With Thanksgiving coming, there is no better time to start looking for the new tech gifts that geeks have been salivating over recently. This holiday season, whether you're a gamer, audiophile, tablet lover or camera enthusiast, there is something new to put on your list.
Here are just a few must-have gifts this year:
Playstation 4 and Xbox One
Price: $399 for Playstation 4; $499 for Xbox One
For the gaming-enthused, there are few better gifts this holiday season than the Playstation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One. The next generation of gaming looks stunning with systems that run roughly eight times more powerful than their predecessors, but beyond graphics and game play, both consoles bolster tons of improvements to their features, user interfaces and peripherals.
The debate over which console is better will be a long and heated battle that will last for years to come, but with a $100 cheaper price tag, a vastly improved user interface, a handful of new online features (which the PS3 was lacking) and reportedly 50 percent more power than its competitor, the PS4 looks like the supreme console gift to give this holiday season.
iPad Mini with Retina Display and iPad Air
Price: Starting at $399 for iPad Mini with Retina Display; $499 for iPad Air
With improved performance and double the resolution over their non-Retina Display companions, both the iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display make everything look as smooth, clean and gorgeous as the tablet itself. Because they both feature the same processor, resolution and features, the deciding factor of which to put under the tree comes down to affordability and preferred screen size.
Canon EOS 6D
Price: Starting at $1,899 for camera body without lens
If Santa can't come through on this pricey request, it may take years of signing off on Christmas gifts from mom and dad before you get your hands on this camera. Eight nights of Hanukkah giving definitely won't cover the price either, but for those interested in photography, this is the cheapest full-frame camera that Canon makes. With a 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor and massive 25,600 ISO range, the camera takes outstanding photos in any lighting so you won't feel the need to cough up an additional few thousand dollars for the next best model.
GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition
Price: $399
Whether filming your risky sport hijinx, playing in the snow or capturing a drive through a winter wonderland, GoPro has made its name as the world's most versatile camera available for gifting this holiday season. Smaller, lighter and better than its predecessor, the Hero3+ Black Edition can capture video at 60 frames per second (FPS) in 1080P and even shoot in resolutions up to 4k at 15FPS. The Black Edition comes with a number of apps, features and a remote to control filming - all of which make the camera worth the additional cost over other GoPros.
Pebble Smartwatch
Price: $149
The Pebble Smartwatch started as a Kickstarter project that has since come to market and received a number of updates that make it work well with most iOS or Android devices. The watch can wirelessly connect to your phone and manage all of your texts, emails and appointments with the click of a few buttons - likely to bring joy to anyone who receives it as a present. The price is more affordable than many comparable watches.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50
Price: $200
For the audiophiles and mixers in your life, give professional, quality comfort with these headphones. Audio-Technicas are renowned for their comfort, sound quality and noise cancelation, and the ATH- M50's are no different. With sound quality that Beats by Dr. Dre can't compete with, these remarkable headphones are some of the best available at a reasonable price.
SkullCandy Ink'd Earbuds
Price: $20
SkullCandy's Earbuds are a great stocking stuffer and gift for on-the-go college students. With a built-in microphone and ability to quickly pause/play or change tracks, the earbuds may not have the same quality as expensive over-the-ear headphones but still offer good sound quality and noise cancelation.
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