Buying a man a gift for Christmas is a minefield dotted with opportunities to disappoint. Do you buy clothes when you’re not sure about his size or taste? Should you go for a novelty gift which will inevitably end up in a landfill by January? This year, do neither. Instead, try giving him some seriously smart tech to avoid making an offensive size judgement or inadvertently contributing to the world’s environmental baggage. There’s no need to sift through potentially dodgy devices either, because we’ve partnered with the undisputed king of the tech world, Apple, to devise a list of gift ideas which fuse field-leading specs with pulse-quickening design. No fake appreciative smiles here, all killer no (stocking) filler.
AirPods
Untangling intertwined headphone cords is all the fun of attempting a Rubik’s cube while refereeing the annual family argument. Fortunately, Apple’s revolutionary AirPods take minimal design to a whole new level, connecting wirelessly to any iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac and can even be charged on the go in the case, leaving him tangle-free and unrestricted while running or at the gym. Buy Now: £159.00
Apple Watch Series 3
The days of solely relying on a watch to find out what hour of the day it is are long gone. In 2017, time-tellers can multitask with the best of them. The just-released Apple Watch Series 3 not only looks like your typically cool Apple fare (sleek, tick; minimal, tick; understated, double tick), it will answer calls, send texts, stream music and, of course, let him know what time it is. Buy Now: From £329.00
BeatsX Earphones
Beats earphones have long been the gold standard for any self-respecting audiophile, but if you thought overear cans were the only option, you’d be wrong. The in-ear BeatsX wireless headphones offer all the sonic prowess you’d expect from the Apple Beats range, but slimmed down into a sleek package capable of pumping out two hours of playback on just five minutes’ charge. Buy Now: £129.95
Lifeprint Photo And Video Printer
Most people are guilty of spending way more time than is healthy scrolling through pictures online. To claw back some face time IRL, buy someone the Lifeprint Photo and Video Printer. The sci-fi-level kit uses augmented-reality ‘hyperphotos’ to print images and videos directly from Snapchat, Vine, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that move and come to life when combined with a dedicated smartphone app. Buy Now: £134.95
DJI Mavic Pro Alpine White Combo
For boldly going where no man can go (yet), a drone is the next best thing to an extension of his arms. Capable of shooting 4K and full HD slow-motion video while flying at speeds of 40mph and automatically tracking objects up to 4.3 miles away, the DJI Mavic Pro teams undeniable good looks with substantial brains. Buy Now: £1,149.00
Beasts Of Balance
We all know someone who could benefit from perfecting their balancing skills over the holiday period (especially after one too many eggnogs). The Beasts of Balance game can help by calling on dexterity to stack physical artefacts into towers (like a reverse Jenga), which evolve on a wirelessly connected iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. Buy Now: £69.95
CliqueFie Selfie Stick
Flimsy selfie sticks from street-side sellers are a sure-fire way to introduce a smartphone to the pavement. The remote-controlled CliqueFie Selfie Stick comes with no such worry, thanks to a robust, lightweight retractable aluminium body that can also be mounted on a tripod for shake-free shooting. Cue him posting a slew of improved selfies. Buy Now: £34.95
MekaMon Robot
Nothing kills the Christmas fun like being forced to play charades with as-yet unidentified extended family members. This year, upgrade everyone’s gaming experience with the customisable MekaMon Robot, which has augmented reality capabilities that can be used to duel virtual enemies or other machines. Buy Now: £299.95
Parrot Mambo Fly Drone
The simple pleasure of flying a personal aircraft is usually enough to get most guys excited, but the Parrot Mambo Fly Drone goes one step further and lets wannabe hackers get under the hood. The stylish looking quadcopter allows him to get to grips with coding using Apple’s Stem system, as well as science, technology, engineering and maths, too. Buy Now: £89.95
BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Droid Trainer By Sphero
The BB-8 App-Enabled Droid is ideal for men who like their movie merchandise with a side of impressive tech specs. The one-of-a-kind app- and voice-controlled companion can move autonomously and interact with other Star Wars droids, as well as record, view and send holographic videos to a galaxy far, far away. Buy Now: £129.95
