2017 Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is upon on us again and if you're looking to give a gift in consumer tech, then we have just the right guide for you. See below for our recommended picks in smartphones, laptops, gaming, music and other miscellaneous items.

Smartphones

Choosing between Samsung's and Apple's flagship devices it merely a matter of preference at this point, depending on your investment into Android's or Apple's ecosystems. Samsung gains the nod as the number one recommendation for being far more "affordable" and equally feature rich if not more-so compared to Apple's iPhone X. For those that prefer the iPhone, they will know to expect a more polished user experience when using the device.

1.	Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+
2.	Apple iPhone X
3.	Google Pixel / XL

Laptops

Razer's Blade Stealth ultrabook is our top recommendation for its sleek, sturdy design and excellent performance at a decent price in comparison to other machines available. The newer models also sport a more toned down professional appearance (lacking the gaudiness of their illuminated logo).

Other recommended options include the MacBook Air for those who prefer Apple devices and iOS operating systems or Microsoft's Surface Pro for Windows aficionados.

1.	Razer Blade Stealth
2.	Apple MacBook Air
3.	Microsoft Surface Pro

Game Consoles

The Nintendo Switch is easily the most popular video gaming console right now, having excellent debut year with two of the most critically acclaimed video games released for it (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild & Super Mario Odyssey). It's versatility of being both a home console and a portable gaming device at an affordable price also make it an excellent gift for travelers on the go.

The other options include Sony's PS4 console which also had a great year of games and the Xbox One S is recommended over the more expensive Scorpio edition.

1.	Nintendo Switch
2.	Sony PlayStation 4
3.	Xbox One S

Additional & More Affordable Ideas

The items listed above and their attached costs may be a bit hefty those of us working with a tighter budget, and not all tech gifts need to break the bank. Some more cost conscious ideas can include:

External Power Banks	A great gift for that someone who's always on their smartphone and never has enough charge.
Portable Speakers	A portable bluetooth speaker is great gift idea for use in a small living areas, for those who don't like cumbersome wires, for road trips outdoors or generally for those who travel a lot.
Headphones / Earbuds	Headphones are a great gift to give music lovers which can be used almost anytime, anywhere, are fairly cheap and will definitely be appreciated. Even wireless earbuds are dropping in costs. (Be careful if the person is an audiophile though, their standards may somewhat be more difficult to please).
E-Shop Gift Cards	This may be a great idea for someone who is always on their phone. While it may seem like a lazy idea, it could encourage someone to make a purchase that they never would have considered or have been cautious of.
Streaming Media Players	This is a great device for those who haven't tried online video streaming from their television sets or as it's called in the industry "cutting-the-cord".

Hope our gift guide and ideas were helpful. If you have any additional questions, thoughts or opinions, leave a comment below.