Festive gift guide: The right tech for the right one

SINGAPORE — 'Tis the season to be jolly... and techy. You might be looking to get a cool new toy for yourself or a loved one this Christmas but the age-old dilemma is: What to get for whom? There's no point in splurging on a present that will remain untouched for months (and then secretly sold off on Ebay). The key to getting the right tech for the right person is to understand their gizmo needs. We have narrowed them down to these suggestions:

THE TECH SAVVY
Only wants the most cutting-edge, nothing more

If you are looking for the pure Android experience, the latest Huawei Nexus 6P is the de facto Google phone to get. Pre-installed with the latest Android 6.0 OS, the Nexus 6P is also a powerhouse hardware-wise: a 5.7-inch 518ppi AMOLED display, an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor, 3GB RAM, a 3450mah battery and a 12.3-megapixel camera stand ready at your service. To learn more about this Android powerhouse, check out our review.

Price and availability: S$949 to S$1,049 (depending on storage) on Lazada Singapore 

Made specifically for entertainment junkies-on-the-go, the YOGA Tab 3 Pro comes with an onboard 10.1-inch QHD screen display as well as the ability to be 180-degree rotatable to beam up to 70-inch images onto a wall or ceiling. To further complement its visual capabilities, the tablet is also suited up with a powerful built-in JBL sound bar, with four front-facing speakers fine-tuned with Wolfson Master Hi-Fi technology, and the Dolby Atmos technology for an ultimate auditory experience. The ergonomic and slim tablet also comes dressed in premium materials such as aluminium and a leather-like fabric on its back.

Price and availability: S$799 at all Lenovo-authorised stores

With an expansive 12.9-inch Retina display, the Apple iPad Pro may be daunting but it pays off with the extra real estate put to good use. With nearly double the CPU performance of iPad Air 2 and refined Multi‑Touch technology, the newest iPad allows you to do a lot more — creativity- and productivity-wise. For more, check out our review.

Price and availability: S$1,188 to S$1,648 (depending on model) at the Apple online store and authorised retailers

THE FASHIONABLE & SELFIE-LOVIN'
The festive season is their favourite time of the year

At 301g, the chic and light EOS M10 is the perfect companion for fashionable urbanites or selfie-lovers who are social media savvy. The newest addition to the EOS M range of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, the 18-megapixel camera is equipped with a tilt-type LCD touchscreen extendable to 180 degrees and an intuitive user interface that allows for selfie-taking from varied angles. That's not all — with its APS-C sized sensor, ISO performance of 100 to 12800 and both NFC, Wi-Fi connectivity, you are basically all covered. The good looker also comes with a complimentary striped Border jacket you can dress it in, but if you prefer other colours (namely Pink, Navy or the bubble-printed Aqua above), it's S$79 per piece.

Price and availability: S$749 to S$1,099 (depending on kit lens) at all Canon authorised retailers (Black and White)

Touted to be the world's first smartphone with dual selfie cameras, the fashionable Lenovo Vibe S1 comes with an 8-megapixel primary front camera and another 2-megapixel secondary front camera for optimal posing. There are various built-in photo editing tools to enhance your selfies (for example, "Blur" allows you to refocus), but what is also unique to the VIBE S1 is a "Cut Out" function that crops users out of a selfie and place them into any other image. And if you have extra cash to spare, the VIBE Xtension plug-in flash (S$39.90) can further help you get the selfie you want. The Android 5.0 VIBE S1 also comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5.0-inch display, 160GB of internal storage, a 64-bit MediaTek Octa-Core processor and 3GB of RAM.

Price and availability: S$429 in Lenovo authorised stores (Blue and White)

The first ASUS smartwatch to launch locally, the Android Wear powered ZenWatch 2 is not just substance without style. Available in two sizes and complemented with a variety of interchangeable straps with more than 50 customisable watch faces, the smartwatch is a fashion piece companion. Equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and a built-in pedometer, the ZenWatch 2 makes for a handy assistant for both Android and iOS users, although there will be less functions available for the latter. Plus, it keeps you fit with its personalised fitness manager.

Price and availability: S$229 at all authorised dealers

THE TRAVELLER
Always off to exotic places

No one wants to carry heavy shooting gear anymore, much less a traveller who's planning to travel light. The pocket-sized CyberShot RX1R II packs a punch despite its diminutive measurements, with a companion ZEISS Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens, a powerful BIONZ X processing engine, ISO capabilities of 100 to 25,600 (expandable to 50 to 102,400), a pop-up 2.4-million dot OLED Viewfinder and a tiltable 3-inch back LCD screen.

Price and availability: S$4,999 at all Sony stores, Sony centres and selected Sony authorised dealers

Looking for the right auditory companion for your travels? Sony's NW-A26HN walkman comes bundled with a pair of digital noise-cancelling headphones, an improved S-Master HX full digital amplifier, and Sony's upscaling technology which enhances compressed music files.

Price and availability: S$399 at all Sony stores, Sony centres and selected Sony authorised dealers (Viridian Blue, Cinnabar Red, Charcoal Black, Lime Yellow, and Bordeaux Pink)

Best suited for outdoorsy travellers (or anyone who is a digital video hoarder, really), the weatherproof/splash proof Polaroid Cube+ can record up to 1440p videos and snap 6-megapixel stills without missing any details with its 124° wide angle lens — best yet, it can be easily mountable anywhere due to its tiny (3.5cm on all sides) size. With its built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, you can easily share your adventures on the fly. 

Price and availability: S$240 at all Cathay Photo stores and other authorised dealers (Blue and Black) 

THE GAMER
Anything to enhance their virtual reality

Consider yourself a game AND a Star Wars aficionado or know someone who is? The Star Wars Battlefront PS4 bundle can't come at a better time — the Darth Vader inspired controller and PS4 set is sure to wow other fellow fans. The bundle also includes Star Wars Battlefront, a multiplayer game that allows you to fight as the Rebellion or the Empire and play as some of the iconic characters in the Star Wars universe.

Price and availability: S$599 at all Playstation authorised dealers and Sony stores

The cat ears aren't there just for show — they are actually external speakers that can be turned on for sharing music with friends. For the flashy gamer, the Axent Wear Cat Ear headphones also come with built-in accent lights to make it more visually striking. And of course, there is a detachable boom mike for gaming. The headphones themselves come with a decent 20Hz-20KHz frequency response, 32 Ohm impedance and 40mm drivers.

Price and availability: S$229 on Ban Leong eStore and authorised retail stores

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article said the Canon EOS M10's prices range from S$649 to S$999, depending on kit lens. Canon has clarified that they range from S$749 to S$1,099, depending on kit lens.