Nintendo Switch
£279.99, store.nintendo.co.uk
After a few wilderness years, Nintendo has bounced back with this fantastic hybrid console, which plugs into your TV but also works as a Game Boy-style portable. There are lots of great family-friendly games, including the astonishing Zelda: Breath Of The Wild.
After a few wilderness years, Nintendo has bounced back with this fantastic hybrid console, which plugs into your TV but also works as a Game Boy-style portable
Sonos one
£199, sonos.com
There are now zillions of voice-controlled ‘smart speakers’ out there, but the Sonos effort stands out. It’s got Amazon’s Alexa built in, so you can use it to control a whole multi-room system simply by saying ‘Alexa, play my Christmas playlist’ and basking in the festive vibes.
There are now zillions of voice-controlled ‘smart speakers’ out there, but the Sonos effort stands out
B&W PX Headphones
£329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Bowers & Wilkins has been upgrading its gorgeous cans for years. Now they’re packed with electronics, from noise-cancelling to Bluetooth wireless. Perfect for someone who’s bought an iPhone… then remembered there’s no headphone jack.
Bowers & Wilkins has been upgrading its gorgeous cans for years. Now they’re packed with electronics, from noise-cancelling to Bluetooth wireless
Q Acoustics M2
£299, qacoustics.co.uk
Forget the crazily expensive race to add more screen inches to your TV – the best way to add a dash of ‘cinema’ to home viewing is with a sound base. The M2 is fantastic value, and has a big, gutsy subwoofer built in.
Forget the crazily expensive race to add more screen inches to your TV – the best way to add a dash of ‘cinema’ to home viewing is with a sound base
Littlebits Droid Inventor Kit
£99.95, johnlewis.com
This is the droid you’re looking for (to put it in Star Wars parlance). There are a lot of great robotics kits on sale this year – children build their own R2-D2 with this one, adding components and sending it on missions to learn the basics of programming.
This is the droid you’re looking for (to put it in Star Wars parlance)
Fitbit Alta HR
£129.99, fitbit.com
There’s nothing like getting a fitness bracelet for Christmas to get rid of the guilt of eating your body weight in turkey – after all, you’re going to get fit in January, right? Fitbit’s latest offers a heart-rate monitor, and is still the simplest to use, with the best app.
There’s nothing like getting a fitness bracelet for Christmas to get rid of the guilt of eating your body weight in turkey – after all, you’re going to get fit in January, right?
Google Home Mini
£34, store.google.com
If I ever need to be reassured that I’m living in the 21st century, saying ‘What’s the news’ and having this gizmo read out the headlines does it for me. A great-value way to control music, TV and even the lights using your voice.
If I ever need to be reassured that I’m living in the 21st century, saying ‘What’s the news’ and having this gizmo read out the headlines does it for me
Huawei Watch 2 Porsche Design
€795, porsche-design.com
This year marked the moment smartwatches finally started to look desirable – although, so far, Apple hasn’t got the memo. Huawei’s chic Android offers a heart-rate monitor and has its own SIM (and you can pick up a non-Porsche version for about £200.)
This year marked the moment smartwatches finally started to look desirable – although, so far, Apple hasn’t got the memo
Roberts Rad io RT 100
£249.99, robertsradio.com
With vinyl records back on the shelves in Tesco and Sainsbury’s, even Roberts – better known for its kitsch Fifties-style radios – now offers a record deck. It looks the part, and delivers more punch than you’d expect for this entry-level price.
With vinyl records back on the shelves in Tesco and Sainsbury’s, even Roberts – better known for its kitsch Fifties-style radios – now offers a record deck
Philips hue candle
£29.99, philips.co.uk
Can you really get away with giving someone a lightbulb on Christmas Day? Why not try it to find out: these smart bulbs from Philips let you select from a range of whites, and you can control them via wi-fi from an app, so you can even switch the lights on if you’re out.
Can you really get away with giving someone a lightbulb on Christmas Day?