Ultimate Christmas gadget gift guide, from big-ticket items to stocking stuffers

FROM GoPro’s new drone to hi-tech speakers and cameras, this gadget gift guide is sure to have your last-minute Christmas shopping covered.

SOME of us plan our Christmas shopping months in advance, stocking up during sales.

Others prefer “delayed intense application” or, in more critical terms, leaving it to the last minute.

This gadget-friendly Christmas guide is for the latter group, who still have nine days to find a store, gather gifts, and appear just as organised as their early-bird buddies.

BIG-TICKET ITEMS

Nikon D850, $5300, nikon.com.au

The Nikon D850 features a 45-megapixel sensor designed in-house by the company.

This full-frame camera impresses with a 45-megapixel resolution, 4K video, nine-frame-per-second speed, and lowlight performance that earned it DxO’s highest rating.

GoPro Karma with Hero6 Black, $1900, gopro.com

The GoPro Karma drone folds down for easy carriage. Picture: AFP/Josh Edelson

The famous action-camera brand’s flying machine is finally in Australia, folds up to fit in a backpack and packs in an image-stabilising gimbal called the Karma Grip that you can remove to create smooth videos on the ground.

Canon PowerShot G1 X Mk III, $1600, canon.com.au

The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III has advanced settings in a compact form.

This travel-friendly camera crams important settings, a hinged touchscreen, swift autofocus, and a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor into a form you can slip into just about any bag.

Microsoft Surface Book 2, $2199-$4499, surface.com

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 improves on the first version with more battery life.

The tech giant’s second laptop improves significantly on its first, with twice the battery life, a new Intel chip, and a 13.5-inch screen with 6 million pixels that can be detached and used as a tablet.

GEEK CHIC

Code Republic, $349, harveynorman.com.au

The Australian Code Republic bags are designed to carry technology, including laptops, tablets, cameras, and cords.

Laptop bags need not announce their intentions and this range, created by Australian former tech exec Anthea Rowan, merely looks like a fashionable leather handbag, complete with rose gold accents.

Samsung IconX 2017, $399, samsung.com.au

The Samsung IconX 2017 wireless earbuds come with a battery-packed carry case.

Samsung’s thoroughly wireless earbuds not only look stylish if anyone spies them hidden in your ear, but they feature touch-sensitive controls for controlling music, and will store up to 1000 tracks independently of your phone.

Amazon Kindle Oasis, $389, amazon.com.au

The new Kindle Oasis is water-resistant.

Amazon’s latest e-book reader adds more than just water-resistance — this model also features a stylish, curved metal back, page-turn buttons, and a noticeable upgrade to its screen, which now offers 300 pixels per inch and a 7-inch canvas.

Netatmo Welcome, $350, harveynorman.com.au

The Netatmo Welcome camera is discreet.

It looks like a vase but Netatmo’s Welcome features a full high-definition video camera equipped with facial recognition so it can send alerts to your phone when family members come home or when it doesn’t recognise someone in your house.

ENTERTAINERS

Apple TV 4K, $249-$279, apple.com.au

Apple’s new TV 4K streaming device delivers Ultra High Definition content.

Apple’s new TV-streaming device looks like its old model but it now delivers crisp, 4K content, a TV app that suggests shows from many sources, and a remote that responds to voice commands.

Sonos One, $229, sonos.com.au

The Sonos One smart speaker is available in black and white.

This smart speaker is the only model to date that doesn’t make you choose a side, working with Amazon’s Alexa now, and both the Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri next year. It also delivers crisp sound using two amplifiers.

Foxtel Now Box, $99, foxtel.com.au

The Foxtel Now Box also features a free-to-air TV tuner.

One of the cheapest but fully featured TV-streaming devices, the Foxtel Now Box features a digital tuner for free-to-air TV, apps for catch-up TV, Google Chromecast connection for streaming from a phone, and, of course, access to Foxtel channel with a subscription.

Sony LF-S50G Google Assistant Speaker, $249, sony.com.au

Sony’s LF-S50G speaker uses Google Assistant.

This rounded speaker uses the Google Assistant to answer questions but improves on Google’s devices with 360-degree sound, gesture controls (like waving to raise the volume), and a splash-proof body.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Google Home Mini, $79, store.google.com

A miniature version of Google’s smart speaker is available in Australia this year.

The cheapest smart speaker to date answers questions just as well as its bigger, pricier predecessor and also looks stylish, with a woven finish.

Orbit Card, $49.95, findorbit.com

The Orbit card lets users find their wallet using their phone.

It looks like a loyalty card, but this slender, rechargeable device connects to your phone to let you find your wallet and can send a notification if you leave it behind.

Tech21 Evo Check Evoke Edition, $64.95, tech21.com

The Tech21 Evo Check Evoke Edition iPhone X case features a raised design.

This surprisingly slender cover is designed to protect the iPhone X against 3m drops, and features a stylish etched design that stops it slipping from slick surfaces.

AudioFly AF33W, $60, jbhifi.com.au

The AudioFly AF33 wireless headset is sweat-resistant.

These Australian wireless earbuds prove you don’t need to spend a lot to go hands-free, and use Bluetooth 4.2 to connect to a phone, and an in-line remote control to change tracks or volume.

Originally published as Ultimate Christmas gadget gift guide, from big-ticket items to stocking stuffers