Gadget gift guide
Christmas is just around the corner, and that means we’re all busy trying to work out the best presents for our best people. That’s often a high pressure situation, especially when our loved ones aren’t the easiest to buy for. In these situations, gadgets are a great thing to consider. As technology keeps updating, people are likely to want to replace their older items for newer and niftier products – and Christmas is a wonderful time to receive these.
To help you decide, we’ve gathered some of the year’s best launches coupled with electronic classics. Ranging from £30 up to £379, there’s a gadget that’s right for every person and budget this Christmas.
And rest assured – our choices are picked on merit and we don’t get commission. Prices correct at the time of writing.
Apple Watch Series 10
If ever there was a time to buy an Apple Watch for the iPhone user in your life, it’s now. This year, they’ve revamped it so it’s bigger, lighter and thinner than ever, which means it’s set to be the big ticket present – assuming the iPhone 16 is out of most gift-buyers’ budgets.
The culmination of 10 years of development in the smartwatch market, not only does the Series 10 ping you when you get emails and messages, but its state-of-the-art microphone and speaker means it’s much better at handling calls and playing music. It also has a range of health benefits too, as it monitors your heart rate, falls, blood oxygen levels and can detect sleep apnoea too. It also boasts a 989 sq mm display that makes it super easy to see what’s happening with a quick glance, made easier with the OLED display.
Buy it for £379 from John Lewis.
Beats Pill Speaker
Let’s not deny it: while we want great sound from our speaker, we also want it to look super cool to reflect our awesome music tastes. That’s why this year’s Beats pill speaker is a smart gift. It’s one of the best portable speakers around, offering clear sound, a booming bass and great, 24-hour battery life – as one might expect from the premium brand. It can connect to two pill speakers for greater versatility, and is dust and waterproof resistant, making it ideal for beach breaks.
But it also looks funky too, with sleek rounded edges giving it a contemporary feel. It’s a speaker with both bragging rights and a reasonable cost for what you get, making it a top choice for the music fan in your life.
Buy it for £99 from John Lewis.
Sonos Ace headphones
After decades building up their reputation in home audio, Sonos have boldly stepped into the personal audio market with the Sonos Ace headphones. Released in November, they’ve arrived just in time for Christmas.
With curved matt white or black exteriors, the headphones immediately make their wearer stand out in the crowd. Their audio rivals that of top brands like Beats, Apple and Sony with balanced treble and a solid bass, plus their noise cancelling is top notch and ideal for commutes. Audio linking is Sonos’s strength, so it’s no surprise they connect with your home cinema audio. It means you can watch movies with pin-sharp, immersive sound in your ears, while not disturbing those around you.
Buy it for £359 from John Lewis.
Waterpik cordless flosser
If you’re anything like us, flossing is the least favourite part of our daily routine. But it’s necessary, so the chore can be made a whole lot easier with water flossers.
These are toothbrush like contraptions with space for water storage. Instead of a brush, the head is a tip that precisely blasts a thin jet of water between your teeth, dislodging any build up that may later cause problems and more dental visits. Waterpik is known for being the gold standard when it comes to cordless flossers, and it changes flossing from a fiddly act to a 45 second routine.
If you have the bathroom space, Waterpik do a countertop version that means you won’t have to keep refilling the water tank. But the cordless version is their best seller. At the time of writing, Boots are selling them for less than half price. Bargain!
Nintendo Switch OLED
The Nintendo Switch OLED is certain to be a popular choice on wishlists for Santa this year. The portable console was first released in 2017, and got an OLED glow-up in 2021. So if your favourite gamer doesn’t have it yet, we bet they have their fingers crossed when they start looking beneath the tree on Christmas. It’s not the cheapest present, but keep your eyes peeled for deals and games thrown in, as shops aim to compete for festive sales.