Believe it or not, it’s the holiday season once again!
Gifting can be a stressful topic for some, especially when it comes to tech products. But that doesn’t mean you should shy away from buying a gift for your techy loved one.
If you’re looking for the best tech gifts for moms, dads, grands, kids or anyone else near and dear to you, we’re here to help get your gears turning when it comes to figuring out the perfect gift.
Here, we’ve rounded up ideas that we think will make the best stocking filler for your tech-obsessed friend or loved one:
For the health-conscious one
FitBit Sense 2
Fitbit’s latest smartwatch, Sense 2 puts health and fitness front and centre. Powered by the new Fitbit OS, the device is easy to use and designed to help users see what matters most to them, faster. Thinner and lighter, the device has been redesigned to feel more at home on your body, 24/7.
Sense 2 takes Fitbit’s stress-tracking tools even further, with a new Body Response sensor to track continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) for all-day stress management right from your wrist. Along with cEDA, it uses metrics like heart rate, heart rate variability and skin temperature to help you better understand when your body experiences potential signs of stress. That way, you can be aware of your potential triggers and create a stress management practice to build your resilience over time. Following a Body Response notification, Sense 2 recommends different ways to manage stress at the moment including mood logging, guided breathing, mindfulness sessions, on-wrist or in the Fitbit app.
In addition to the Body Response sensor, the smartwatch is equipped with Fitbit’s other sensors to deliver a holistic view of your overall health.
Price and availability:
Sense 2 is available for AED 1,299
For the film buff
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
The new Smart Soundbar 600 is a small, sleek soundbar that features Dolby Atmos and proprietary Bose TrueSpace technology to deliver exceptionally immersive audio for its size.
Perfect for film enthusiasts and audiophiles, the 600 elevates movies, TV, and music by precisely placing dialogue and vocals, sound effects and instruments to the left, right, and even up above — ensuring no matter what you’re watching or listening to, the sound is astonishing.
The Smart Soundbar 600 is equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Chromecast built-in for total streaming control, and Works with Google Assistant capabilities and Amazon Alexa built-in for voice control. It also features Bose Voice4Video technology used with Alexa allows for a single command to turn on your TV, switch input and tune to your favourite channel, while Bose SimpleSync allows you to pair the soundbar with compatible Bose headphones or Bluetooth speakers to further extend your listening experience.
Price and availability:
Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is for AED 2,049 at Bose stores and select resellers.
For the homebody
Daikin MC55VB Air Purifier
Daikin MC55VB Air Purifier is a nifty gadget that improves air quality indoors.
Daikin’s air purifier helps purify the air by circulating it through the unit and letting the air pass a multitude of filters and purifying technologies. Typically, the units are used in residential settings, small offices, retail shops, classrooms, medical waiting rooms and doctor cabinets.
Moreover, according to tests performed in the laboratories of the Institute Pasteur de Lille, Daikin’s air purifier eliminates more than 99.98% of the human coronavirus HCoV-229E in 2.5 minutes. This virus is of the same family as SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is equipped with compact plug-and-play purifiers. Its effectiveness is achieved through a combination of the high-performance electrostatic HEPA filter, which traps the virus, followed by intense exposure to Daikin’s patented Flash Streamer technology, which eliminates the virus and can contribute to reducing the risk of respiratory virus transmission.
Price and availability:
AED 1,785
For the eco-warrior
realme GT2 Pro
realme GT 2 Pro is a flagship device designed with sustainability in mind.
It sports a Snapdragon 888 5G processor, 120 Hz Amoled display and Sony IMX 766 OIS primary camera. It has a 2K AMOLED flat display and is protected by the most advanced Corning Gorilla Class Victus. The display uses the most advanced LPTO 2.0 technology to support a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, providing an exceptionally smooth picture and optimal energy efficiency.
realme GT 2 Pro adopts a remarkable triple-camera setup featuring the world’s only 150° ultra-wide Camera and a 40x micro-lens camera.
The device also has a Paper Tech Master Design that gives the back panel a unique texture of natural paper.
It is available in three storage variants: 8GB+128GB, 12GB+256GB and 12GB+512GB.
Price and availability
Starting from AED 1,299
For the student
Acer Aspire Vero 15-inch
The new Aspire Vero 15-inch offers the perfect balance between sustainable benefits, functionality and stylish design, delivering a seamless learning experience.
It sports a 15-inch Full HD display and is powered by the new 12th Gen Intel Core processors for taking on the latest productivity and entertainment apps. Supported by two USB 3.2 Type-A Gen1 ports and a Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C port, it offers fast connectivity and is able to charge mobile devices while the laptop is off. It comes with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD and is available in Starry Black and Cobblestone Grey.
Price and availability
Available from AED 3,299 at the Sharaf DG online store.
For the dad on the move
Nokia T21
Nokia has a treat in store for dads who like to juggle work and play. This smart device also works great for children who want to learn, play or sketch. Designed, built, and tested with the same passion as all Nokia products, the T21 tablet brings that trusted quality to the big screen.
The Nokia T21 also comes with long battery life so users can enjoy up to 7 hours of meetings, 10 hours of movies or 15 hours of play. It has faster charging features allowing users to finish tasks quicker than ever before. The Nokia T21 also comes with a 10.4 inches screen, perfect for the busy dad, who can view work presentations on the go or just relax at home with a movie.
The Nokia T21 comes in Charcoal Grey and is available in 4/128 GB memory and storage configuration in a Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE.
Price and availability
Available in the UAE and KSA, starting at an average RRP of AED 799 and SAR 999
For the audiophile
Sony WF-1000XM4
Made to fit every ear, Sony WF-1000XM4 offers a personalised experience that adjusts to every situation.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 features high-performance dual noise sensor microphones for excellent noise cancellation. By having two noise-sensing microphones per ear – one feed-forward, and one feed-back – ambient noise is heard and analysed, resulting in highly accurate noise cancellation.
The new earbud tips are made from a polyurethane foam material that is soft and elastic, which maximises the surface contact area between the earbud tip and the ear canal.
It touts a Speak-to-Chat feature, which automatically pauses the music and lets in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversation – great for those who constantly have their hands busy.
With Adaptive Sound Control, the Sony WF-1000XM4 senses where you are and what you’re doing – for example, travelling, walking or waiting – then adjusts ambient sound settings for the ideal listening experience. The headphones come with instant pause and play for a seamless experience. Just take the earbuds out of your ears and the music stops thanks to a proximity sensor that detects when you are wearing one or both earbuds. Simply pop them back in and the music starts again.
Price and availability
Priced at AED 999, Sony WF-1000XM4 is available at Sony Boutique at The Dubai Mall and Sony MOE and online.
For the avid reader
Kindle 11th Gen
There’s nothing like heading off on a holiday without having to worry about heavy books in your luggage.
The 11th iteration of Amazon’s Kindle features a 6-inch display. With 300ppi pixel density, the device is brighter and glare-free. It is also thinner at 6.2-inches x 4.3-inches x 0.32-inches (157.8 x 108.6 x 8.0 mm) and lighter, weighing only 158g. What’s more, with 16GB of storage it can hold more e-books than ever before. Battery life runs a full six weeks according to Amazon on the lowest settings, and a full charge can be achieved in just two hours.
Price and availability
Kindle 2022 is available on Amazon.com and major retailers in the UAE at AED 399.
For the beauty lovers
Dyson Airwrap multi-styler
For beauty lovers, Dyson is offering salon-quality, healthy hair this festive season.
It harnesses an aerodynamic phenomenon called the Coanda effect, which is powered by the Dyson digital V9 motor. It uses air to attract and wrap hair to the barrel, or surface of the brush.
Dyson Airwrap multi-styler is equipped with next-generation styling barrels featuring a rotating cool tip, making achieving curls and waves faster and easier – with heat damage, to help maintain hair strength.
The exclusive new Vinca Blue & Rosé edition comes with a Dyson-designed Travel pouch, which can protect and neatly store your Airwrap multi-styler at home and on the move. The Travel pouch is light and made with soft, heat-resistant material. It also ships with exclusive accessories – the Dyson-designed Paddle brush and Detangling comb.
Price and availability
Available in the UAE at AED2,399
For the gamer
INZONE Headsets
PC and PlayStation gamers in the Middle East and Africa have a wider range of options to enrich their gaming experience with Sony INZONE, which offers the latest audio technology and industry-leading innovation across the INZONE H9, INZONE H7 and INZONE 3 headphones.
The headphones are equipped with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound for Gaming, activated by the INZONE Hub PC software, reproduces 2ch stereo audio signals in 7.1ch surround sound as the game creators intended. The smartphone app 360 Spatial Sound Personaliser also allows users to optimise spatial sound to their ear shape for truly personalised gameplay.
Furthermore, the diaphragms of the INZONE H9 and INZONE H7 both have a unique shape that allow the headphones to reproduce extremely high frequency sounds with high compliance, as well as authentic low frequencies for an immersive gaming experience.
Price and availability
Available at Sony Boutique at The Dubai Mall, Sony MOE and online, INZONE H3, H7 and H9 are priced at AED 269, AED 799 and AED 999 respectively.
