Personalised watches, connected toys and foldable flip phones: there are tech gifts to suit every family member. Yes, even grannie.

After several years of Covid disruptions and supply chain delays, this was the year when tech companies began releasing full, unbridled, no-holds-barred product ranges again. From big companies to small ones, they tried to get business booming by releasing flagship products in all shapes and sizes in a bid to cater for every budget.

That meant options. If you wanted to replace your big screen TV with a projector that transformed any large white unused wall into a smart TV, you could do it. Want a watch that matched your kicks? You could have that too. From the smaller iPhone XS to the Pro Max model, or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip3 or Fold4, there was a phone sized to fit every palm and pocket.

Did you want to personalise that? You could. This was the year that everyday devices like phones and tablets could be bedazzled to every whim and fancy, from vibrant straps and cases on the outside, to snazzy wallpapers and screensavers on the inside. 

With all that personalisation came a hefty price tag. Over the past 12 months, prices for top-of-the-line tech reach eye-popping levels. Blame the increasing cost of parts, the shortage of chips, or that we’ve been trained into paying more with every release cycle, but mark 2022 down as the year phones hit the $3000 price point, and tablets reached past $5000. 

Thank to ongoing supply issues, tech is also now more expensive than ever to fix – especially if you have one of Samsung’s foldable phones, which gives clumsy customers the chance to break two different screens on the one device.

But tech is also getting more fun, more seamless, and more integrated. Whatever your budget, there are Christmas present tech solutions available for every friend and family member. With that in mind, here’s The Spinoff’s ultimate tech gift guide…

Lights

Every room can be improved by a set of Nanoleaf lights. From squares to hexagons, triangles and strip lighting, Nanoleaf panels can be arranged to fit in any space, then, using an app, programmed to light up a room exactly how you want them to. If mum or dad are keen, they can stay up all night setting these up so the kids can wake up to a magical Christmas surprise. (Packages start at $189.99, nanoleaf.me)

If you want bulbs that can change colour on a whim, Philips’ Hue range is what you need. Simply screw them in, connect them to an app, then set daily timers for brightness, colours and dimming. (Packages start at $164.95, philips-hue.com/en-nz)

Know someone who can never wake up on time? There’s a lamp for that. Try Hatch’s all-in-one restore lamp ($129.99, hatch.co/restore)

Toys

Almost every toy comes connected these days. GoDice offers six chargeable di, an app and a range of games that can be played with them ($219.99), while the Smart Rubik’s Cube ($79.99) promises to teach you how to solve the brain teaser in record time. Meanwhile, a portable photo printer could be the perfect way to capture Christmas Day fun. Try Canon’s Selphy (prices start around $199).

It may not sound like a toy, but dad could get plenty of enjoyment setting up a new home security system. Many companies offer wired and battery-powered cameras for inside and outside the home with remote wifi access so you can tell the courier to leave your parcel at the door. Try Ring, Nest or Arlo. Failing that, a filtering water bottle like Larq ($199, larq.co.nz) or a mug that never goes cold (try Ember, $249.95) could do the trick.

For those who like to grow herbs in their kitchen but don’t believe they have a green finger, a smart garden could be the way to go. They water themselves, bathe herbs in LED lights, and soon you’ll have fresh basil and coriander whenever you need. (Veritable Indoor Smart Garden, $399, mrfothergills.co.nz)

Phones

Apple releases so many phones these days it can be hard to keep up, but this year’s iPhone 14 added car crash detection and a floating digital island for easy app access. Its Pro Max model is its top spec option, and the 1TB model is $3199. Samsung, meanwhile, released an updated version of its Fold4, which combines a phone and tablet all in one. The 512GB model is $3099.

If that’s too much, and let’s face it, it is, try Motorola’s Razr, Huawei’s P40, or the Google Pixel Pro 7 for phones closer to the more reasonable $1000 mark. Or, if you want to get personal and you’ve got a particularly clumsy friend, a colourful phone case is a better bet. Try Redbubble  or Zazzle for hundreds and thousands, All Blacks and milkshake designs (Prices start around the $30 mark).

TVs

Television sets are getting thinner, faster and more dynamic (OLED screens are what you should be asking for these days if you’re due an upgrade). Samsung’s The Frame remains one of the prettiest sets on the market, with swappable frame colours and rotating art displays for when you’re not bingeing The Handmaid’s Tale.

But the year’s biggest innovation came from The Freestyle ($1399), a portable projector from Samsung that can turn a clear unused wall into a giant screen with all your apps. It’s a TV on the go and yes, you can even take it camping and use the side of a tent.

Watches

Fitbit returned to the fray this year, releasing several new models including the space-age Sense 2 ($449.95), the functional Versa 4 ($379.95) and the colourful tracker Charge 4 ($249.95). Samsung’s Watch5 Pro ($557) continues to offer a more classic look, with a round front when everyone else is going square.

Not to be outdone, Apple unveiled three new watches this year, including an array of multicoloured and personalised straps and cases, and the Ultra, which is pitched at those who want to head into the bush for a few days, keep their sense of style without getting lost ($1499).

Headphones

Bose noise cancelling headphones ($569) are a classic present for the long distance traveller in your life. Sony’s over-ear headphones WH-1000XM5 ($349) are underrated and a cheaper option. If there’s a runner you need to buy for, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 ($149) are great for fitness fanatics. But, let’s face it, everyone’s wearing AirPods these days. Apple released its Pro 2 model ($479) earlier this year, with a refined design and improved noise cancelling.

Subscriptions

TV streaming subscription prices are getting up there now, with recent hikes to Disney TV+ and Apple TV+. You could gift a friend a year’s subscription to their favourite provider, which no one is going to be mad at, and can often come at a discounted price. Or, you could just pop your own username and password down in a card and gift them that. Most are yet to find a way to get around password sharing – and if you’re already a subscriber, it won’t cost you a thing.

Video games

It’s been a sluggish year for video games, with just a handful of must-play blockbuster titles. While Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok are explosive single player action adventures available on Playstation 5, a smart move for some Christmas Day fun might be a family-friendly multiplayer game like Splatoon 3 or the cutesy cat puzzle solver Stray. Just remember: no one buys games on disc anymore, so an Xbox or Playstation voucher might be your best bet here.

Handy (but boring) stuff

No kid is going to be disappointed by a new controller for their video game console of choice – especially if it’s a customisable one in their favourite colour for the Playstation 5 or Xbox Series S or X ($100-$110). A padded bag for a laptop or tablet is always handy to have around (try PBTech) and it may sound boring, but an all-in-one portable charger is one of the handiest devices you can have in your bag. If you know someone always running out, try a Belkin power bank ($69).

One final thought…

This is it, the ultimate tech gift. No one’s going to hate finding this under their tree. With Vodafone TV gone, and the Sky Box yet to be fully unveiled, everyone needs something that combines all streaming apps in one handy package. The recently relaunched Apple TV box does just that. Within two days of use it’s became our home entertainment hub, with Netflix, Disney and Sky Sport apps nestled in with TVNZ+ and Three Now, all streaming in 4K, alongside Apple Music and Spotify. It’s where we play music, watch TV, listen to podcasts, and binge the Football World Cup highlights. Plus, it turns your TV into an art installation while in sleep mode, if that’s what you want. (Apple TV, $279-$319, Apple.com/nz)

* Prices were accurate at the time of publication.