You’re making a list, and checking it twice. Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s laden down with presents—but there’s always room for a couple more…
Christmas is a time for sharing—and whether you’re buying for yourself, or someone else, there’s little doubt tech will be on your gift list. But in a world where there are 15 different options associated with every model, how do you decide what tech is going to be the next iphoness, and what will be the next Nokia N-Gage? What will still be in use come summer, and how do you ensure you’re not spending your hard-earned money on something that will sit unloved at the back of a cupboard as soon as 2023 arrives?
WIRED’s team of experts got together to compile their wish list of gadgets and technology that they’re asking Santa to put under their trees come Christmas Day, from the eye-wateringly aspirational, to the sensibly priced and practical.
Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer
At £6,000, this is perhaps more Wish with a capital W, but there’s no denying the Marstimer is a lovely thing. It’s the latest high-end digital watch from Omega, one of the most beloved brands in chronological tech, and features cleverly integrated smartwatch functionalities, as well as quartz-powered time and functions for locationss both on Earth and on Mars. If you’ve ever wanted to know what time it is on the Red Planet, now you can—while wearing a strikingly styled 45mm chunk of titanium on your wrist.
Piaggio 1 electric moped
Moped snobs may turn their noses up at anything that’s not a Vespa, but the Piaggio 1 electric combines great style, performance and value, making it a shoo-in for our list. At just £2,500, it’s an absolute steal—indeed, it’s actually cheaper than many e-pedal bikes, while giving the thrill and throttle you’d expect from a moped. The removable lithium-ion battery goes from empty to full in just six hours, and is good enough for 800 cycles, meaning it’s an ideal candidate for commuting while looking cool.
Eufy HomeVac H11
Household appliances aren’t always at the top of people’s Christmas lists, but they’re undeniably useful—not least for helping with that New Year’s resolution of swearing you'll keep the place tidier. At £32.99, this handheld home vacuum isn’t going to break the bank enough that you’ll regret buying it as you sit in squalor come February, but at 1.2 lbs and with 5,500 Pa suction power, this USB-rechargeable gem might just convince you to keep the resolution going.
De’Longhi Magnifica coffee machine
One resolution you'll definitely enjoy keeping, however, is to drink better coffee. Shun the to-go brews from the chain cafés, and make your own artisanal pick-me-up with this surprisingly power-packed machine, which costs £398. The De’Longhi’s auto bean-to-cup functionality means you can make even the most complicated drinks order in an instant, thanks to one-touch operation—no barista expertise needed.
Apple Gift Card
From Apple Watch to AirPods, Apple has a brilliant gadget for every occasion—which can make picking just the right one to give as a gift a bit of a challenge. Apple Gift Card does away with this conundrum entirely, as it lets them buy the item they actually want—and if there’s any value left over on the card, it can easily be put towards apps, games, and content, including their favourite shows on Apple TV+. Buy now.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
