The holiday season has arrived and with it comes a myriad of festivities accompanied by the sharing of joy, time and gift-giving – everyone’s favourite holiday activity.
Also read: Local spots to buy your stocking stuffers this Christmas
But before the bliss of seeing the face of your loved one light up as they unravel your skilfully wrapped gift to find the very item their heart desired comes the unavoidable agony of trying to pick out the perfect present – especially if that loved one is a certified tech head while you’re still trying to figure out the terminology.
So, to help get your gears turning to find an ideal gift for your tech-loving giftee, Ryan O’Connor presents his top five picks of gadgets and must-haves for 2023:
5. GoPro Hero 12 Black
The GoPro has long been the gadget of choice for those who like their holidays to be as full of digitised memories as they are adrenaline-filled, and the most recent Her012 Black is arguably the best yet. In his review, Ryan deemed GoPro ‘the action camera of the year, without a doubt’.
An all-round device, this near-unbreakable and waterproof wearable action camera has been refined and improved with 10-bit Log video, timecode syncing, better battery life and higher heat tolerance, which means a longer run time to capture ridiculously smooth high-res footage.
4. DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Like the GoPro, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 may look like an action camera, but unlike the GoPro, that’s not exactly its intended purpose.
Tiny and ‘weightless’ enough to keep in your hand or your pocket when it’s not in use, the Pocket 3 (see what they did there?) is ideal for someone looking to carry around a versatile 4K video camera to capture on-the-go content for memories, vlogging, live streaming or even still images.
What DJI has done is take its one-inch CMOS sensor, put it into the Pocket 3 to allow the camera to record 4K video at up to 120fps and mount it on a three-axis gimbal – which in non-tech terms simply means crystal clear, detailed and incredibly smooth footage.
For gifting purposes, Ryan suggests that the ‘Creator Combo is the way to go’ as it’s essentially a mobile and studio production kit complete with a microphone, wide-angle lens, a battery handle, mini tripod, windscreen and carry bag.
3. DJI Mini 4 Pro
Another win for DJI, according to Ryan, is the DJI Mini 4 Pro – a 4K camera drone that does nearly everything right. Ideal for aerial imaging enthusiasts seeking something that’s light (under 250 grams), folds up and fits perfectly into gear bags filled with a bunch of gizmos and accessories.
Evolved both subtly and significantly from its previous model, the Mini 4 Pro now has full omnidirectional obstacle avoidance sensors, larger cooling vents, an HDR video profile, as well as improved connectivity and a larger range. It can also automatically plan a safe flight route back to its home point thanks to its Advanced Return-To-Home feature and follow a subject from any angle, courtesy of its fully-featured ActiveTrack 360.
2. Samsung Z Fold5
Since it’s the fifth variant of this version, you may think the Samsung Z Fold5 is not that great a gift to opt for. Ryan, however, begs to differ. He said that if, as a phone manufacturer, you’ve been making foldable phones for five years and no one else has been doing it, then surely you are the king (or queen) of that field.
After tinkering with the mechanics of the first three versions and almost mastering them in the fourth, the Z Fold5 now uses a new hinge to fold totally flat when closed. When unfolded, the 7.6-inch internal display unveils a multi-tasking wonder fuelled by unrivalled powerful software and a new ‘Flex Mode’ panel that allows you to push an app to the top half of the screen when it’s folded in an L-shape (kind of like a tiny laptop).
Did we mention that it’s water-resistant too?
So, if you’re contemplating the Z Fold 5 for your giftee, bear in mind that – according to Ryan – the only problem with these phones is this: ‘Once you start using them, good luck in trying to use any other device’.
1. Breitling
‘In a world full of digital clutter’, According to Ryan, ‘it’s nice to still have some things that are analogue’ and your tech-savvy giftee may share the sentiment.
Tied for first place, alongside the Samsung Z Fold 5, on Ryan’s 2023 top picks are the Breitling Super Ocean and Avenger wristwatches.
Super Ocean
A re-emerging icon from the 1960s, when the new sport of scuba diving was all the rage and Breitling’s revolutionary Slow Motion dive watch reigned supreme, the all-new shock-, sand- and saltwater-resistant Super Ocean celebrates its legacy while adding modern features.
Built from rugged material to withstand the deepest of oceans or the gnarliest of waves, the Super Ocean now features broad hands, scratch-proof ceramic-inlayed bezel and indexes in luminescent Super-LumiNova to allow easy readability underwater.
The all-new Super Ocean is not only free from the restraints of being purely a dive watch (you can surf, swim or hit the beach bar and dinner with it) but also includes a smaller 36mm option, as well as a bigger, chunkier 46mm option.
Avenger
The all-new Avenger collection, which is available in 42mm and 44mm options, is designed to tackle the toughest cockpits and keep coming back for more with its easy-grip functionality, corrosion-resistant construction and 300-metre water resistance.
Concerned gifters can rest assured – your giftee need not have Air Force credentials to enjoy this ideal pairing of performance and sophisticated modern aviation style, they simply require an appreciation for exceptional resilience, bold design and next-level functionality.
Watch Ryan O’Connor’s cool tech for 2023:
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Picture: Screenshot from video