Don’t confuse a technology enthusiast — a techie — with an IT guy. The latter is who you want repairing your printer, TV or wi-fi router. A techie, while he may be able to repair your busted tech, is really just someone with a passion for gadgets. Whether that’s the latest in 4K TVs, smart home tech, virtual reality, hi-fi audio or simple consumer electronics, a techie most likely dabbles in it all. Techies know that, despite all latest advancements, a quality tech product has staying power. An antiquated plasma TV is still a helluva good TV, after all.
Nest Cam IQ
The Nest Cam IQ has a 4K image sensor and 12x digital zoom, enabling the camera to identify familiar and unfamiliar faces, and automatically zoom in and track those faces while they’re in frame. (Nest calls this “Supersight.”) If you’d like, the app can send push notifications so you don’t miss any action. It’s simply the most intelligent home security camera you can buy.
Inspire Candle by Twelve South
Last year’s ‘New Mac’ candle was designed to smell like a new Mac computer — and it sold like wildfire. This year, Twelve South is back with a more refined Mac candle that’s designed to smell more like “a new idea.” What this fresh scent really amounts to a confluence of bergamot, lemon and tarragon notes.
Amazon Echo Spot
The Echo Spot is one of Amazon’s latest Alexa-enabled devices. It can be an alarm clock or smart speaker and make video calls with other people who also own an Amazon Echo Spot. If the techie already has other Amazon Echo devices, this is a perfect addition to their ecosystem. It can be preordered now and will arrive before Christmas.
Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL
Most of the latest gadgets charge via USB Type-C, including the 2016 MacBook Pro, Google Pixel 2 and the Nintendo Switch. This powerbank has enough juice to charge all of those, plus it can be recharged with the same USB Type-C cord. Efficient.
Nest Secure
This is Nest’s first home security system and it consists of three components: the Nest Guard, a smart hub; the Nest Detect, a magnetic door and window sensor; and Nest Tags, pocketable NFC cards that can temporarily disable your home alarm. A starter kit includes one Nest Guard, two Nest Detects and two Nest Tags. The entire system is controlled via the Nest app, which lets you check in on your home anytime to arm and disarm from anywhere. And if the alarm goes off, you’ll get an alert.
Apple AirPods
If they have an iPhone or a Mac computer, or both, there’s simply no better wireless earphones you can buy for a techie. We can’t endorse these enough.
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Pioneer Rayz Rally
When paired with an iPhone, hosting conference calls couldn’t be easier: this speaker improves the clarity and loudness of the conference call both for the speaker and listener. It also supports pass-through charging, allowing whomever is using it to also charge their iPhone at the same time.
HiRise MacBook Stand by Twelve South
For anybody who pairs their laptop with an external monitor, a laptop stand can raise both screens to a similar height — it’s easier on their eyes. Even if they don’t use separate monitor, a laptop stand can help improve sitting posture and can also be useful if they use a separate keyboard. This one by HiRise is lightweight, sturdy and very adjustable.
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
A great gift for anybody — whether they have a Samsung phone or not — who uses Spotify as their music streaming service. Thanks to a partnership with Spotify, a Spotify playlist can be downloaded directly to this device; pair it with some Bluetooth headphones, go running — and leave the smartphone behind. (No Apple Watch can do that with Spotify.)
Incase EO Travel Backpack
An all-black backpack with enough compartments to house all their devices and a few changes of clothes. It’s a solid travel companion that’ll help them skip the checked bag line.
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Logitech Craft Keyboard
For creatives using Adobe’s suite or big fans of Excel, this wireless keyboard can boost productivity. It works with both PC or Mac, and features a unique creative dial that can be customized to work with specific apps. For example, a simple scroll can adjust an image’s brightness or saturation in Photoshop, or they can rapidly adjust and scroll through Excel charts.
Audioengine A2+ Powered Speakers
In this size category, these are some of the best sounding compact desktop speakers you’ll find. They’re the little brother to Audioengine’s famed A5+ powered speaekrs, and can be dumbed down to plug directly into your laptop or elevated by adding a subwoofer (via an optical output).
Nintendo Switch
By far the best portable gaming console to date, the Switch also has some epic games out already — namely Zelda and Mario Odyssey — with more to come. Not a fan of portable consoles? It hooks up to the big screen, too.
Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock
This dock connects a MacBook Pro to just about anything: two 4K displays (or one 5K display), ethernet, a high-end hard drive, headphones and a few other USB 3.0 devices. It essentially allows anybody to turn their laptop into the ultimate desktop setup.
Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable
Give five out of five stars by What Hi-Fi, the Essential III is an audiophile-grade turntable that’s in most people’s price range. It has a manual belt drive and Ortofon OM10 cartridge, and is available in several fun colors (red, black, white) with a nice glossy finish.
Bowers & Wilkins PX
The PX are some of the best noise-canceling headphones of 2017. Plus, they have a helluva lot more character than the Bose QC25 IIs.
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GoPro Hero6 Black
Just released this fall, the Hero6 Black is the first GoPro to shoot 4K video at 60fps. It also has some serious skills capturing slow-mos. If an action cameras is what they’re looking for, start and end here.
Apple 10.5-Inch iPad Pro
This is the best iPad Pro to date. It’s super fast and powerful. It has a phenomenal high-resolution display. And it even has a darn good camera (about the same as on the iPhone 7). Don’t say it too loud, but it may be able to replace a laptop.
Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies (2nd Gen) Headphone Amp
Elevate their daily listening experience with a high-quality headphone amp. This one by Woo boasts a full DAC and vacuum tube design, and it supports 24-bit high resolution audio. It also is probably the most beautiful desktop candy you can buy.
Dell UltraSharp 38 Curved Monitor
This ultra-nice monitor is the perfect blend of size (it’s huge) and resolution (it’s beautiful). Yes, it’s curved. And it also is decked out with enough inputs to connect any of your devices, including a USB Type-C port for a MacBook Pro.
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Samsung The Frame 4K TV (43-inch)
Samsung’s The Frame TV is a reminder that the future is here. It’s super thin and very good 4K TV that looks like a picture handing on the wall. When not watching TV, it can display high-resolution art or photos they’ve taken themselves.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Most professional laptops get sized up against Apple’s 2016 MacBook Pro — rightfully so. The Surface Book 2 is faster, more powerful and boasts a better battery life. It’s also a 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen, which the Apple alternative isn’t. If they’re switching over (or staying with PC), this is a creative force to be reckoned with.
Leica Q Silver
The Leica Q has been one of our favorites since it came out. A full frame sensor and an excellent fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens means it’s mighty and a footprint the size of a smartphone means it’s compact enough to fit in a coat pocket. The perfect camera for new adventures.
Apple iMac Pro
The iMac Pro isn’t out just yet, but it will be; Apple promised it’ll start shipping in December 2017. It has a ridiculously powerful processor, a ridiculously powerful graphics card and a ridiculously beautiful 5K display. It’s a juggernaut of a desktop.
Gear Patrol Magazine Issue Five
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