Tech can make a welcome Christmas gift, but prices are up, so it’s worth choosing carefully. In this second part of our holiday gift guide, we look at tablets, wearables, gaming gear, and a few smaller accessories that may be worth adding to your list.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, bringing a familiar rush of discounts from retailers big and small. With so many gadgets aimed at different people and needs, it can take some sorting to find deals on things you’ll actually use.
Tablets
The tablet market has felt fairly predictable for a while: Apple and Samsung release updated models, shoppers buy them, and the cycle starts again. But Amazon’s long-running Fire Tablet line has disappeared from its product lineup, and a new range of Alexa tablets has stepped into the space.
The three models run Android and support the Google Play Store, but they’re aimed at different budgets and uses.
The entry-level model has an 8.7-inch screen and costs $279.99. It’s a reasonably priced choice for reading, browsing the web, or letting a child use a tablet for a while.
For a larger screen, the 11-inch model offers a 2.5K display, up to 15 hours of battery life, and as much as 128 GB of storage. At $379.99, it could work well for movies, email, and everyday browsing.
The 12-inch Pro is the top-of-the-line option, with a 4K display and a faster chip for multitasking, gaming, photo editing, and streaming. It costs $499.99, though that’s still less than some premium iPad and Samsung Galaxy tablets.
Wearables
It’s been a strong year for wearables, with Apple and Google adding some notable features to their devices. I’ve been trying out a couple of these myself, and there’s a lot to like.
One of the more unexpected standouts is the Fitbit Air. It has a lightweight design, a straightforward interface, and a range of health-tracking tools, all for $99. It can track heart rate and sleep, and its limited Health Guardian features are designed to flag possible signs of insulin resistance and high blood pressure. For someone who wants to keep an eye on their health without spending much, it’s an appealing option.
Apple also made a significant change to its heart sensor this year. The Apple Watch Series 12 now records heartbeats continuously, checking every five seconds rather than every five minutes. It also adds a daily readiness score, offers up to 24 hours of battery life per charge, and is expected to receive Audio Intelligence features. Starting at $399, it’s one of the more interesting Apple Watch updates in years.
The Google Pixel Watch 5, released this fall, brings a broader set of health tools under the Health Guardian name. Its features include blood-pressure and insulin-resistance measurements, sleep-breathing trends, and detection of breathing emergencies such as choking.
It also includes irregular heart-rate notifications, ECG readings from the wrist, high- and low-heart-rate alerts, and loss-of-pulse detection. With that range of health features, the starting price of $399.99 seems fairly reasonable.
Stocking stuffers and accessories
A holiday gift list can use a few smaller items, too. These accessories may be compact, but they could be just the thing for someone who’s been hoping for them.
If you miss the feel of typing on an old BlackBerry, Clicks Keyboards add physical keys to a smartphone case. They’re available mainly for iPhone 18 models, starting at $139 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $159 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Some older iPhones, Motorola Razr phones, and Google Pixel models are supported as well.
For gaming on the go, the Xbox Nano Controller shrinks the familiar controller to about half its usual size, making it easier to carry in a pocket or bag. It still has the expected buttons and switches, though it doesn’t include haptic feedback. If that’s not a dealbreaker, $49.99 gets you a convenient travel companion.
Two major games are also due out by Black Friday. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake revisits a game many fans consider an all-time classic. It features updated graphics, voice acting in cinematic scenes, and some new surprises. At $59.99, it could appeal to longtime Zelda players and newcomers alike.
For an older audience, Grand Theft Auto VI is one of the most anticipated releases in years. Thirteen years after the previous game, it takes players to Leonida, a fictional version of Florida that includes Vice City alongside other locations. The starting price is $79.99, but its pre-launch trailers suggest a visually ambitious game that people may be talking about for a long time.
What’s on your wish list?
That wraps up our two-part look at holiday gadgets and gifts. Which ones caught your eye? Maybe there’s something else you’re hoping to find on sale this Black Friday.
