CRN’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide features an impressive lineup of innovative gadgets crafted to delight the tech enthusiasts on your gift list, showcasing must-have items such as the Odd Ball, a playful musical instrument, the sleek and minimalist Light Phone II, the charming Playdate handheld gaming system, and the stylishly advanced Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.
As the holiday season approaches, the challenge of selecting the perfect gifts for your tech-savvy friends and loved ones resurfaces, prompting another round of thoughtful consideration.
Fortunately, CRN’s curated 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is here to save the day, presenting an array of attractive gadget gift ideas that cater to a variety of interests. Whether you’re looking for the Yoto Mini, a delightful audio player for young children, the Odd Ball for the eclectic music lover, or the Light Phone II for the friend seeking a simpler, less distracting life, you’ll find something for everyone.
What follows is a comprehensive list of 12 incredible gadget gift suggestions tailored for tech enthusiasts. In addition to the previously mentioned items, this collection also includes the stylish Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, the whimsical Playdate handheld gaming system, and the cleverly designed Nightside NS01 personal task lamp, among other exciting choices.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
Starting list price: $299
Where to buy: Meta website
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses cleverly fuse timeless fashion with cutting-edge technology. These lightweight stylish specs come equipped with an HD camera, open-ear speakers, and a convenient capture button, allowing wearers to take hands-free photos and videos while enjoying a seamless audio experience. Enhanced with AI-powered voice commands, they enable effortless voice or video calls and also let you relish your favorite tunes or podcasts while remaining connected to your surroundings. Available in various styles and even with prescription lenses, these smart glasses are a modern fashion statement.
Playdate
List price: $199
Where to buy: Playdate website
The Playdate handheld gaming system defies typical gaming conventions with its vibrant yellow exterior, charming black-and-white display, and innovative design featuring a nostalgic Gameboy-like button setup paired with a quirky crank control. Inside, it surprises users with a library of 24 free games, specifically designed to harness the unique play mechanics of the system, alongside additional titles available through the Playdate digital store.
Yoto Mini
List price: $69.99
Where to buy: Yoto website
The Yoto Mini is a delightful, screen-free audio player designed to engage young minds and foster a love for music and storytelling. Using specially designed Yoto cards, children can load a variety of tales and tunes, with the ability to access over 600 hours of enriching audio content via Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the device doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, making it a versatile addition to any child’s entertainment arsenal.
Analogue Pocket
List price: $219.99
Where to buy: Analogue website
The Analogue Pocket serves as a nostalgic tribute to classic gaming with its powerful field-programmable gate array chip, capable of emulating the hardware of cherished systems like the Nintendo Game Boy and Sega Game Gear. With a sleek design reminiscent of the Game Boy, the device seamlessly plays cartridges from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance libraries, while supporting adaptors for other handheld systems. Players can also load downloaded games, expanding the fun with even more classic titles from gaming’s storied history.
Light Phone II
List price: $299
Where to buy: Light Phone website
The Light Phone II is uniquely crafted for individuals yearning to disconnect from the overwhelming distractions of conventional smartphones. Featuring a minimalist design with a touch-based E-ink display, it showcases a menu of carefully curated apps including music playback, podcasts, calendar, and GPS navigation tools. Utilizing the Light Service, which operates on AT&T’s network starting at $30 monthly, the phone remains unlocked, allowing for use with various providers, thus enhancing its versatility.
iPhone 16 Pro
Starting list price: $999
Where to buy: Apple website
Introducing the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s latest technological marvel equipped with the cutting-edge A18 Pro chip and a new suite of AI features under the Apple Intelligence umbrella. The smartphone boasts a powerful, efficient CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, enhancing performance across the board. A standout feature is the all-new Camera Control button, merging multiple functionalities for an intuitive public photography experience, allowing users full control over their shooting preferences and results.
ASUS Vivobook S 15
List price: $899.99
Where to buy: Best Buy website
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 captures attention with its stunning 3K OLED display and lightweight design, establishing itself as part of Microsoft’s initial lineup of Copilot+ PCs. This 15-inch laptop showcases exclusive AI capabilities on Windows 11, including Paint Cocreator and Live Captions. With a weight of only 3.13 pounds, a slim profile of 0.63 inches, and robust specs such as a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and a 512-GB SSD, it’s both powerful and portable, ideal for modern users. The laptop also features a high-refresh-rate screen, customizable RGB keyboard, and advanced AI noise-cancellation, ensuring seamless multitasking and entertainment experiences.
Alarmo
List price: $99.99
Where to buy: Nintendo website
Meet Alarmo, Nintendo’s inventive alarm clock that transforms the mundane ritual of waking up into an extraordinary experience. Drawing inspiration from beloved video game titles, users can choose from five unique themes such as “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Super Mario Odyssey.” Alarmo brings characters and music from these franchises to life, adding a vibrant visual and auditory experience to your mornings. The built-in motion sensor enhances interactivity, greeting you with a celebratory fanfare when you rise.
Odd Ball
List price: $127
Where to buy: Odd website
The Odd Ball presents an innovative approach to music creation, allowing users to interact and express themselves through dynamic movements. This unique instrument enables sound generation through tapping, twisting, throwing, and more. Its built-in Bluetooth capabilities and motion-sensing technology integrate with a free smartphone app, empowering you to record your musical performances and share them with the world, opening doors to endless creative possibilities.
Nightside NS01 Personal Task Lamp
List price: $349
Where to buy: Nightside website
The Nightside NS01 stands out as a personal task lamp designed for both functionality and elegance, providing a soft glow at its base while featuring a reading spotlight that smoothly extends at the press of a button, combining practical use with an aesthetic appeal for your workspace or living area.
Clicks Keyboard for iPhone
List price: $139
Where to buy: Clicks website
Transform your iPhone into a nostalgic Blackberry-like device with the Clicks Keyboard, a remarkable accessory designed to enhance typing speed and comfort. This tactile keyboard attaches securely to your phone via a specially designed case, providing an ergonomic typing experience to help you communicate faster and more accurately. The case supports MagSafe accessories while also offering a data transfer port, fusing old-school aesthetics with modern functionality.
Looking Glass Go
Starting list price: $299
Where to buy: Looking Glass Factory website
The Looking Glass Go introduces you to a remarkable stereo holographic display that captures your imagination. This cutting-edge technology allows you to turn ordinary photos into breathtaking 3D holograms within moments. With Wi-Fi connectivity and a companion app that simplifies the digitization process, creating mesmerizing visual experiences is no longer limited to the realm of professionals.
How does the warm light feature in lamps like the Nightside NS01 promote relaxation and focus?
Providing ambient lighting to enhance any workspace or relaxation area. Equipped with adjustable brightness settings and a sleek design, this lamp not only illuminates but also complements your decor. Its touch-sensitive controls allow for easy adjustments, and the built-in USB port lets you charge your devices, making it a practical choice for modern living. Additionally, the lamp features a unique warm light feature that promotes relaxation and focus, perfect for reading or studying. Whether you need focused light for tasks or a soft glow for winding down, the Nightside NS01 adapts to your needs with style.
these innovative products each offer something unique, catering to a variety of needs and preferences—from enhancing communication and entertainment to enriching creativity and improving productivity in daily life.
