The holiday season is here and for many, that means a scramble to finish up gift shopping before Christmas arrives. This year’s top tech gifts range from phones and tablets to smart home devices and electric vehicles, with options at various price points to fit different budgets.
Hottest Tech Gifts This Season
As per the latest consumer reports and expert recommendations, some of the hottest tech gifts to grab this holiday season include:
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Smartphones – The new iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 series launched this year make for premium smartphone gift options. More budget options like the Pixel 7 and OnePlus 11 provide great value.
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Smartwatches – Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra remain top choices, with fitness-focused options from Garmin and Polar also popular.
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Tablets – The iPad 10th gen and iPad Pro M2 provide stellar tablet experiences on iOS. Android tablet options like Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series and Amazon Fire HD 10 cater to different needs.
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Wireless earbuds – AirPods Pro 2 lead the premium category but Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4 and others also make great gift options.
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Streaming devices – Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Roku Ultra 2023 offer the latest in streaming.
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Digital photo frames – Models from Nixplay, Aura, Facebook Portal make wonderful personalized gifts to showcase photos.
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Electric vehicles – Got a big budget? The Lucid Air and Tesla Model S Plaid make for luxury EV gifts while Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T cater to truck lovers.
Gift Ideas Under $50
If looking for more affordable gift ideas, there are still plenty of great tech options available under $50:
| Category | Gift Ideas |
|---|---|
| Streaming | Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, Roku Express |
| Audio | Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Earbuds, Tribit XSound Mega Bluetooth Speaker |
| Smart Home | Echo Dot Smart Speaker, Wyze Plug Smart Plug |
| Accessories | Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 USB C Hub, Phone Grip & Stand |
| Gaming | Nintendo Switch or Xbox Controller Phone Mount, Mobile Gamepad |
Small accessories like power banks, USB hubs, phone grips and stands, or controller mounts can make for practical yet fun gifts. Budget streaming devices and speakers also deliver solid value. Those into smart homes can get started out with an affordable smart speaker or plug.
Availability Outlook for the Holidays
For most mainstream tech categories like phones, wireless earbuds and streaming devices, inventory levels are looking healthy this holiday season. Shoppers need not stress too much about stock running out.
However, for hot ticket items like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, graphics cards and certain configurations of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, limited stock or long wait times are likely. Trying to grab these in stores will involve plenty of luck.
Overall though, the tech gift shopping outlook seems quite positive this season. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target have ramped up staffing and inventory to meet holiday demand. Many are providing extended shopping hours and convenient buy online, pick up in-store options to pick up gifts right until Christmas Eve. Curbside pickup options also help reduce store crowds and waiting times.
Expert Tips for Hassle-Free Tech Gift Shopping
Tech experts and journalists share the following tips for stress-free tech gift shopping this holiday season:
- Set up accounts and payment info on major online retailers beforehand to enable quicker checkout
- Leverage buy online pick up in store options to skip shipping times and costs
- For delivering gifts directly to recipients, choose expedited/overnight shipping and get order confirmation emails
- Check return policies and gift receipt options in case for exchanges or refunds
- Look into retailer holiday price match policies in case gifts get cheaper later
- Set email stock alerts on hot or sold-out items you may want to buy when back in stock
- Avoid waiting until the very last minute as holiday demands strain delivery and logistics networks
- Have backup gift ideas or gift cards ready in case a desired item remains unavailable
Outlook Post Holiday Season
Once the holiday madness winds down, January promises to be an exciting month for tech as the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes place in Las Vegas from January 5-8. This premier tech trade show offers a glimpse into upcoming products and technology trends for 2023 and beyond.
Early CES announcements indicate themes around artificial intelligence, automotive technologies, smart home innovations, advanced displays and connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 will dominate the landscape. Other interesting areas to watch out for include virtual/augmented reality, digital health and sustainability focused tech.
With many new and emerging tech categories promising growth in 2023, exciting new products to enhance consumers’ digital lifestyles will undoubtedly arrive across the year.
So while the holiday season is certainly the peak time for gifts, tech enthusiasts will have plenty more to look forward to after Christmas passes!
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
