We all have that one person in our life that is simply impossible to buy for. The guy that has everything, the woman we want to impress, the kid whose interests change faster than the weather in Texas. To help you gift like a pro, and ensure you have a few no-fail gift ideas at your disposal, we’ve compiled a list of the top-rated, most-wanted tech gifts of 2016.
Last year’s big breakout gift star was Amazon’s Alexa, an in-home speaker assistant that played music, remembered things for you, and, at my family’s notoriously debaucherous holiday celebration, was forced to endure some pretty NSFW inquisitions. This year, Google has added their own offering into the mix with Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by Google Assistant. It answers questions, completes tasks, plays music, interacts with your schedule and other apps, and allows you to voice-control your smart devices. The person who has everything doesn’t always want to do everything too, so this gift is a no-brainer for the pickiest mom, uncle, or co-worker on your list. And at only $129, it’s a steal.
The two hottest items for Christmas 2016 are easily Microsoft's Xbox One S and the Sony Playstation 4, both of which (not surprisingly) launched just in time for the holiday season. Which you go with is really based on the personal preferences of the gamer in your life, but each will be met with the undying gratitude and joy of the receiver. Plus, several retailers are routinely offering game bundles which include everything from extra controllers, VR add-ons and top-selling games. The Playstation 4 promises gamers “the most immersive gaming experience ever” (and can be combined with Playstation’s epic virtual reality headset, for a an additional chunk of change), while the Xbox One S is nearly half the size of its predecessor and promises game compatibility all the way back to 360 classics. At last check, both consoles were rocking the super sale price of just $249
Christmas is a time for reliving the childlike wonder of our youth, so whether you’re buying for an actual kid or just the young at heart, a one-of-a-kind interactive toy is sure to be a hit. This year’s most popular tech toys fell into two very different categories. For the artist, builder or tinkerer in your life, consider the MakerBot Replicator Mini+. It is a completely simple, totally endearing miniature 3D printer that fits on a small desk and provides hours of fast, easy, and portable 3D printing fun. With a $999 price tag, this one will set you back a bit, though. For endless cool points, spring for my own personal favorite find this year, the
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