortion and shadow elimination to maximize the benefits of ambient light, making it an ideal choice for black and white photography.
Solar Powered Chargers
These clever gadgets are essential for your apocalypse kit, especially when your cell phone runs out of battery and the zombies are quickly approaching. Look for solar powered chargers that have a high output capacity, like the Voltaic Amp, which features 7.0 output voltage, a small, lightweight design for easy portability, and over five hours of solar charge time. This top-rated model is an ideal choice for the adventurous types who love the rugged outdoors but need cell phones for GPS navigation and trail mapping. It’s also waterproof and made from high-grade materials, which makes it extremely durable in all weather conditions. Depending on your specific needs, there are cheaper versions available but with fewer performance features, including the Opteka BP-SC4000 ($20) or the XTG-SOL 1500 offered at $40.
Speakers
Make showering a truly magical experience this season with the Waterproof Wireless Speaker from Liger. Featuring a colorful light show with exclusive LED light effects, Bluetooth, and a Micro USB charger, this speaker is the perfect boombox for those moments when you have the strong urge to dance and take a refreshing shower simultaneously, because sometimes it’s the little things in life. For outside the shower, the Google Home Smart Speaker is the perfect kitchen companion, shopping assistant, and master of all kinds of trivia. With access to Google’s vast database of online search results, you can ask it just about anything. Alexa, the voice of the Amazon Echo, is another Smart Speaker that holds the answers to the universe, or can at least give you the recipe for homemade peppermint bark.
Tablet Accessories
A perfect marriage of functionality and stylish sophistication, the Finite Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 Rotating Case Cover does it all. It rotates 360 degrees for flexible viewing options, including two landscape and two portrait features. It also includes an elastic penholder and built-in sleep/wake mode. Available in twenty vibrant and classic colors, this practical tablet case is both sleek and high-tech.
Remote Control Sky Drones
Have wholesome family fun this holiday season and channel your inner 12-year old with a remote control helicopter. Featuring 2.4GHz remote control technology for flying long distances and a stable 6-axle gyroscope for expert handling, be the envy of the neighborhood and make the kids squeal with delight with the mini drone helicopter. Offered by several companies, including Hubson, Tekstra, and Dynamic Aerial Systems, make it even more high tech with a helipad, one button take off and landing features, and a built-in 2MP HD video camera. Ranging from $18 to $120 and up, these little helicopters are a must-have for stowing under the Christmas tree, especially if you want to outshine Santa.
Star Wars Battle Quads
For Star Wars fans on your list, they’ll love the Stars Wars Battle Quads, including the exclusive T-65 X-Wing Starfighter and TIE Advanced X1, which are impressive replicas from a galaxy far, far, away. Look like a pro remote control pilot with a push button feature for 360-degree aerial stunts and a flying speed of 35 MPH. This holiday season, give the uber nerd in your life the power of the force with remote control spaceships specially designed for multiplayer battles and other thrills of the super nerd variety.
DLP Home Theater Projector
For the ultimate in the home theater experience, the 1080p HDMI portable theater projector from ViewSonic ($550) is a technological marvel with its LED lamp that lasts 30,000 hours and Mstar Enhancement chip for professional grade movie theater effects like vibrant colors and contrast technology. It also has built-in surround sound and the patented Mstar Decode Chip, which allows you to watch 3D movies from the comfort of your home. It also features Wi-Fi connect, making it easy to stream your favorite movies and browse the Internet for funny cat videos. Cheaper options are also available for the budget conscious, like the Ogima Video Projector ($85 – 120).
Stylish Phone Cases
If you need stocking stuffers or a cute gift for the fashion-techie in your life, check out our Caseology gift guide for him and for her. Stylish and durable cases are a practical gift they'll actually want.
Armed with a bevy of loot under the tree, get ready to tech the halls with top-rated electronics. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, make modern life even better with the most advanced tech gear of 2016.
Resources:
New York Times: Google Home vs Amazon Echo
Top Ten Reviews: Best Solar Phone Chargers
Project Tor Reviews: DLP Projectors
Gadget Review: Signal Boosters