It’s that point of the yr once more. Mariah Carey is totally defrosted, Stuff’s Festive Reward Guides are starting to go up and people pesky little beetles are formally again. Oddly sufficient, so are the true Beatles and so they’re making us… really feel issues. However sufficient about that. We’ve bought a job to do. That entails serving to you pick one thing for that tech-obsessed pal or member of the family who all the time appears to have all of it earlier than the morning of the twenty fifth. We’re already every week by the month so… you may need to get shifting. As in, proper now.
Contemplating the topic of this Festive Information — well-travelled tech-owners — there’s an actual likelihood that particular somebody already has some (or all) of the tech we’ve talked about of their arsenal. Be that the case, we’d suggest choosing up the December/January problem of Stuff which is chock-full of recent concepts — and never just for tech devotees — none of which you’ll discover on this information. You are able to do that by visiting a kind of shops that promote magazines, or save the petrol and get it from Stuff immediately.
2023 Reward Information — Tech Version
Sony WH-1000XM5
Have been we recommending headphones for the layman, we’d let you know to scan the record of Sony or JBL’s choices with a value below 4 digits lengthy and be performed with it. That’s not what’s occurring although, is it? We’re sourcing stuff for the tech nomad in your life who’ll know higher than anybody should you’ve skimped this yr. Choose up a pair of Sony’s WH-1000XM5s, although? You’ll be deemed the favorite mother, dad, uncle, or bestie that ever lived.
Make no mistake; once we say that Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are a few of our favourites, we’re not joking. And for good purpose. They conquer a lot of the competitors — barring maybe Bose’s efforts — in the case of ANC (lively noise cancellation) and rocks a battery life that’ll be troublesome to beat elsewhere. Sadly, it’ll value you. It might not set you again fairly so far as Sennheiser’s HE-1, however that’s the case for many issues. It’ll nonetheless require a sacrifice of R9,500, nevertheless. Until, you recognize, you’ve bought a eager eye for deal *cough cough*.
R9,500 | unbelievable.co.za
Final Ears Growth 3
Have you ever ever wished to carry your Bluetooth speaker underwater for half-hour? No? You’ve clearly by no means listened to Michael Bublé. The Final Ears Growth 3 could make that fantasy a actuality. It’ll additionally float and fortunately blast out some beats, because of that IP-67 ranking. It’ll internet round 15 hours of battery life that means it’ll get, roughly, 221 performs of Tom Petty’s Love is a Lengthy Highway out earlier than bleating for an influence socket (sure, we did the mathematics). And anyway, you’ve bought to start out this yr’s Spotify Wrapped one way or the other, proper?
It helps that UE’s Growth 3 has first rate sound and a rugged physique that’ll shield it from a few large falls right here and there. For those who or that particular somebody (it is a reward information, in spite of everything) are planning on spending a lot of the post-Christmas holidays out by the pool, we’d advise giving this one its day. You received’t remorse it.
R3,000 | takealot.com
Asus ZenScreen transportable monitor
Critically, what’s higher than gifting that tech-obsessed bestie a brand-new monitor? That’s proper; a brand-new transportable monitor. Particularly, the Asus ZenScreen MB165B, which comes out of the field with 15.6in of goodness, a 60Hz refresh fee, and a good 1,366 x 768 decision, all for R2,700. It’s a helpful sidekick to anybody who’s trying to get some work performed at a espresso store, airport, or anyplace with a flat floor.
It’ll even hook as much as most standard tripods or desk mounts for a extra ‘genuine’ (and customarily pleasing) expertise. It’ll solely take up 11.8mm in a backpack and weighs lower than your common laptop computer, coming in at 0.78kg. And if you’re making an attempt to maintain the thoughts busy throughout an particularly lengthy flight, make use of that audio enter to get one other rewatch out of Oppenheimer. Or, should you’re making an attempt to go to sleep, simply stick on Napoleon for a couple of minutes.
R2,800 | unbelievable.co.za
Apple AirTags (4 Pack)
Whereas it’s true that almost all tech fanatics hardly ever let their prized possessions out of their sight for greater than a few seconds, you possibly can’t all the time depend on the light-fingered to care. If that pal – you recognize who we’re speaking about — doesn’t cease displaying off these XM5s or one thing related out in public, it received’t be lengthy earlier than they’re gone for good. In the event that they received’t pay attention, it could’t damage to select them up a set of AirTags. If they’ve an iPhone, that’s.
For the AirTag newbies, these provide a simplistic resolution to discovering something that’s gone lacking — self-imposed or in any other case. Slip it right into a backpack, pockets, or headphone case and your iPhone’s Discover My app provides you with an concept of the place to start out wanting ought to they disappear. It’s even bought a built-in speaker that’s finest suited to rooting out lacking issues if you suspect your sofa is the wrongdoer however simply can’t show it. There’s no hurt in choosing up only one AirTag, however for anybody particularly forgetful, a pack of 4 will do the trick.
R2,700 | unbelievable.co.za
PowerFilm LightSaver Transportable Photo voltaic Charger
Is there something higher than solar energy when Eskom decides to make an instance out of your space for, you recognize current? Apparently, sure. It’s known as the PowerFilm LightSaver Transportable Photo voltaic Charger and it’s precisely what it feels like. A transportable, photo voltaic charger that may be rolled up (sure, rolled up) and slipped right into a backpack simply as simply as an AirTag. We love a conventional energy financial institution as a lot as the common techie, however we’ll be the primary to let you know that carrying one round for an prolonged interval is usually a little irksome.
PowerFilm’s providing comes with a 3,200mAh battery in tow and takes round 6-8 hours for a full cost when it’s out and catching some Vitamin D. It’ll double as a conventional energy financial institution when essential (with out all the additional heft) by plugging into the wall immediately and charging up in half that point. It’s a straightforward purchase for any of these pals who plan on spending their December holidays exterior and grinding out Marvel Snap. As that pal, belief us on that.
R2,900 | sustainable.co.za
Samsonite Lite-Field Alu Spinner
To this point, we’ve resigned ourselves to the purely technical. If it’s bought a gap that’ll let electrical energy move by (when Eskom is form sufficient to let that occur), it was thought of for the record. We’re now breaking that custom. And but, it’s additionally the costliest merchandise on the register. Say hiya to the Lite-Field Alu Spinner.
Sure, it’s a suitcase. Intelligent you. However it’s not any abnormal suitcase (hey man, we’re making an attempt right here). It might not be wholly tech-related, however the anodized aluminium shell will do a greater job than most at defending your folks’ (as should you received’t be choosing this one up for your self) extra beneficial gadgets that do have electrical energy flowing by them. It’s definitely spacious sufficient to deal with an inflow of computer systems and tablets, with us itemizing the 55cm choice, although there are the costlier 69cm and 76cm choices out there. Pair it up with one thing off our journey tech it is best to by no means go away with out listicle and also you’ve bought an actual winner in your fingers.
R15,400 | samsonite.co.za
Scicon Journey Packing Dice Equipment (3pc)
If the pal in query already has a suitcase (or simply prefers to maintain their ft planted firmly on the bottom), think about choosing up one thing like Scicon’s packing dice package – a much more budget-friendly candidate for techie travellers. It’s primarily simply three zipped-up compartments to maintain a bag’s compartments separate from each other, displaying up in three sizes to swimsuit that pal’s tech wants on an extended journey.
Every comes donning a tear-proof polyester pores and skin, with every compartment’s prime half being changed with a breathable mesh materials that’ll cease all the things from getting too heat. We received’t fake it’s probably the most thrilling factor on the record, nevertheless it’s an indispensable little bit of package that’ll be appreciated excess of most gadgets on the record. Barring Sony’s XM5s, maybe. We actually like these.
R900 | cyclelab.co.za
Gizzu Common Journey Adaptor
For those who ever run into Toby Shapshak within the streets, there’s likelihood the primary phrases out of his mouth are one thing alongside the strains of “You need to all the time hold a journey adaptor helpful.” And he’s proper — particularly if you’re coping with a techie bestie’s Christmas items. Not solely are they helpful for conserving your South African gadgets charged up when visiting someplace abroad, however there’s likelihood that somebody even vaguely thinking about tech is packing a Sort G socket connection someplace of their dwelling.
Sadly, Gizzu isn’t out there to promote these simply but, with no phrase on when these will come into inventory. Fingers crossed it will get its act collectively earlier than the twenty fifth, huh?
R130 | gizzu.co.za