Best Tech Gifts 2016
15 of This Year's Hottest Gadgets to Give
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It feels like every year, our gadgets get smarter, faster, and harder to keep up with. Even though we still have plenty of time left in 2016, start saving up now to buy this year's best tech gadgets. From an Apple Watch that's finally built for swimmers to a smart Moleskine notebook, there are plenty of presents pick from for each of your friends and family. Don't wait too long — these products are bound to sell out.
1 iPhone 7 Plus
Still unsure about whether or not to upgrade your iPhone? If you do, go for the iPhone 7 Plus ($769) that comes with two camera lenses: a wide angle and a telephoto lens. The phone, in addition to being water resistant, comes with some handy new upgrades, including taking photos that look incredible with the new portrait mode feature.
2 Chromecast Ultra
If you haven’t made the move to buying a device that lets you stream your content, go for Google’s Chromecast Ultra ($69). It works just like Chromecast, except it will support 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision and work with Google Home.
3 Apple Watch Series 2
The best smartwatch you can buy is definitely the Apple Watch Series 2 ($369-$1,249). The watch finally comes with built-in GPS and water resistance, making it both a useful product that connects to your iPhone and one you can take seriously when it comes to working out.
4 Google Home
Say goodbye to the Amazon Echo and meet Google Home ($129). Google Home is another personal assistant device that comes in a variety of colors. It works with Google Assistant, a software that aims to guess your needs before you need to ask anything. It will also work with Google Cast and other smart home devices, making it a device worth adding to your home.
5 Echo Dot
If you love everything about Alexa and the Amazon Echo, consider the Echo Dot ($50). It’s a smaller version of the Echo but comes with similar capabilities. Since the Echo Dot is smaller and more portable, it’s easy to add to any room and still ask Alexa for whatever you need.
6 Moleskine Smart Writing Set
Whether you’re a student or not, you can definitely find Moleskine’s Smart Writing Set ($199) insanely useful. The set, which comes with a notebook and the Pen+, automatically digitizes anything you hand write to the Moleskine Notes app. It's a perfect solution for someone looking to hand write notes but who needs access to them at any time.
7 Fitbit Alta
8 Google Pixel XL
Unimpressed with the new iPhone and looking for a change? Try the Google Pixel XL ($749), Google’s flagship phone that’s sleek and packed full of useful features. The phone comes with Google Assistant, a 12.3 megapixel rear-facing camera, and an impressive battery life.
9 Kate Spade Hybrid Smart Watch
Not into the smartwatch craze? Ease into it slowly with the Kate Spade Hybrid Watch ($250). It works with the Kate Spade New York Connected app to track your sleep and step, alert you to messages, automatically change the time zone when you travel, and so much more. One of the best parts? As you get closer to your daily goal, the champagne glasses will fill up!
10 Mophie Powerstation Plus
Let’s get real: wherever you go, you’re going to need a backup charger for your phone. Instead of getting something second rate, invest in the Mophie Powerstation Plus ($80). It’s a thin device that comes in three colors and has a built-in cable ready to charge iOS and Android devices. Bonus: it has two ports so you can charge two devices at the same time.
11 Kindle Paperwhite
If you don’t have an ereader or are interested in seeing if you should upgrade, consider Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite ($120). The device comes in two colors, has a built-in backlight, and has a battery life that will last you for weeks.
12 UE Roll 2
Amp up your next party with the UE Roll 2 ($100). The speaker is light, waterproof, and portable. It’s an ideal speaker for the on-the-go use or to bring to the park for a picnic.
13 HP Sprocket
Print out your photos in seconds with the HP Sprocket ($130). It’s a small, portable device that prints out fun sticker photos. All you need is the HP Sprocket app (free) and HP Zink Photo Paper ($10 for a 20-sheet pack) to start printing your favorite memories.
14 HP Spectre
Invest in a durable, thin laptop made for all your needs with the HP Spectre ($1,100 and up, originally $1,250). The world's thinnest laptop has nine hours of battery life and includes a Core i5 or i7 processor.
15 9.7-Inch iPad Pro
Make the move and get yourself a tablet that has a dual purpose like Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro ($599 and up). It’s a smaller version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, so it also works with the Smart keyboard and Apple Pencil. It’s an ideal device for someone who wants a tablet that can be used when relaxing and if it's necessary to quickly do something for work.
