It has been a tumultuous 2016.
But it is time to wind down, get into the festive mood, and look forward to Christmas, which is only 18 days away.That also means it is time to start shopping for gifts for your loved ones.
Singaporeans love gadgets. They are the ninth-biggest spender on technology products in the world, according to research firm Nielsen in a report released in May this year.
So if you are getting a gadget for your children, significant other or friends, there is a high chance your gift will hit the mark.
We in The Straits Times Digital team have come up with our picks. It is a gadget gift guide with something for everyone.
For Home
ANOVA PRECISION COOKER WI-FI
US$129 (S$183) - available at anovaculinary.com
Getting that perfectly cooked, juicy steak at home is easier than ever for home cooks, thanks to affordable immersion circulators such as the Anova Precision Cooker.
These devices deliver precise temperatures to a water bath to slowly cook food sealed in bags. This technique, known as sous vide, prevents overcooking.
The Wi-Fi model lets you control the device from anywhere with an Internet connection, unlike the limited range of the Bluetooth-only model.
For Her
LG V20
$998
The LG V20 is a phone for the media junkie. Whether you are consuming or producing videos, photos or music, the V20 has something for you.
For those who like shooting their own videos, the 5.7-inch V20 comes with Steady Record 2.0 video stabilisation, which analyses each frame of your clip for smoother playback. It also has three microphones to capture audio, for clean, lossless sound.
For audiophiles, the V20 has a premium 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC for top-quality audio playback, and an included pair of B&O earphones.
For Him
RAZER BLADE STEALTH
From $1,499
The Razer Blade Stealth is the ultimate ultrabook, with ample specs at a very competitive price. Its aluminium chassis is 13mm thick and it weighs just 1.29kg. Still, despite its svelte body, it manages to pack in up to 9hr of battery life - 15 per cent more than the previous generation. The Razer Blade Stealth's 12.5-inch display comes in two configurations: Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels, 234 ppi) and 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels, 352 ppi).
It has an Intel Core i7-7500U processor, which gives it up to 2.7GHz of processing power and Turbo Boost speeds of up to 3.5GHz. It also has Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated graphics. The ultrabook also comes with up to 1TB of solid-state storage, and up to 16GB of RAM.
For Gamers
SONY PLAYSTATION4 PRO
$599
Looking for a new gaming console in the market that is virtual-reality (VR) ready?
The new Sony PlayStation4 (PS4) Pro is the obvious choice.
The most powerful PS4 to date packs a graphics processor that is twice as fast as that of the usual PS4. The PS4 Pro is capable of playing supported games in 2160p video output with high dynamic range, so you can enjoy 4K visuals in their full glory.
For Kids
MOVER KIT FROM TECHNOLOGY WILL SAVE US
£50 (S$90, excluding shipping) - available at techwillsaveus.com
Encourage your child to tinker and experiment with the Mover Kit from United Kingdom-based start-up Technology Will Save Us.
Designed for children of ages eight and above, the Mover Kit is a DIY wearable toy that comes unassembled. Your child has to put together the various parts, which include a ring of eight different coloured LEDs, circuit boards and a plastic band.
Your child will also have to use the toy's Make platform to program the Mover Kit's LEDs to react in a certain fashion when motion is detected. No coding knowledge is required - your child simply needs to drag and drop logical functions with a mouse via a graphical interface. When done, these instructions can be uploaded and shared with other users.
For Shutterbugs
LEICA SOFORT
$425
Shutterbugs will always want to own a Leica. Now, you can do so without breaking the bank with the Leica Sofort. This might be Leica's first instant film camera, but it is showing the rest how to do it right.
Unlike many point-and-shoot instant film cameras, the Sofort has buttons at its rear for changing modes, flash and timer.
It also has shooting modes for every scenario, from macro to double exposure. Furthermore, it uses Fujifilm Instax films, which are readily available.
For Audiophiles
BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
$549
The best accompaniment to good music is the sound of silence, which are exactly what the Bose QuietComfort 35 offers.
Bose has engineered the best mix of noise-cancellation and audio quality with these headphones, which are the company's first wireless active noise-cancellation cans.
It is able to cut background noise significantly, leaving you alone with your bubble of music. Its sound quality is generally clear and clean, tinged with a slight warmness.
For Fitness Buffs
APPLE WATCH NIKE+
$548
If running and swimming are the two main sports you take part in, the Apple Watch Nike+ is the only watch you need.
It has built-in GPS to track distance and speed for walks and runs without the need to take along your iPhone for GPS tracking.
The watch is also water resistant down to 50m, so this capability lets you track your swims.
What We Want
HATCHIMAL
FROM TOYS R US
$129.99
This egg hatches into a furry magical creature that is bound to draw the oohs and aahs from your enthralled kid. And you don't know what you are going to get until it hatches.
Think of the handheld digital pet Tamagotchi, but only better. The child gets to play with and "raise" the hatched furry Hatchimal - from baby to toddler to kid.
It was touted as the best invention and electronic toy of 2016. Expectedly, it has been sold out almost everywhere since early last month.
