Our gift selection for the Apple fan in your life
Need to buy a special something for an Apple fan? Want some more ideas of top tech picks a friend or family member could buy for you? Here’s our list of ten great products that can bring your iPhone or iPad some festive cheer.
HomePod mini ($99/£99)
Available in white or space gray, the fruit-sized HomePod mini might be tiny, but it manages to fill a room with sound. Built-in Siri then transforms the little orb into a smart assistant when it’s not belting out favorite hits.
Apple AirPods ($159/£159)
As iconic today as white iPod earbuds and cables once were, Apple AirPods are great for music, movies and podcasts, and last up to five hours on a single charge. AirPods Pro ($249/£249) take things further with customizable fit and active noise cancellation. Both have cases that can be personalized with engraved text and emojis.
Anker PowerWave ($30/£26)
From Anker’s many quality stands, we’ve picked the PowerWave Fast Wireless Charger. The recipient will need a power brick to plug it into; but once set up, they’ll get no-nonsense speedy charging of any iPhone placed on the stand — and can still use the device in portrait or landscape.
Apple TV (from $149/£149)
There are cheaper TV boxes than the Apple TV — notably, Amazon’s. But for full integration into Apple’s ecosystem, you’ll want the Apple TV. There are many great apps, such as video streamer Infuse; add a controller and Apple Arcade and the little black box can even become a games console.
Razer Kishi ($100/£100)
Speaking of gamers, it’s possible to transform an iPhone into something resembling a handheld console. Our favorite controller for doing so is the Razer Kishi. Set-up takes seconds and the controls are tight to give players a fighting chance of topping those high-score tables.
Joby GorillaPod (from $30/£30)
Traditional tripods struggle to hold an iPhone up in even slightly challenging conditions. The flexible legs of a GorillaPod work with uneven terrain or can even cling on to poles. Check out pricier options for more versatility, right up to the $200/£200 vlogging kit with stand, LED and mic.
IKEA BERGENES ($4/£2)
An excellent stocking filler, IKEA’s BERGENES stand might be cheap, but it’s simple, elegant and effective. The bamboo construction is lightweight but solid; and two slot widths provide compatibility with a wide range of devices. Top stuff when you need to prop up your iPhone on a desk.
Clckr iPhone cases (from $25/£25)
If you like the idea of a stand that travels with an iPhone, one from Clckr is a good bet. Its rugged cases include an integrated contraption that doubles as a hand grip and stand. So it’ll ensure a phone’s not dropped and then later prop up the device in portrait or landscape.
Apple gift card (from $10/£10)
Not sure what to get someone/ask for, but know a love of Apple underpins everything? There’s always an Apple gift card. These can be spent on everything from hardware to apps, and sent via email if your gifting this year is taking the whole ‘last-minute’ thing a bit too literally.