The festive season can be hectic with last-minute purchases. Though chaotic brainstorming sessions about gifting options are fun, the information overload can also cause unnecessary confusion. To make the process easier, here’s our curated list of gifts for this season, keeping gadgets at centre stage.
Accessories
1. Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 (15W) and Magnetic Power Bank 10000 (45W): At ₹5,599, the UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank is a good slim power bank option for your Xiaomi, Samsung, Apple, and Google Pixel devices. If your goal is to keep your smartphone from running out of juice, the power bank offers up to 15 watts wirelessly.
2. The Magnetic Power Bank, priced at ₹3,699, on the other hand, goes a step further with higher capacity and faster charging speeds. Plus, the integrated cable means you have one less thing to carry around.
3. SanDisk Extreme Fit: If you have a friend who's into content creation or is often transferring media files from one device to another, this might be for them. The plug-and-play nature of this pocket-friendly, USB Type-C-enabled disk lets you back up data from your smartphone at around 380 Mbps speeds. Priced at ₹1,589, it weighs just 3 grams, has 64 GB storage and works across platforms.
4. Realme Buds Air 8: Budget TWS earbuds have become quite common, used at work or while travelling. The Realme Buds Air 8 are a solid pair that offer great audio quality for a price tag of ₹3,799. They have good build quality and keep up in terms of battery life. These are also available in some nice colours like Master Purple and Gold, alongside classic Black.
5. Sony WH-1000XM6: If your gifting buddy is serious about audio, prefers over-the-ear headphones, and wants noise cancellation without sacrificing their comfort, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is a great choice. Priced at ₹49,990, they have the Sony signature sound along with clear vocals. Importantly, they don't feel heavy or cause fatigue during long-term use. Oh, and these come in some really nice colours.
Smart Home appliances
6. Amazon Echo Show 8: From controlling your smart appliances to ensuring the background track on your home speakers goes as per your (voice) command, the Echo Show 8 with Alexa+is a reliable one-stop device for your smart home. Priced at ₹18,999, it has contextual awareness and supports third-party service integrations. It features an 8.7-inch display that is sharp enough for text and a decent set of speakers if separate ones are a hassle for you.
7. Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6: Let's face it, our AQI readings are about to get worse and won't be at good levels for the coming weeks. So, a dedicated spot for an air purifier has become more evident. At ₹19,999, Xiaomi's new Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 is a reliable air purifier that's better than other air purifiers I have tried. It gets the AQI from 300 to under 50. The reading is also close enough to a dedicated AQI meter, so it gives an accurate picture. Previous-generation Xiaomi filters are also compatible, so the chances of you running around trying to source one years later are considerably less.
Smartphones
9. Xiaomi 17: If you're one of those people who don't like carrying huge smartphones around but also don’t want to sacrifice camera performance, the Xiaomi 17 is one of the better phones launched this year. It has good aesthetics, and is capable in terms of keeping up with your multimedia needs with that sharp 6.3-inch OLED display, including for HDR playback.
10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: If you're planning to splurge for a loved one, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be the one, with its slim profile and big main display. To top it off, it’s battery life lasts for a day and shows great performance, including for gaming requirements.
Tablets
11. OnePlus Pad 4: Know a TV series or movie nerd who likes to take their entertainment wherever they go? Then the OnePlus Pad 4, priced at ₹62,999, is a solid gifting option. Equipped with a sharp 13.2-inch display and support for up to 144Hz refresh rates, this smooth and responsive tablet can handle multiple apps at once. It also doesn't sacrifice quality for Dolby Vision content.
Laptops
12. ASUS Zenbook A14 (UX3407NA): Want to work on the go without constantly worrying about battery life? While this isn't always available in the Windows ecosystem, the Snapdragon X2 Elite XWE88100 chip-powered ASUS Zenbook A14 can fulfil that wish. It offers improved app compatibility, reliable day-to-day performance, and is complemented by a quality 14-inch display.
