The coolest tech gifts for Christmas 2017

Shopping is a word that makes most men shudder, however, now is the time to start thinking of what to buy your loved ones for Christmas with Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) just around the corner. If you get it all done quickly, you can then relax and enjoy the holiday party season.

Tech and consumer electronics continue to be the must-have gift. As they often have a high price tag, it is especially satisfying to get a discounted price during BFCM – meaning more money in your back pocket.

It feels good to have the latest and greatest technology right at your fingertips, upping your tech game and bragging rights in the pub – and even better to impress someone in your life with the latest must-have gadget.

To make your gift buying as hassle-free as possible, we’ve collated a list of our favourite gadgets to show you what’s hot before the shopping rush begins.

• Amazon Echo

The Amazon Echo is a voice-activated home audio speaker system with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. This tech gift will revolutionise the way we interact with the internet and with our homes.

You can ask Echo’s virtual assistant, Alexa, to do everything from open the garage door, play your favourite songs, connect you with your mates, stream live football and get the latest scores. It can even order your favourite takeaway from Just Eat.

There will be no need to move from the sofa ever again, so you might have to buy one for yourself as well.

• Vape gadgets

2017 started with a boom in the vaping industry with several hundred vape gadgets making an appearance. Celebrities such as Charlie Sheen, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hardy and Richard Hammond all choose to vape.

Classic box mods are still very popular on the market. They are the source of power for electronic cigarettes, converting current from the battery and channeling it to the tank and your e-cig coils and they are being updated with new features and more power.

KangerTech is one of the leaders in making tech smart kits – both portable and affordable. If you have a mate or family member who is a smoker this gift might be the encouragement they need to quit.

• iPhone X

If you just want a mobile handset that makes calls, then this isn’t for you, though the chances are though that this would be the dream present for someone in your life. Apple’s brand new futuristic  iPhone X (pronounced iPhone Ten) has now hit the shelves. The iPhone X is the most expensive handset around, starting at £999 – that’s twice the price of the original model that was launched ten years ago.

However, that price pays for one of the fastest, most powerful devices money can buy and the phone is a status symbol in itself. A new feature of the iPhone X is a system called ‘Face ID’ that lets you unlock your handset using your face. Another major attraction for the pricey device is an exciting new front-rear 3D camera that can do all sorts of imaginative things with your face. The model also has wireless charging – this really will be a gift with the wow-factor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4wEI5zhHB0

• Bose QC35 II headphones

Bose QC35 II headphones have Google Assistant built in, so you can play music, receive texts and get answers without glancing at your phone.

You might also have to buy these advanced noise cancelling headphones for yourself to give you some peace and quiet on Christmas Day – blocking out all the family squabbles, nagging and moans. You’re welcome.

• Sphero’s BB-9E  and R2-D2

No Christmas 2017 gift list can go without a Star Wars mention. Star Wars is set to dominate this year with the second film of the new Skywalker trilogy, The Last Jedi, set for release over the Christmas. This is the ultimate tech geek gift.

Sphero’s BB-9E and R2-D allow you to use your smartphone or tablet to control your own droid, fun for both kids and adults.

• Anki Overdrive Fast and Furious

Re-live your childhood but with the addition of tech with Anki Overdrive Fast and Furious – Scalextric for the next generation. Players use a smartphone to find the racing line and control the speed and the cars steer themselves around the track.

Trigger virtual mines, missiles and magnet attacks to slow down your opponents. The sounds and visuals are on the screen but the racing action happens in the real world. A perfect gift for a nephew (and you can join in on Christmas Day!)

• Kindle Paperwhite

The ideal Christmas gift for your mum or nan, the latest Kindle to hit the market is the Kindle Paperwhite, which comes with a whiter screen that most people will find easier to read from as the contrast is much higher than with the basic Kindle eReader.

It also has a touchscreen making it easier to use. As a bonus, it a relatively affordable gift option, where the lucky recipient can download the latest read from their book club.