20 top tech products for the holidays
Best Buy (BBY) is a hot destination for holiday shoppers looking to buy for family or friends who are into consumer electronics. But with all the available gadgets and accessories, how can you find just the right present?
Well, Best Buy has come up with its choices for the top 20 “must-have” technology products. Among this healthy variety of items you should be able to find something for the tech-lovers you know.
“This holiday, we’re making it easier than ever for our customers by taking out the guesswork as they shop for friends, family, or even themselves,” Mike Mohan, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy, said in a press release. “These products showcase the newest, most innovative trends and what’s truly possible with technology.”
Let’s check out those 20 tech products, in no special order.
Google Home - Following in the footsteps of Amazon Echo, Google Home is a voice-controlled speaker that takes your commands. You can ask it questions, pose requests and tell it to perform specific tasks. For example, you can ask Google Home to “turn on the bedroom lights,” “stream your favorite music,” “put together a shopping list” and “find out how much traffic you’ll hit on the way to work.” Google Home is compatible with a range of services to perform specific tasks and work with various devices, including YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Nest and Philips.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones - These Bose headphones use Bluetooth technology to stream music from your phone or other device, so there’s no need to plug anything in. That’s a plus if you’ve recently bought an iPhone 7, which has dispensed with the traditional 3.5mm audio jack. These Bose headphones throw in noise reduction so you can focus on the music. You’ll get up to 20 hours on a single charge. And a Bose Connect app helps you customize your settings and pick up product tips.
- For more tips on budgeting and spending for the festive season, see our Holiday Financial Guide
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer - Know someone who could use a superpowered hair dryer? This is it. The temperature of the air is measured 20 times per second and regulated so the heat doesn’t become so hot as to damage your hair. High-velocity air flow dries your hair quickly so you won’t be late for work. Plus, the dryer’s weight and shape ensure that it’s comfortable to hold without strain.
Lenovo Yoga 910 2-in-1 Laptop - Computers that can convert from a laptop to a tablet are growing in popularity, and Lenovo offers a healthy lineup, including the Yoga 910. Outfitted with a 4K Ultra-HD 14-inch touchscreen (that’s a whopping 3,840 x 2,160 pixels), the 910 comes packed with an Intel Core i7 processors, 8 gigabytes of memory and a 256GB or 512GB solid-state drive. With Windows 10 as its operating system, the Yoga 910 also includes two USB ports, a Wireless-AC port, a fingerprint reader, and an HD webcam with two microphones. Perhaps best of all, you can flip and fold the device so it can act as a laptop, tablet, tent and stand.
iPad Pro 9.7-inch - The smaller version of Apple’s iPad Pro comes with a 9.7-inch high-definition Retina display that adjusts itself to your surroundings. Powered by a robust A9X chip, the tablet features four-speaker audio, enhanced iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Wireless-AC and up to 10 hours use on a single battery charge. The Apple Pencil turns it into a canvas for artists, designers and anyone who needs to draw with precision. And the Smart Keyboard transforms it into a capable laptop.
Oculus Rift - Virtual reality headsets are the next cool tech vying for consumer demand, and the Oculus Rift is a major contender. Created for computers running Windows 7 or higher, this VR headset takes you on a journey through virtual worlds where you can play games, explore different environments and interact with friends in the same virtual locations.
Sony PlayStation VR - Another player in the virtual reality arena, Sony’s PlayStation VR hooks up to a PlayStation 4 console. From there, you can dive into a variety of virtual reality games. The headset itself offers a viewing area of 5.7 inches and a rate of up to 120 frames per second. 3D audio comes along for the ride to deliver superior sound.
Sony 65-inch LED Smart 4K Ultra HD TV - This big-screen TV from Sony is slim, bright and ultrasharp with its 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixel) resolution. With Android controlling the action, the TV lets you access a variety of games and apps. You can browse the Sony store for content and also track down programs using voice search. Connecting compatible devices shouldn’t be a problem with four HDMI inputs and three USB ports.
GoPro Hero5 Black - This GoPro is geared to capture the action via video when you’re out and about on the road or in the wild. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the GoPro can take a photograph or shoot video with either a touch of the shutter or the sound of your voice. An image stabilizer minimizes shakes to smooth out the action.
DJI Mavic Pro Drone - Drones are another cool technology just starting to catch on with consumers. With the DJI Mavic Pro Drone, you can fly the skies via remote control as the drone captures or streams video of locations as far as 4.3 miles away. You can take snapshots and stream live video to such sites as Facebook and YouTube. A single charge offers up to 27 minutes of time aloft.
Fitbit Charge 2 - A healthy present for someone who needs a fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 2 can automatically track your activity by day and your sleep by night. It can monitor and measure the distance you walk throughout the day, how long it takes you, how many steps you use, how many calories you burn and your heart rate. The Fitbit Charge 2 is compatible with both the iPhone and Android phones, so you don’t have to worry about which mobile device your gift recipient owns.
Microsoft Xbox One S - The Xbox One S gaming console is a slimmer version of the standard Xbox One and with more capabilities. Not only can you play Xbox games but you can also watch 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray discs and tune into 4K video streaming services. Supporting 4K (3,820 x 2,160-pixel) resolution means the Xbox One S can display more vibrant colors and darker blacks. The console comes in three different capacities -- 500GB, 1 terabyte and 2 terabytes.
Samsung 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player - Here’s another device that offers 4K high-def resolution for sharper quality at four times the resolution of a conventional Blu-ray player. And if you don’t have any 4K discs, this Samsung Blu-ray player uses an upscaling technology to improve the quality of regular Blu-ray discs and DVDs. Via built-in Wi-Fi, you can also stream 4K content from compatible online services.
iPhone 7 - Apple’s latest iPhone throws in a modest but handy array of new features and enhancements. By jettisoning the standard 3.5mm audio jack, Apple was able to add an extra speaker, making this the first iPhone to offer stereo sound. The iPhone 7 Plus throws in dual cameras on the rear, which let you better zoom into your shot. And the Home button is no longer mechanical but rather a touch-sensitive area that reacts to your finger just like a touchscreen.
Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones - Here’s another set of earphones that you can use with an iPhone 7 or any compatible device that pumps through music. These earphones use earhooks to securely hang on, so they’re ideal for anyone who likes to listen to music during a jog or other workout. They’re also resistant to sweat and water. And you’ll get 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Apple Watch Series 2 - The second incarnation of Apple’s smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 2 is more robust courtesy of a fast dual-core processor. The watch is water resistant at a depth of up to 164 feet. The watchface itself is two times brighter than before, so it’s easier to see in sunlight. Plus, the device includes built-in GPS, which means it can track your walking, jogging and cycling without the need for an iPhone.
Rand McNally OverDryve Connected Car System - Connecting to your automobile’s dashboard, this 7-inch tablet functions as a portable in-car infotainment system. You can get driving directions and plan your trips. You can stream music from OverDryve or from your phone. Through a Bluetooth connection, you can make and receive phone calls, with the sound piped through your car’s speakers. The Rand McNally OverDryve is compatible with your phone’s voice assistant, so you can talk to Apple’s Siri as well as Google Now.
HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop - Another 2-in-1 device that can act as either a laptop or a tablet, the HP Spectre x360 offers a 13.3-inch touchscreen display, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and a choice of a 256GB or 512GB solid state drive. This Windows 10 device comes with two USB Type-C ports and one USB 3.1 port, Wireless-AC connectivity and a webcam with two microphones. The laptop can last more than 14 hours on a single battery charge.
Google Chromecast Ultra - This small gadget lets you wirelessly stream music, movies, TV shows and other content from compatible services such as Netflix and YouTube. The Chromecast Ultra works with most HDTVs to pipe through video. You can also stream video and audio to your TV using your mobile phone.
Samsung Galaxy S7 - Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the S7 features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display, is powered by a Qualcomm four-core processor, bakes in 4GB of RAM, and includes either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. A microSD slot can bring that storage up to as high as 256GB. A 12-megapixel rear camera is also part of the mix, while a fingerprint sensor can help protect and secure the phone.
Finally, anyone who orders a product via Best Buy’s website will enjoy free shipping through Dec. 24.
