Many of us spend years nursing a cracked smartphone that can barely hold a charge anymore just make it a little longer, counting on an upgrade gifted by a loved one over the holidays. Technological gifts really do keep on giving, because they make our lives so much easier: in many cases, we simply couldn’t get by without them; Other times, they’re a task we don’t even realize we want to automate until we experience it and then wonder how we ever lived without it. Here, the 12 best new tech products of 2022 that will make your loved ones say “You’re the best!” this holiday.
portable projector
You’ll instantly realize this is a gift for the whole house as you cozy up to matching pajamas Grab a big plate of leftover sugar cookies and snuggle up under weighty blankets to watch your favorite cheesy holiday specials together on this wireless projector Keep down With built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, the Freestyle can easily be pointed at any blank wall, making it usable throughout the home.
Samsung Freestyle Smart FHD Portable LED Projector, $330, samsung.ca
super-up e-reader
For the person in your life whose bookshelf is shaking: Kobo’s latest e-reader packs 32GB of storage—plenty of room for all the books, audiobooks, and PDFs they can download. Plus, it functions as a digital notebook, complete with a stylus for marking up books or making to-do lists, and a protective cover that doubles as a stand.
Kobo Ellipsa Pack, $500, kobobooks.ca
techie watch
Apple’s latest wearable technology, the Watch Ultra, boasts up to 36 hours of battery life (or up to 60 hours on the low-power setting) and is built with the extreme-sports enthusiast in mind: It’s made from super-durable aerospace It’s made from high-grade titanium, so it can withstand all the elements, and its screen is twice as bright as the previous model’s, so it can be read in any condition.
Apple Watch Ultra, $1,099, apple
sleek sound system
This sound bar creates an immersive surround-sound experience for home cinema, gaming or music while maintaining a low profile so as not to clutter your living space. It is also compatible with Spotify Connect and virtual assistants like Alexa.
LG S95QR Sound Bar and Surround Speakers, $1,600, thesource.ca
the humidifier that does it all
This tricked-out fan humidifies, purifies, and cools with three sensors that track the air quality in a room and activate its various functions to adjust the environment to optimal conditions. It captures 99.97 percent of microscopic particles in the air and also has built-in ultraviolet technology to kill bacteria in the water, so it’s only pumping back the good stuff.
Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool, $1,150, www.dysoncanada.ca
Sponsored: Mobile Plans for the Whole Family
With holiday deals on mobile plans around the corner, now is the perfect time to upgrade. Available across Canada (except Quebec).
Rogers Mobile plans, starting at $60 per month, rogers.com
futuristic vr headset
The metaverse isn’t just for gamers anymore. everyone from luxury brands like gucci To real estate agents are diving into the digital world, and soon your friends and family might be too—if they’re not already there. For the virtual reality obsessive in your circle, gift a headset that will make their Metaverse experience even more immersive with next-gen graphics and 3D audio.
Meta Quest 2 VR Headset, $530, bestbuy.ca
smart stocking stuffer
There is that one person in every family who constantly loses their phone, car keys, you name it. Apple’s AirTag can be attached to luggage, slipped into a backpack or popped onto a keyring, making it easy to track any item when it’s synced with the Find My iPhone app. They’re customizable with free engraving, or you can opt to add an emoji motif instead.
Apple AirTag, $39 or four for $129, apple
new-school flip phone
If you didn’t own a hot-pink razor in the mid-2000s, are you even a millennial? The flip phone is back, but this time Samsung has turned it into a smartphone with specs to impress: a foldable front screen designed for hands-free selfies, wireless charging capability, and a water-resistant and scratch-resistant build can be done.
Samsung Galaxy Flip 4, $1,080, samsung.ca
ergonomic earbuds
Recently launched in Canada, the wireless earbuds from Ultimate Ears actually mold to the shape of your ear for a custom fit. You get up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge, and the pods are sweat- and water-resistant and compatible with both Apple and Android devices.
Ultimate Ears UE Fits, $250, ultimateears.com
cool cleaner
This little gadget is probably for the person on your list who literally has everything: Here’s a device that will make it hands-free to clean everything. From fine jewelry to orthodontic retainers, this tabletop device uses ultrasonic technology to safely clean all the little things that may be lying around on bathroom counters and beyond.
Soak Ultrasonic Cleaner, $75, nordstrom.ca
ultimate coffee maker
For the host with the most (and, subsequently, all of their lucky guests), a coffee maker that does it all: cappuccino, macchiato, espresso—all at the touch of a button. This machine can be connected to a smartphone to brew in bed, and it can even make two cups at once.
Bosch Built-in Coffee Machine, $4,689, bosch-home.ca
