Christmas Gift Guide: for the tech savvy

Whatever their interests, there’s probably a contraption to suit. Trawl through our edit of glorious gadgets to find the perfect gift for your device-loving recipient

Art and Design 8 Dec 2020

Perfect pour
The oenophile in your life will be delighted to know their most cherished bottles are in good hands when they unwrap the state-of-the-art LG Signature Wine Cellar. Emulating the conditions in a wine cave, it uses advanced technology to control temperature, vibration and ensure optimal humidity to allow wines to age and reach their aromatic potential. £5,519, ao.com

 

All the right noises
Loose yourself in your favourite music with these ‘bookshelf’ LS50 loudspeakers by KEF that have a reputation for delivering an authentic aural experience. Using ‘Metamaterial Absorption Technology’ they absorb 99% of unwanted sound (compared to the traditional 60%), the result is pure and natural. Choose from a variety of colours to complement your loved ones space. KEF LS50 Meta, £1,000 per pair; LS50 Wireless II, £ 2,250 per pair; kef.com

 

Take to the sky
Made with aluminium and carbon fibre, the Skydio R1 drone has 13 on board cameras powered by the Nvidia Jetson AI processor, capturing real time footage and recording in 4K. Whatever antics your tech savvy loved one intends on getting up to, they can simply assign a target subject and allow the drone to independently follow the chosen route dodging any objects that get in its way. It’s the Christmas Day gadget of dreams. £1,532, skydio.com

 

Smooth operator
Hotel Chocolat teamed up with Dualit to produce the world’s first barista-grade hot chocolate machine. Available in three colours, simply add real grated chocolate flakes and the milk or water of your choice, press the button, pour and enjoy. It comes with two pod cups, is easy to clean and tastes great with a sneaky shot of brandy or Cointreau for a warming festive evening in. £99.95, hotelchocolat.com

 

Good vibrations
Taking tech to the next level, Devialet’s Gemini wireless ear buds deliver just as much quality and precision as the brand’s legendary Phantom speaker. Ear Active Matching automatically tunes the signal of the music to the shape of your ear, while noise cancellation ensures a fully immersive sound experience with up to 24 hours playtime. There are even two microphones to both enhance the sound and allow you to talk when connected to a phone. £279, devialet.com

 

Pedal power
Making cycling more accessible, the Peloton exercise bike is brilliantly simple. Once you have the bike, create an online profile by following the instructions on the screen, before slipping on the comfortable cycling shoes, adjusting the seat to optimal height and distance from the handlebars, climbing aboard and clipping in. Peloton’s real-time metrics software makes it easy for riders to track their progress including heart rate, resistance, cadence and output, while its special training programmes allow members to commit to incentive-driven fitness challenges. £1,750, onepeloton.co.uk

 

Surf’s up
For those who relish the thrill of catching a wave, this 2PRT Modular Surfboard, created by Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoffer, allows the avid surfer to pack their board down to a more manageable, transportable size. The nose of the board can also team with a variety of tail shapes to create the ideal board for a variety of conditions and abilities. From £1,226, thomasmeyerhoffer.com

 

Ride of your life
Motorcycle purists will probably already know all about the Royal Enfield Himalayan but that won’t make them want it any less. Powered by a LS 410 engine delivering high torque for an incredibly smooth ride in higher gears at lower speeds. With a range of approximately 450 km, luggage mounting points and storage for jerry cans the motorcycle also has a simple cluster of dash instruments to keep track of speed, direction ambient temperature, travel time, service intervals and multiple trip distances. £4,199 + £499 with panniers, royalenfield.com