We bring you the best fun-filled gift ideas for the tech-focused person on your nice-not-naughty list.
If you’re gift-hunting for the hard-to-please tech lover in your life this festive season, then rest easy – we’ve got you covered. From the perfect presents for pre-teens, to the greatest gifts for grandparents, we’ve found the gadgets and gizmos that will make everyone’s year.
Bairns, weans and other tykes
Amazon Echo Dot Kids, £64.99
The Echo Dot is the ideal first smart speaker for the curious tyke in your household and not just because you can choose between cutesy owl or dragon versions. It can stream over 1,000 hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games and educational content to entertain and inspire. Plus its version of Alexa will only give kid-friendly responses to questions, and will filter songs for explicit lyrics. Parents can set the volume and establish daily time limits, too.
Easy-to-grip, intuitive to use and almost indestructible, this is the best ‘my first digital camera’ on the market. Kids aged three and up can easily snap away, then add funny filters and stamps to their artwork. Endlessly entertaining at the Christmas table.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids, £139.99
If you want to give someone small the gift of reading, then this ereader could be just the ticket. It is water-resistant, comes with a cheerful cover, and includes a simple dictionary and vocabulary building function to help young readers. There are no apps, videos or games to distract and while it is pricey, they won’t outgrow it anytime soon. It comes with more than 1,000 books for the first year.
Tweens
Debate Mate courses, £20 per session
If you have a wee chatterbox in your life, then channel their verbosity with a virtual debating club. Designed for kids aged six to 16, courses are all led by a pair of young mentors, sourced from top UK universities. Courses take place online, after school or on weekends. Subjects range from current affairs to entrepreneurship and are designed to nurture curiosity while developing confidence, critical thinking and teamwork.
Lego Technic App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle, £109.99
It’s Lego, but not as Boomers know it. Clever kids can build the vehicle (complete with suspension, cockpit, tracks and truck bed), then steer and send it zooming around the house using the CONTROL+ app for iOS and Android. No danger of Christmas day dragging into boredom.
Teens
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, from £37 a month and £39 upfront
Credits: Samsung
A full-size smartphone that folds down to the size of a credit card for easier transportation. You can use it folded, flexed or fully open. The cameras can produce crisp shots, while the battery supports fast charging. Even the professionally unimpressed will struggle to suppress their happiness.
Philips Smart Sleep Wake-Up Light, £99.99
If you know somehow who struggles to get up in time for school, then this alarm clock could help. It wakes them up using bird sounds that gradually increase in volume, along with a light that progressively gets brighter, mimicking dawn in the natural world. It promises a gentler, more refreshed morning routine. You may end up wanting one for yourself.
STEALTH PS5 RGB Light Up Twin Play & Charge Cables, £12.99
The perfect stocking-filler for the gamer or other on-the-go gadget aficionado in your life. These USB-C to USB-A cables can charge handheld devices such as PS5 controllers or Nintendo Switch consoles. So far, so useful. But what really sets them apart is that they glow in the dark, in neon rainbow shades.
